On July 16, 2010 the U.S. Postal Service celebrated five iconic American newspaper comic strips with their dedication of the Sunday Funnies postage stamps. The 44-cent first-class commemorative stamps honor Archie , Beetle Bailey, Dennis the Menace , Garfield and Calvin and Hobbes.
Garfield Comic Strip History
According to Don Markstein's Toonopedia.com, Garfield made its first appearance on June 19, 1978 in only 40 newspapers. By the end of its first decade, Garfield was appearing in over 2,000 newspapers - a feat previously reached only by Peanuts and Blondie.
The Garfield comic strip centers around a lazy, gluttonous, self-centered cat named Garfield, his owner Jon, and Jon's other pet, a dog named Odie.
Garfield creator Jim Davis has witnessed his creation grow into a multi-national figure with Garfield's face appearing on literally thousands of products in the last three decades.
USPS Garfield Stamp
The Garfield Sunday Funnies stamp features Garfield sharing a chocolate shake with his long-time love interests Betty and Veronica. USPS Art director Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Maryland selected the Garfield image that appears on the stamp.
U.S. Postal Service Eastern Area Vice President Megan Brennan dedicated the Sunday Funnies stamps at The Ohio State University, home of the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum. Joining the dedication were OSU Executive Vice President and Provost Joseph Alutto and OSU Libraries Director Carol Pitts Diedrichs. Also in attendance as special guests were various creators, artists, and writers from the honored comic strips. These guests included Beetle Bailey creator Mort Walker, Garfield creator Jim Davis, Dennis the Menace artists Marcus Hamilton and Ron Ferdinand, Archie Comics newspaper strip writer Craig Goldman, and Calvin and Hobbes Editor Lee Salem.
Ordering Garfield First-Day-of-Issue Postmarks
The USPS offers first-day-of-issue postmarks on Garfield stamps. According to the USPS, customers have 60 days after the stamps go on sale to obtain first-day-of-issue postmarks by mail. Customers should purchase stamps at any local Post Office, at The Postal Store website, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. Once acquired, the U.S. Postal Service instructs that stamps should be affixed to an envelope of the customer's choice and the envelope should then be addressed to the customer or another party. The envelope (or envelopes) should then be placed in a large envelope and mailed to:
- Sunday Funnies Stamp
- 850 Twin Rivers Drive, Retail - Rm. 416
- Columbus, OH 43216-9653
First-day-of-issue postmarks are a free service offered by the USPS. The U.S. Postal Service will apply the first-day-of-issue postmark and then return the envelopes through the mail. All orders must be postmarked by Sept. 17, 2010.
How to Buy Garfield First-Day Covers
The Stamp Fulfillment Services department of the USPS is offering first-day covers of the Garfield Sunday Funnies stamp postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. The Garfield first-day cover can be found in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-STAMP-24 or writing to:
- Information Fulfillment
- Dept. #6270
- U.S. Postal Service
- PO Box 219014
- Kansas City, MO 64121-9014
Garfield Sunday Funnies Philatelic Products
Several Sunday Funnies philatelic products are available from the USPS website:
- First-Day Cover Set of 5, $4.10
- Digital Color Postmark Set of 5, $7.50
- Uncut Press Sheet, $79.20
- Ceremony Program, $6.95
- Cancellation Keepsake (Pane of 20 & Digital Color Postmark Set of 5), $16.95.
