Snoopy On Stamps
By Laura Goodman
11/15/2014
The very first stamps that Snoopy appeared on were from Angola in 1999. The stamp issue was titled “Countdown to the Millennium”, and an abundance of miniature stamp sheets were issued. There could be some doubt as to how genuine this stamp issue was, as the country seemed to print this issue like “sticky labels”, and I am yet to see these stamps used as postage on mail. But never the less, two stamps depict Snoopy and his Gang at the cinema.
Portugal became the first “genuine” country to issue stamps in October 2000. These were to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Peanuts Cartoon Strip. The stamp’s show “Snoopy and the Mail”. A colorful set of 6 stamps, and also an attractive miniature sheet was issued too.
The First Day Covers were also very attractive. Additionally, a set of 6 postcards were issued highlighting an enlarged reproduction of each stamp design on each postcard. Two of the postcards from the set are shown below with the actual postage stamps postmarked on the first day of issue.
On 17th May 2001, the United States of America issued a single self-adhesive stamp entitled “Peanuts”. These depicted Snoopy on top of his house as the Flying Ace. The single stamp was issued in a sheet of 20. Charlie Brown, Lucy and Linus were also depicted at the top of the sheet. Many
U.S. first day cover/cachet designers produced very attractive covers for this
issue, and I have over 150 different ones in my collection. Below are two very colorful covers produced by Fred Collins.
Gibraltar followed in November 2001. The Christmas issue titled “Happy Christmas 2001” depicted Snoopy in various Christmas scenes. Charlie Brown and Woodstock also appear in one of the stamps too.
The 5 stamps appeared both as individual stamps and as a miniature sheet. There were some rather cute first day covers and miniature sheets of these stamps issued also.
The 5 stamps appeared both as individual stamps and as a miniature sheet. There were some rather cute first day covers and miniature sheets of these stamps issued also.
A most colorful Peanuts issues appeared in March 2002, when the Cayman Islands, produced a set named "Peanuts Cayman Islands Vacation". The set of 6 stamps also appeared in a miniature sheet. Of all the Snoopy stamp issues so far, the first day cover for this issue have got to be my favorite. - A very colorful first day cover.
Gibraltar was the first country to produce a second Snoopy issue. This was in November 2003, titled "Snoopy Christmas 2003 - Joy to the World". A single stamp in a miniature sheet, with Snoopy and Gang all singing around the Christmas tree. The first day cover also depicts Snoopy standing next to a colorful Christmas tree.
In 2005, Hong Kong issued a sheet of 16 generic stamps named "Snoopy Philatelic Ambassador 2005". The stamps did not depict Snoopy themselves, however the labels attached to these stamps did depict Snoopy and his fellow Peanuts characters. This is a first day cover with one of the stamps and the label depicting Snoopy.
Hong Kong issued a second similar sheet of generic stamps with Snoopy themed labels attached, also in 2005. It was entitled "55 Years of Snoopy" and came with an attractive first day cover.Incidentally, Australia also issued in 2005, a sheet of 10 generic stamps with Snoopy themed labels attached titled "55 Years 0f Snoopy". Hong Kong issue yet another sheet of generic stamps and labels in 2006. This one was titled "Snoopy Philatelic Ambassador 2006". In 2006, China also issued a sheetlet of 10 generic stamps featuring Snoopy on the labels, entitled "Snoopy - Year of the Beagle".
In the United States, "computer generated" stamps can be obtained via various websites. These can be used as postage for U.S. mail. In
December 2006 Stamps.com "issue" a stamp depicting Snoopy in a Christmas
scene, shown here. In December 2007 Stamps.com again featured Snoopy this time including the gang on 3 stamps in various
Christmas designs.
In July 2007 Belgium issued a set of 5 colorful Peanuts stamps, all featuring Snoopy with a few also including Woodstock with him, seen below on the left.
The next Snoopy related stamps did not appear until March 2010 from Japan and are the other three images below. A delightful miniature sheet featuring Snoopy and other Peanuts characters reading and writing a letter. The sheetlet can be seen illustrated on a first day cover. The attractive individual stamps are also illustrated on first day covers too.
The next Snoopy related stamps did not appear until March 2010 from Japan and are the other three images below. A delightful miniature sheet featuring Snoopy and other Peanuts characters reading and writing a letter. The sheetlet can be seen illustrated on a first day cover. The attractive individual stamps are also illustrated on first day covers too.
The Netherlands issued on the 23rd November 2010 a stamp illustrating Snoopy on ice skates and dressed in a red Santa Claus suit. The stamp commemorated the "60th Anniversary of Snoopy". It was issued as a sheetlet of 10 stamps, although single stamps could be purchased. A first day cover featuring Snoopy’s doghouse was also issued.
