2014 49¢ Bumble
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Like many fables, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has a villain. The white-furred Abominable Snow Monster of the North hates Christmas and preys on reindeer. He hunts the major characters through their adventures, and the very sight of Rudolph’s nose sends the Abominable Snow Monster into a rage.
Yukon Cornelius is the Snow Monster’s enemy and an expert on the beast, who he calls “Bumble.” Yukon’s knowledge of Bumble’s strengths and weaknesses helps Rudolph escape several times. And when the Snow Monster captures Rudolph’s family, Yukon and Hermey use a pig sound to lure him from the cave where he’s holding them captive.
After knocking the monster unconscious, Hermey extracts all of his teeth, leaving him helpless. But Yukon’s hand-to-hand combat with Bumble ends with them both falling over a cliff and out of sight.
A happy ending follows, however, when Rudolph’s family reunites at Santa’s Workshop and Yukon and Bumble show up. Fears are calmed when Yukon explains Bumble has mended his ways and wants a job. Asked how they survived the fall, Yukon laughs. “Didn’t I ever tell you about Bumbles? Bumbles bounce!”
U.S. #4948 is part of a four-stamp set issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the premiere of the animated Christmas classic, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The art for the stamps was from a still frame of the special. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer is the longest-running and highest-rated Christmas special on TV.
49¢ Bumble, issued to satisfy the first-class mail rate
Issue Date: November 6, 2014 – the 50th anniversary of the show’s premiere
City: Washington, DC
Quantity: 125 million
Category: Commemorative
Printed By: CCL Label Inc.
Printing Method: Photogravure in sheets of 120, with six booklet panes of 20 per sheet
Perforations: Serpentine Die Cut 11 X 10 ¾
Self-adhesive