Barney Google 100th Anniversary

I missed the 100th Anniversary of the comic strip Barney Google and Snuffy Smith, which occurred yesterday. The above covers are examples of commercially produced first day covers for the Barney Google Stamp issued in 1995 as part of the Classic Comic Strip issue. (producers: Colorado Silk, Mayfair)

Barney Google was created by Billy DeBeck in 1919, but the popularity of the strip gained momentum with the introduction of Spark Plug, a racehorse with little momentum

By 1934, the strip needed an introduction of new characters to bring back viewers. With the popularity of Lil' Abner and the strip The Mountain Boys, DeBeck introduced Snuffy Smith and his wife Lowizie

In 1934 cartoonist Fred Laswell would become an assistant to DeBeck, eventually taking over the strip. 1998 Jose Rose assisted Laswell, taking over in 2001

To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the strip, Barney Google would return to Hootin' Holler to visit Snuffy and Lowizie, only to get lost on his way through the comics

Kribbs Kovers created a hand colored cachet #/4 for the Re-opening of the Santa Anita post office. As the cachet states Snuffy is at the celebration, most likely the one held at the Santa Anita racetrack, with Barney!

Daily Cartoonist