Cartoonists and Stamps

Writing on the WashingtonCityPaper.com website,  Mike Rhode pens,"The U.S. Postal Service has just issued another set of comics-related stamps. Stamp collecting is an old hobby, and one that’s perhaps faded somewhat, but comics and stamps have a longer history than you’d expect."

He points out, "The first cartoonist to design a stamp was noted editorial cartoonist Jay 'Ding' Darling in 1934—however, he drew 'Mallards' for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Migratory Bird Hunting permit stamp. A Duck Stamp is sold annually to hunters and is used to fund National Wildlife sites."

Mike goes on to write, "In 1956, a children’s stamp 'Friendship—the Key to World Peace' was designed by high school senior Ron Dias, who later became a Disney animator. 1966 saw a 'Bill of Rights 175th Anniversary' stamp by Washington Post political cartoonist Herbert 'Herblock' Block. Walt Disney was honored in 1968; this first Disney stamp eventually led to a stunning amount of them worldwide. In 1993, Bill Mauldin’s Willie & Joe became the first comic strip characters to appear on stamps, as part of a sheet commemorating World War II; Mauldin got a stamp of his own earlier this year."

Mike also is the publisher of the Cartoon Philately blog.

Shown above, 1934 Duck stamp drawn by editorial cartoonist Jay “Ding” Darling.

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