Caption Contest: Beetle Bailey is happy about something on this 44¢ stamp, but what?

U.S. Stamp Notes — By John M. Hotchner

Mort Walker created the comic strip Beetle Bailey using a cast of characters that many of us recognize from our time in the service, but with extreme characteristics that would no longer be tolerated in the modern military. Still, the strip is good for a daily laugh, and has been since September 1950 when it first appeared.

Beetle Bailey was honored with a 44¢ stamp issued in 2010 as part of the Sunday Funnies set of five (Scott 4467-4471).

The stamp features Beetle, who seems self-satisfied about having yanked Sarge’s chain one more time. Beetle knows he will pay a price, but it seems to be his mission in life to outsmart Sarge at every turn.

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This will be the cartoon caption contest stamp for September, and I invite you to put yourself behind Beetle’s enigmatic smile and tell me what you might be thinking or saying to or about Sarge in the stamp illustration. Your theme can be military, political, postal, or anything else that occurs to you.

There will be two prizes given: one for the best philatelic line, and one for the best nonphilatelic line.

The important thing is to use your sense of humor, because entries with a humorous twist have the best chance of winning a prize.

Put your entry (or entries) on a postcard if possible and send it to me, John Hotchner, Cartoon Contest, Box 1125, Falls Church, VA 22041-0125, or email it. If you send an email, be sure to include your mailing address.

For each winner, the prize will be the book Linn’s Stamp Identifier, published by Linn’s (a retail value of $12.99), or a 13-week subscription to Linn’s (a new subscription or an extension).

To be considered for the prizes, entries must reach me no later than Sept. 22.

Why not enter now, while you’re thinking about it?