Christmas Stamps
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S Balakrishnan
The first stamp among the dozen I have on Christmas features the “Three Kings” or “Three Wise Men” or “Magi” from the Nativity story, following a star to Bethlehem to see Infant Christ. Issued in 1996 in Great Britain (as indicated by the silhouette head of Queen Elizabeth-II), it is meant only for standard internal mail within UK, hence called 2nd class postage stamp. The postage stamps of Britain do not carry the country’s name but only the monarch’s head, thereby indicating that it is from Britain.
The 2nd stamp is a cute drawing depicting an angel ringing a large Church bell. Issued on 14th October 1975, it is an adaption from an 1878 X’mas card designed by Louis Prang who is considered the “father of the American Christmas Card”. The 1878 card is now safely with the New York City museum. The US stamp was designed by Stevan Dohanos, a famous designer. For the first time in US postage history, this stamp was issued without denomination. The two such stamps will be valid for postage at 10 cents, the first-class postage rate in effect at the time of issue. Called “Yule Stamps”, ie, “Christmas-theme” stamps, their value will remain 10 cents even if the first-class postage rate is increased later. First Class mail is international mail.
The next, the third one, is again a stamp issued by the Royal Mail of Great Britain in 1986; it was part of a set featuring Christmas folk customs. These Christmas special stamps are exempt from the Royal Mail’s stamp swap-out scheme for non-barcoded standard stamps. The 13 pence ‘The Glastonbury Thorn’ stamp is about a legend – One Joseph of Arimathea arrived in Britain, planted his staff on Wearyall Hill, and it miraculously grew into the thorn tree that flowers twice a year - at Christmas and in May. The real-life tradition is that a flowering sprig from this tree is sent to the British Monarch every Christmas. The stamp shows the unique Cratae-gusmonogyna 'Biflora' hawthorn in blossom. Though the original tree was cut down during the English Civil War, its descendants have been propagated by grafting and they continue to grow in Glastonbury area.
The 4th is a Christmas special issue of Canada in 1973, valued at 15 cents. Designed like a stained glass painting it depicts a shepherd (boy?) with a lamb, looking up at the star of Bethlehem. This one belongs to a set of four stamps, the other three being a dove, a skate, and Santa Claus, all in the same style of stained glass painting with bold strokes that give a child-like quality to the design but yet convey the theme strikingly beautifully. "Noël" is the French word for "Christmas".
The 5th and the central stamp is the ‘Conestabile Madonna’ painting by the Italian High Renaissance artist Raphaelin in 1504, showing Virgin Mary with the Christ Child looking at a book. It is a small round painting (tondo) currently in the Hermitage Museum in Leningrad (as the text at the top indicates) (now renamed St. Petersburg), Russia, since 1880. Issued in 1970 by the then USSR (Soviet Union), the stamp depicts Madonna in a red dress and blue cape. The original painting was transferred from wooden panel to canvas in 1871 or 1881 for preservation. It was then revealed that Mary was originally holding a pomegranate, a symbol of the Passion of Christ, instead of the book now seen. The stamp is of 3 Kopecks value. The stamp belongs to a series titled “Foreign paintings in the Soviet Union Museums”. The painting is notable for tempera paint and its elegant ornate original frame.
The 6th stamp is also of Mary & Infant Christ and also from an old painting. The Canada Post’s Christmas postage stamp (30 cents) of 1978 is from an early Renaissance painting “The Virgin and Child Enthroned” by artist Jacopo di Cione, which is now with National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. The Infant is holding a goldfinch (bird), a symbol often used in Christian art. The other hand is fondly touching Mary’s cheek. Mary’s dress is richly embellished.
The 7th stamp is from East – the Singapore stamp of 1998 is one among the set of for stamps showcasing “Festivals” celebrated in that multi-cultural & multi-ethnic country, the others being Diwali, Chinese New Year and Id. Meant only ‘For Local Address’, the stamp shows a little girl eagerly opening Christmas presents.
The 8th stamp from Canada was a trend setter in that it moved away from religious imagery towards abstract modern graphic motifs. In magenta background it shows white crystalline snowflake as designed by Ray Webber.
