You are watching: First cartoon character on postage stamp
When the Bugs Bunny stamp was announced, many people were unhappy about picturing an man character ~ above a stamp. Lock felt Bugs was as well commercial and honoring him would cheapen America’s stamp program. One newspaper editor created the rubber stamp was “a new low in commercializing and also trivializing
Despite the conflict behind the stamp, the USPS issued the on might 22, 1997. The Bugs Bunny paper broke brand-new ground in number of categories. It to be the first self-adhesive sheet developed in the US. And also Bugs Bunny received a the majority of attention because that being the first cartoon personality on a united state stamp. The stamps confirmed to it is in so well-known that a collection of four other Looney Tunes personalities in the same format followed.
Another interesting part of the Bugs Bunny stamp story is the specially die-cut imperforate pane, i beg your pardon was among the rarest united state stamps authorize in 70 years. The pane was produced to fill orders because that the Stampers program. It differs from the typical version in two ways. First, the die-cuts on the ripe stamps situated on the left next of the pane pass through the backing paper. This allows individual stamps come be removed from the pane v their liner intact. Secondly, the 10th rubber stamp was not die-cut. This was done since the 10th stamp wasn’t “burstable” – an interpretation it wasn’t easily removed to to fill orders.


In fact, panels comprise the unused 10th rubber stamp were shredded! That’s why there are only 118,000 especially die-cut Bugs bunny panes with the 10th stamp imperforate. By comparison, 150,000 Legends of the West error sheets (US #2870) were issued!
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The Bugs Bunny stamp was approve in conjunction through a campaign to start the USPS’s “Stampers” program. As the main mascot that Stampers, it to be hoped the animated character would help revive youth attention in the hobby of stamp collecting. A full-color, 12-page magazine to be made available through the USPS Philatelic Fulfillment service Center because that a restricted time, as component of the Stampers program.
When the Bugs Bunny stamp was announced, many world were unhappy around picturing an animated character top top a stamp. Lock felt Bugs was as well commercial and also honoring him would cheapen America’s stamp program. One newspaper editor created the stamp was “a new low in commercializing and also trivializing
Despite the dispute behind the stamp, the USPS issued the on may 22, 1997. The Bugs Bunny sheet broke new ground in number of categories. It was the very first self-adhesive sheet developed in the US. And Bugs Bunny obtained a many attention because that being the very first cartoon personality on a united state stamp. The stamps confirmed to be so popular that a series of four other Looney Tunes characters in the same format followed.
Another interesting part of the Bugs Bunny rubber stamp story is the particularly die-cut imperforate pane, i m sorry was one of the rarest us stamps approve in 70 years. The pane was developed to to fill orders because that the Stampers program. It different from the standard version in two ways. First, the die-cuts ~ above the ripe stamps situated on the left side of the pane penetrate the backing paper. This allows individual stamps come be eliminated from the pane v their liner intact. Secondly, the 10th rubber stamp was not die-cut. This to be done due to the fact that the 10th rubber stamp wasn’t “burstable” – definition it wasn’t conveniently removed to fill orders.
In fact, panels include the unused 10th stamp were shredded! That’s why there are only 118,000 specially die-cut Bugs rabbit panes with the 10th rubber stamp imperforate. Through comparison, 150,000 Legends of the West error sheets (US #2870) to be issued!
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The Bugs hare sheet verified to it is in wildly popular, therefore the USPS continued to produce Looney tunes stamps because that the next 4 years. The remaining sheets in the series were additionally produced in both the fully perforated format and with the 10th rubber stamp imperforate. However, the production quantity because that these later on imperforate sheets was much higher than with the Bugs rabbit sheet.
Even still, when the USPS approve 500,000 Sylvester and Tweety imperforate sheets in 1998, they offered out in three and a half-weeks, top them come produce an additional 150,000 panes to fulfill the high demand.
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As through previous Looney melody stamps, the USPS approve a variety of special die-cut Coyote and also Road runner panes. The quantity issued, 236,000, was down from the 500,000 special panes in 1998 and also 1999. Because that the Wile E. Coyote and Road runner stamps, the USPS changed the printing procedure and the contractor, causing it to differ rather from ahead stamps in the series. For example, it has actually microprinting and more uniform die cuts.
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On the fifth and final Looney melody stamp, Porky Pig, as a mail carrier, it is provided a letter bearing another stamp from the series, Wile E. Coyote and also Road Runner. There to be 236,000 the these unique panes developed in 2001. The selvage picture is composed of all the personalities who appeared on the previous 4 Looney tunes stamps. As soon as the self-adhesive stamps room peeled off, the words, “That’s all Folks!” room visible on the liner paper.