# 5497 - 2020 First-Class Forever Stamps - Bugs Bunny: Court Jester
US #5497
2020 Court Jester – Bugs Bunny
- One of 10 stamp designs celebrating Bugs Bunny’s 80th birthday
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Bugs Bunny
Value: 55¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: July 27, 2020
First Day City: Burbank, California
Quantity Issued: 50,000,000
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Panes of 20
Tagging: Phosphor, overall
Why the stamp was issued: To commemorate the 80th anniversary of Bugs Bunny’s official screen debut.
About the stamp designs: Pictures a one of Bugs Bunny’s iconic personas – a court jester. The artwork came directly from Warner Bros. animation artists who also created the sketches on the reverse side of the complete pane of 20 stamps.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic with a First Day of Issue postmark from Burbank, California, home of Warner Bros.
About the Bugs Bunny set: Includes 10 different stamp designs issued in honor of Bugs Bunny’s debut on screen in 1940. Each design pictures a different on of Bugs’ famous personas: a barber, basketball player, Hollywood celebrity, court jester, Brünhilde, mermaid, piano player, super-rabbit, baseball player, and soldier. The set also honors Bugs’ place in popular culture and animation history.
History the stamp represents: Bugs Bunny has featured alongside many famous fictional characters over the years. One particular episode saw him serving as court jester to King Arthur. The episode was called Knighty Knight Bugs (1958) and was directed by Friz Freleng.
At the beginning of the cartoon, King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table are discussing the capture of the Singing Sword. None of the knights are brave enough to go take it back from the evil Black Knight (who we later find out is played by Yosemite Sam). This is because he has a fire-breathing dragon by his side. Jester Bugs taunts them all, and King Arthur decides to send him after the sword instead.
In typical Bugs fashion, he arrives at the Black Knight’s castle and has the Singing Sword in his hands before anyone knows it. Of course, it is never quite that simple, and Bugs is soon discovered. What follows is a classic chase scene in which Bugs continues to outwit his enemy. Even more comedy is added when Bugs discovers the dragon has a cold, causing him to unexpectedly sneeze fire. Bugs takes full advantage and traps his enemies in a room of explosives. The dragon sneezes, and the Black Knight is blown sky-high.
Though he is dressed as a foolish jester, Bugs proves he is always the smart one when it comes to tricking his enemies.
US #5497
2020 Court Jester – Bugs Bunny
- One of 10 stamp designs celebrating Bugs Bunny’s 80th birthday
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Bugs Bunny
Value: 55¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: July 27, 2020
First Day City: Burbank, California
Quantity Issued: 50,000,000
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Panes of 20
Tagging: Phosphor, overall
Why the stamp was issued: To commemorate the 80th anniversary of Bugs Bunny’s official screen debut.
About the stamp designs: Pictures a one of Bugs Bunny’s iconic personas – a court jester. The artwork came directly from Warner Bros. animation artists who also created the sketches on the reverse side of the complete pane of 20 stamps.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic with a First Day of Issue postmark from Burbank, California, home of Warner Bros.
About the Bugs Bunny set: Includes 10 different stamp designs issued in honor of Bugs Bunny’s debut on screen in 1940. Each design pictures a different on of Bugs’ famous personas: a barber, basketball player, Hollywood celebrity, court jester, Brünhilde, mermaid, piano player, super-rabbit, baseball player, and soldier. The set also honors Bugs’ place in popular culture and animation history.
History the stamp represents: Bugs Bunny has featured alongside many famous fictional characters over the years. One particular episode saw him serving as court jester to King Arthur. The episode was called Knighty Knight Bugs (1958) and was directed by Friz Freleng.
At the beginning of the cartoon, King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table are discussing the capture of the Singing Sword. None of the knights are brave enough to go take it back from the evil Black Knight (who we later find out is played by Yosemite Sam). This is because he has a fire-breathing dragon by his side. Jester Bugs taunts them all, and King Arthur decides to send him after the sword instead.
In typical Bugs fashion, he arrives at the Black Knight’s castle and has the Singing Sword in his hands before anyone knows it. Of course, it is never quite that simple, and Bugs is soon discovered. What follows is a classic chase scene in which Bugs continues to outwit his enemy. Even more comedy is added when Bugs discovers the dragon has a cold, causing him to unexpectedly sneeze fire. Bugs takes full advantage and traps his enemies in a room of explosives. The dragon sneezes, and the Black Knight is blown sky-high.
Though he is dressed as a foolish jester, Bugs proves he is always the smart one when it comes to tricking his enemies.