(To be contd)
The first stamp among the dozen I have on Christmas features the “Three Kings” or “Three Wise Men” or “Magi” from the Nativity story, following a star to Bethlehem to see Infant Christ. Issued in 1996 in Great Britain (as indicated by the silhouette head of Queen Elizabeth-II), it is meant only for standard internal mail within UK, hence called 2nd class postage stamp. The postage stamps of Britain do not carry the country’s name but only the monarch’s head, thereby indicating that it is from Britain.
The 2nd stamp is a cute drawing depicting an angel ringing a large Church bell. Issued on 14th October 1975, it is an adaption from an 1878 X’mas card designed by Louis Prang who is considered the “father of the American Christmas Card”. The 1878 card is now safely with the New York City museum. The US stamp was designed by Stevan Dohanos, a famous designer. For the first time in US postage history, this stamp was issued without denomination. The two such stamps will be valid for postage at 10 cents, the first-class postage rate in effect at the time of issue. Called “Yule Stamps”, ie, “Christmas-theme” stamps, their value will remain 10 cents even if the first-class postage rate is increased later. First Class mail is international mail.
The next, the third one, is again a stamp issued by the Royal Mail of Great Britain in 1986; it was part of a set featuring Christmas folk customs. These Christmas special stamps are exempt from the Royal Mail’s stamp swap-out scheme for non-barcoded standard stamps. The 13 pence ‘The Glastonbury Thorn’ stamp is about a legend – One Joseph of Arimathea arrived in Britain, planted his staff on Wearyall Hill, and it miraculously grew into the thorn tree that flowers twice a year - at Christmas and in May. The real-life tradition is that a flowering sprig from this tree is sent to the British Monarch every Christmas. The stamp shows the unique Cratae-gusmonogyna 'Biflora' hawthorn in blossom. Though the original tree was cut down during the English Civil War, its descendants have been propagated by grafting and they continue to grow in Glastonbury area.
The 4th is a Christmas special issue of Canada in 1973, valued at 15 cents. Designed like a stained glass painting it depicts a shepherd (boy?) with a lamb, looking up at the star of Bethlehem. This one belongs to a set of four stamps, the other three being a dove, a skate, and Santa Claus, all in the same style of stained glass painting with bold strokes that give a child-like quality to the design but yet convey the theme strikingly beautifully. "Noël" is the French word for "Christmas".
The 5th and the central stamp is the ‘Conestabile Madonna’ painting by the Italian High Renaissance artist Raphaelin in 1504, showing Virgin Mary with the Christ Child looking at a book. It is a small round painting (tondo) currently in the Hermitage Museum in Leningrad (as the text at the top indicates) (now renamed St. Petersburg), Russia, since 1880. Issued in 1970 by the then USSR (Soviet Union), the stamp depicts Madonna in a red dress and blue cape. The original painting was transferred from wooden panel to canvas in 1871 or 1881 for preservation. It was then revealed that Mary was originally holding a pomegranate, a symbol of the Passion of Christ, instead of the book now seen. The stamp is of 3 Kopecks value. The stamp belongs to a series titled “Foreign paintings in the Soviet Union Museums”. The painting is notable for tempera paint and its elegant ornate original frame.
The 6th stamp is also of Mary & Infant Christ and also from an old painting. The Canada Post’s Christmas postage stamp (30 cents) of 1978 is from an early Renaissance painting “The Virgin and Child Enthroned” by artist Jacopo di Cione, which is now with National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. The Infant is holding a goldfinch (bird), a symbol often used in Christian art. The other hand is fondly touching Mary’s cheek. Mary’s dress is richly embellished.
The 7th stamp is from East – the Singapore stamp of 1998 is one among the set of for stamps showcasing “Festivals” celebrated in that multi-cultural & multi-ethnic country, the others being Diwali, Chinese New Year and Id. Meant only ‘For Local Address’, the stamp shows a little girl eagerly opening Christmas presents.
The 8th stamp from Canada was a trend setter in that it moved away from religious imagery towards abstract modern graphic motifs. In magenta background it shows white crystalline snowflake as designed by Ray Webber.
(To be contd)