Then there was a four year wait till August 2014 before the next Snoopy stamps came out. Japan issued 2 stamps in sheetlets of 10 entitled "Snoopy and Friends".
With 2015 being the 65th anniversary of Peanuts and the scheduled release of a feature film in the cinema, I am sure we will see more Snoopy stamps issued. (Hopefully!).
The United States has provisionally stated they will be issuing a Snoopy stamp, but artwork is yet to be finalized and confirmed. We will have to wait and see if it materializes.
I have also compiled a collection of nearly 300 first day covers. They are U.S. stamp issues with an illustrated Snoopy theme connected to the stamp issue. Below are two examples. A 1969 U.S. Space stamp which has Snoopy as an Astronaut on the envelope. The other envelope has a 1999 U.S. golf stamp with an illustration depicting Snoopy playing golf.
With 2015 being the 65th anniversary of Peanuts and the scheduled release of a feature film in the cinema, I am sure we will see more Snoopy stamps issued. (Hopefully!).
The United States has provisionally stated they will be issuing a Snoopy stamp, but artwork is yet to be finalized and confirmed. We will have to wait and see if it materializes.
I have also compiled a collection of nearly 300 first day covers. They are U.S. stamp issues with an illustrated Snoopy theme connected to the stamp issue. Below are two examples. A 1969 U.S. Space stamp which has Snoopy as an Astronaut on the envelope. The other envelope has a 1999 U.S. golf stamp with an illustration depicting Snoopy playing golf.
Finally, the most interesting and unique item in my Snoopy stamp collection has got to be an envelope/cover from 26th August 1952 with a Minneapolis postmark. (Scan 24).
The envelope has the typed wording "Cartoonist of "Peanuts" Comic Strip" in the top left corner and has a newspaper cutting of a young Charles Schulz pasted onto the envelope.
Below this, is Charles M. Schulz's autograph.
I presume that the "maker" of this cover was the addressee on the envelope, a Mrs. P.C. Reim. A very forward thinking person. When this cover was made, Charles Schulz would have been 29 years of age. His cartoons had started to appear in newspapers only 2 years earlier in 1950.
The place name Minneapolis was very apt too, as this was the place that Schulz was born in, back on 26th November 1922. She had also managed to get Charles Schulz to sign the cover.
Who would have thought at the time of signing the envelope, that Schulz at only 29 years of age would over the next 48 years become one of the most famous and popular cartoonists ever.
There are 2 items that I am still looking for in order to complete my collection. I am looking for a Metermark/Franking machine impression from a Wisconsin, U.S. bakery done in 1969. It depicts an illustration of a dancing Snoopy, and the wording "Snoopy for President".
The other item I am looking for is a U.S. Blue Airmail label/sticker from around 1971, which depicts Snoopy as the Flying Ace.
I would be very interested in contacting fellow collectors who also collect Snoopy on stamps. I have been working on these two collections for 15 years. During that time, I have yet to come across anyone else that collects Snoopy on stamps. (Yet!) If anyone would like more information on collecting Snoopy on stamps please don't hesitate to contact me.
Laura Goodman.
The envelope has the typed wording "Cartoonist of "Peanuts" Comic Strip" in the top left corner and has a newspaper cutting of a young Charles Schulz pasted onto the envelope.
Below this, is Charles M. Schulz's autograph.
I presume that the "maker" of this cover was the addressee on the envelope, a Mrs. P.C. Reim. A very forward thinking person. When this cover was made, Charles Schulz would have been 29 years of age. His cartoons had started to appear in newspapers only 2 years earlier in 1950.
The place name Minneapolis was very apt too, as this was the place that Schulz was born in, back on 26th November 1922. She had also managed to get Charles Schulz to sign the cover.
Who would have thought at the time of signing the envelope, that Schulz at only 29 years of age would over the next 48 years become one of the most famous and popular cartoonists ever.
There are 2 items that I am still looking for in order to complete my collection. I am looking for a Metermark/Franking machine impression from a Wisconsin, U.S. bakery done in 1969. It depicts an illustration of a dancing Snoopy, and the wording "Snoopy for President".
The other item I am looking for is a U.S. Blue Airmail label/sticker from around 1971, which depicts Snoopy as the Flying Ace.
I would be very interested in contacting fellow collectors who also collect Snoopy on stamps. I have been working on these two collections for 15 years. During that time, I have yet to come across anyone else that collects Snoopy on stamps. (Yet!) If anyone would like more information on collecting Snoopy on stamps please don't hesitate to contact me.
Laura Goodman.