When did Mr. ZIP make his first appearance?

TAKROM

October of 1962 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._ZIP Feb 28 11, 4:20 PM

Zbeckabee

Mr. ZIP made his public debut in January, 1964 when he was printed on the margin of the five-cent Charles M. Russell commemorative stamp. Mr. ZIP quickly captured the hearts of Americans, and was a prolific icon for the nation's postal system for twenty-two years. Mr. ZIP's image has appeared on numerous retail items, from coffee mugs to t-shirts. Although the U.S. Postal Service retired Mr. ZIP in 1986, his iconic status has endured. The Post Office Department (POD) introduced the ZIP Code to America on July 1, 1963, as a way to speed mail delivery to its ever-growing customer base. A cheerful cartoon character, Mr. ZIP™, was created by an advertising agency and used by the POD to help Americans remember to add the ZIP Code to their envelopes. http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/museum/1d_mrzip.html Feb 28 11, 5:39 PM