Starbucks Washington mug: Discovery Series
The Washington mug from Starbucks' Discovery Series sets the name in red capitals over a dark green circle, with a leaping salmon, a red apple and apple slice, a snowy mountain and a dark Bigfoot-style figure.
- Series
- Discovery Series
- Place
- Washington State, USA
- Type
- Mug
- Released
- Not confirmed
- Capacity
- 14 fl ozstandard mug size
- SKU
- Not confirmed
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The Cleveland hunters who wrote to ask if Bigfoot was legal game
In July 1971, Ken Killeen, who headed an expedition from Cleveland, wrote to the state of Washington to ask whether shooting a Bigfoot was illegal [1]. The state pointed him to a Skamania County ordinance, which set a fine of up to $10,000 and up to five years in the county jail [2]. The county's commissioners had adopted it on April 1, 1969, and when people did not take it for real, the newspaper publisher had it notarized [3]. The ordinance gives its own reason: an influx of investigators and hunters, many armed with lethal weapons [2]. According to the 1971 UPI report, the commissioners maintained it was passed in all seriousness [1]. In 1984 the county lowered the crime to a gross misdemeanor, up to a year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine [2]. The dark, furry figure walking beside the handle of the Washington mug (5) is the kind of creature the law was written for.
The mug does not label its drawings, so connecting this one to the story is our reading.
What's on the mug
- 1Lettering
WASHINGTON in red capitals across the lower part of a dark green circle.
- 2Salmon
A pink-and-aqua salmon arcs over the top of the circle, head to the right.
- 3Red apple
A large red apple with a small aqua leaf sits at the right of the circle.
- 4Apple slice
A white apple wedge with a red rim sits just left of the whole apple.
- 5Bigfoot-style figure
A dark, furry two-legged figure walks to the left of the handle, carrying a small orange box.
- 6Snowy mountain
A black-and-white mountain with a snow-capped peak sits under the lettering.
- 7Evergreen trees
Tall aqua and yellow evergreens stand at the left, with a pink tree behind them.
- 8Pink wildflowers
Rows of pink spikes and aqua trees fill the meadow along the base.
- 9Campfire Side view
Red and orange flames rise from a fire at the left of this view, with a person standing near it.
- 10Tent Side view
A tent in pale blue, yellow and red stands in the middle, with a bright yellow circle inside its open door.
- 11Pink fir tree Side view
A tall tree in pink and red strokes rises on the right of the tent.
- 12Red orca-like shape Side view
A red shape with a pointed fin leaps above wavy water at the lower right.
- 13Goldfinch Back view
A yellow bird with black and white wings perches on top of a wine bottle.
- 14Wine bottle and glass Back view
A dark bottle with a glass of red wine beside it stands on a bunch of blue grapes.
- 15Winged creature Back view
A creature with curled horns, sunglasses-like eyes and blue patterned wings sits at the left, beside a plate of green slices.
The photo shows one side of the mug. The back and the area behind the handle are out of view.
Collector notes
- The inside of this mug is pale aqua, which shows at the rim in the photo.
- The salmon and the apple crowd the top of the circle, while the evergreens sit at the far left and the Bigfoot-style figure stands beside the handle, so a photo taken from the right misses most of them.
Before you buy
The photo shows one side of this 14 fl oz Discovery Series mug; the back and the area behind the handle are out of view. The inside is pale aqua. Washington also appears in the Been There and You Are Here series, so check the series name before you order.
