Christmas stamp

This Canadian stamp's Christmas connection is in the "XMAS 1898" at the bottom of the map.

AChristmas stampis apostage stampwith aChristmastheme, intended for use on seasonal mail such asChristmas cards.Many countries of the world issue such stamps, which are regular postage stamps (in contrast toChristmas seals) and are usually valid for postage year-round (in some countries they have a discounted value and are for use exclusively on Christmas cards). They usually go on sale some time between early October and early December, and are printed in considerable quantities.

History

British Troops in Egypt Christmas stamp, 1935

First Christmas stamp of Australia, 1957

It is a matter of some debate as to which was the first Christmas stamp. TheCanadianmap stamp of 1898 bears an inscription "XMAS 1898", but it was actually issued to mark the inauguration of theImperial Penny Postagerate. The Christmas connection has long been reported to have been the result of quick thinking;William Mulockwas proposing that it be issued on 9 November, to "honor the Prince" (meaning thePrince of Wales), but whenQueen Victoriaasked "what Prince?" in a displeased manner, Mulock realized the danger, and answered "Why, madam, thePrince of Peace."

In 1935,British Forcestroops stationed in Egypt were issued with a Christmas stamp for their mail home. For many years these were not included in the Stanley Gibbons catalogues, as they classified them as a “seal” rather than a postage stamp, but they have been properly included since the mid-1960s as they prepaid postage and so, despite the inscription "Letter stamp", are normal stamps, and should therefore be counted as the first stamp issued expressly to mark Christmas. Like the slightly earlier Silver Jubilee overprints on the “sphinx” stamp, the Christmas stamps were issued in booklet form in panes of 20.

In 1937,Austriaissued two "Christmas greeting stamps" featuring aroseandzodiacsigns. In 1939,Brazilissued foursemi-postalstamps with designs featuring thethree kingsand a star, anangeland child, theSouthern Crossand a child, and a mother and child. In 1941Hungaryalso issued a semi-postal whose additional fees were to pay for "soldiers' Christmas". The first stamps to depict theNativitywere the Hungary issue of 1943. These were all one-time issues, more likecommemorative stampsthan regular issues.

The next Christmas stamps did not appear until 1951, whenCubaissued designs withpoinsettiasand bells, followed byHaitiin 1954,LuxembourgandSpainin 1955, andAustralia,South Korea,andLiechtensteinin 1957. In cases such as Australia, the issuance marked the first of what became an annual tradition. Many additional countries took up the practice during the 1960s, including theUnited Statesin 1962 and theUnited Kingdomin 1966.

By the 1990s, approximately 160 postal administrations were issuing Christmas stamps, mostly on an annual basis.Islamiccountries constitute the largest group of non-participants, although thePalestinian Authorityhas issued Christmas stamps since 1995.

Designs

Although some tropical islands produce large-format Christmas stamps primarily intended for sale tostamp collectors,for the rest of the world, Christmas stamps are "working stamps" that will be used in large numbers to send greeting cards and postcards. Accordingly, the stamps tend to be normal-sized, and offered in one or a few denominations, for instance to cover differing domestic and international rates.

The choice of designs is highly variable, ranging from an overtly religious image of theNativity,to secular images ofChristmas trees,wreaths,Santa Claus,and so forth.A country may maintain a unified theme for several years, then change it drastically, in some cases seemingly to follow "fashion moves" by other countries. For instance, during the 1970s many countries issued Christmas stamps featuring children's drawings, with the young artist identified by name and age.

The choice of secular or religious designs is frequently a bone of contention in some countries; church leaders often see secular designs as diluting the meaning of the holiday, while postal officials fear that overly religious designs could lead their secular or minority-religious customers to avoid the stamps, leaving millions unsold, and even expose the postal administration to charges that they are violating laws prohibiting the promotion of a particular religion.

In the United States, annual discord over "secular" versus "religious" designs was eventually resolved by thePostal Serviceissuing some of each per year; typically a group of 4–6 related secular designs, plus a religious design (usually depicting theMadonna and Child). To avoid difficulties attendant upon contracting for original designs with a religious theme, the latter have typically been adapted fromOld Masterpaintings hanging in U.S. galleries, thus qualifying as depictions of art. (In 2012, 2014, and 2016, however, religious-themed stamps were issued featuring original designs depicting theflight into Egypt,the journey of theMagi,and theNativity of Jesus,respectively.) In the United Kingdom, theRoyal Mailresolves the difficulty by issuing "religious" and "secular" themed designs in alternate years.

Usage

The typical usage of Christmas stamps is to quickly apply them to a stack of Christmas cards to go out. In the age of email, Christmas stamps may represent some individuals' largest remaining use of stamps in a year, and it is not unusual to see "leftovers" appear on regular mail during the first months of the new year.In Australia and theNetherlands,Christmas stamps are sold at a discount, but can be used after Christmas with additional stamps to make up the correct rate.

Collecting

Christmas is a popular theme fortopical collecting.Because of the quantities printed, almost all Christmas stamps are easy to come by and of negligible cost. Collecting challenges would therefore be to getcoverswith apropospostal markings,such as a postmark on Christmas Day (not all post offices get the day off), from a particular location (such asChristmas Island;Christmas, Florida;Noel, Missouri;North Pole, Alaska;North Pole, New York;orSanta Claus, Indiana), or bearing a specific Christmas theme or slogan.

The Christmas Philatelic Club was formed in 1969 by Christmas stamp collectors and issues a quarterly journal, theYule Log.A number of collectors treat Christmas collecting as a subcategory of religion on stamps.

Other holiday stamps

Main article:Holiday stamp

The United States has occasionally issued stamps for other holidays, such asThanksgivingandNew Year's Day.Since the 1990s, stamps forKwanzaa,Hanukkah,Eid,andChinese New Yearhave become a regular part of the holiday program, although in contrast to Christmas stamps the designs tend to be re-used for several years, distinguishable only by a different denomination or year date.

In Japan, there is a longstanding tradition of a New Year's stamp. A number ofEasterstamps have also been issued, but these are largely aimed at collectors.

Valentine's Day stampsare a more recent tradition in some countries.

Further reading

• Waller Sager and Kathleen Berry,75 Years of Christmas Stamps(1971)
• Everleigh Foster,Christmas Stamps of the World(American Topical Association Handbook 120, 1990)

External links

• Christmas Philatelic Club homepage
• Latest Christmas Stamps over the world (since 2004)