A case of ruffled feathers for May cartoon caption contest winner

U.S. Stamp Notes by John M. Hotchner

The stylized 25¢ Eagle and Shield self-adhesive stamp (Scott 2432) issued in 1989 served as the cartoon caption contest stamp for May. There were several themes that tickled the funny bones of Linn’s readers.

First, the image itself struck some as worth a jab. Dave Schwartz of Sun City Center, Fla., came up with “What do you think of my new Captain America outfit?”

The face-off between the eagle and the turkey for which would become our national symbol came in for some ribbing. Clyde Holt submitted, “Ben Franklin suggested the Turkey as our national symbol. What a joker!”

Finally, the most popular theme related to the experimental gum on the back of the 29¢ stamp. John DeBord of Vallejo, Calif., took note of this with “I’ve been trying to take flight for 34 years, but this bloody adhesive won’t release me from the envelope!”

The latest increase in postage rates inspired our philatelic line winner for May. John Barrera of Concord, N.C., wins with the entry shown above.

On the nonphilatelic side of the contest, Fred Steinberg of Newton, N.J., wins with a line mirroring the frustration many of us feel, “If we keep going down this path of red versus blue, our motto will be changed to ‘E Pluribus Duo.’ ”

Both winners will receive a 13-week subscription to Linn’s (a new subscription or an extension).

Here are the best of the other runners-up:

“If I didn’t have this banner in my mouth, I’d tell someone to hold the arrows and branch so I could land someplace,” from Matthew Bonds of Texarkana, Tex.

“There wasn’t even one eagle on the ‘Bald Dating App,’ ” from Laura and Tom Tomaszek, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

“This shield keeps slipping … I need suspenders!” by Russell Wood of Garland, Tex.

“I got this job by hiring a talon scout!” by Steve Kotler of San Francisco, Calif.

“Tiger Woods missed me by about six inches; said I was almost the best ‘birdie’ he ever had,” from David Vikings of Dickinson, N.D.

Thanks and a tip of the hat to all who entered. The next contest will be announced in the July 10 issue of Linn’s.

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