Christmas is a time of joy and gratitude, and for many Americans, it’s also a time of sending and receiving mail. Whether it’s cards, gifts, or greetings, mail is a way to connect with family and friends during the holiday season. And for over half a century, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has been adding some festive flair to its postage with special Christmas stamps.
But how did this tradition start, and what are some of the most memorable designs of Christmas stamps over the years? Here’s a brief history of how USPS celebrates Christmas with stamps. In the list of U.S. Christmas holiday stamps that follows, the numbers in parentheses indicate postage on non-denominated stamps.
The First Christmas Stamp in the World
The first Christmas stamp in the world was not issued by USPS, but by Canada in 1898. It was not intended to be a Christmas stamp, but rather a commemorative stamp for the inauguration of the Imperial Penny Postage rate, which allowed mail to be sent within the British Empire for one penny per half ounce.
The stamp featured a map of the world, with the British Empire highlighted in red, and the words “XMAS 1898” at the bottom. The stamp was designed by Warren L. Green, the president of the American Bank Note Company in Ottawa, who added the Christmas greeting as a personal touch. The stamp was well received by the public, and many people used it for their Christmas mail.
The First Christmas Stamp in the United States
The first Christmas stamp in the United States was issued by USPS in 1962, after years of lobbying by the public and the postal service.
The idea of issuing a special stamp for Christmas was first proposed by Postmaster General Arthur E. Summer field in 1957, but it was rejected by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who feared that it would violate the separation of church and state. However, after Eisenhower left office, his successor John F. Kennedy approved the idea, and the first Christmas stamp was designed by Jim Crawford, a postal service employee.
The stamp featured a wreath and two candles, with the words “Christmas 1962” at the bottom. The stamp was a huge success, and sold out within days.
The Most Popular Christmas Stamps in History
Since then, USPS has issued many different designs of Christmas stamps, featuring various themes and motifs related to the season. Some of the most popular and iconic Christmas stamps in history include:
- The Madonna and Child series, which began in 1966 and features paintings of Mary and Jesus from different artists and periods.
- The Contemporary Christmas series, which began in 1974 and features modern illustrations of Santa Claus, snowmen, ornaments, and other festive symbols.
- The Traditional Christmas series, which began in 1978 and features classic images of nativity scenes, angels, wise men, and other religious elements.
- The Holiday Celebrations series, which began in 2001 and features cultural and ethnic expressions of the season, such as Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Eid al-Fitr, Diwali, and Lunar New Year.
- The Winter Scenes series, which began in 2002 and features photographs of snowy landscapes and wildlife.
The Previous Christmas Stamps for 2021
Two years ago, USPS issued four new designs of Christmas stamps for 2021:
- The Sparkling Holidays stamps featured four different images of Santa Claus from vintage Coca-Cola advertisements from the 1940s and 1950s. The stamps were designed by Greg Breeding and illustrated by Haddon Sundblom.
- The Holiday Delights stamps featured four different images of colorful cookies, candies, and cakes arranged in festive patterns. The stamps were designed by Antonio Alcalá and illustrated by Kirsten Ulve.
- The Winter Berries stamps featured four different images of bright red berries against snowy backgrounds. The stamps were designed by Steve Buchanan and photographed by Kevin Ebi.
- The Kwanzaa stamp celebrated the African American cultural festival that takes place from December 26 to January 1. The stamp featured a colorful image of a woman holding a bowl of fruits and vegetables, symbolizing the first harvest. The stamp was designed by Derry Noyes and illustrated by Floyd Cooper.
The Current Christmas Stamps for 2022
Last year, USPS has announced four new designs of Christmas stamps for 2022:
- The Christmas Carols stamps feature four different images of musical instruments and sheet music associated with popular Christmas songs, such as “Jingle Bells”, “Silent Night”, “Deck the Halls”, and “Joy to the World”. The stamps were designed by Ethel Kessler and illustrated by Steve McCracken.
- The Gingerbread Houses stamps feature four different images of whimsical and colorful gingerbread houses decorated with candy and frosting. The stamps were designed by Antonio Alcalá and illustrated by Sally Vitsky.
- The Snow Globes stamps feature four different images of snow globes containing scenes of Santa Claus, a snowman, a reindeer, and a penguin. The stamps were designed by Greg Breeding and illustrated by Mick Wiggins.
- The Hanukkah stamp celebrates the Jewish Festival of Lights with an image of a menorah with nine lit candles. The stamp was designed by Ethel Kessler and illustrated by Jing Jing Tsong.
The Upcoming Christmas Stamps for 2023
This year, USPS has revealed seven new stamp subjects for 2023, including:
- John Lewis, the civil rights leader and U.S. Rep. from Georgia, who will be honored in the Black Heritage series with a photograph of him taken by Marco Grob for Time magazine in 2013.
- Art of the Skateboard, which will celebrate the bold artwork on skateboard decks with four photographs of skateboards created by artists from different backgrounds and styles.
- Florida Everglades, which will depict a sunset scene of a sawgrass marsh near a cypress dome in the largest wetland in the world and the most significant breeding ground for tropical wading birds in North America.
- Tomie dePaola, the prolific children’s book author and illustrator, who will be honored with an image of him holding one of his books, surrounded by some of his beloved characters.
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the late Supreme Court justice and champion of women’s rights, who will be honored with a photograph of her taken by Fred Schilling for the Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States in 2016.
- Women’s Soccer, which will celebrate the achievements and popularity of women’s soccer in the United States with four photographs of players in action from different levels of competition.
- Roy Lichtenstein’s Art, which will showcase four works by the pop art pioneer who transformed comic book panels into large-scale paintings with bold colors and dots.
Whether you’re looking for a traditional, contemporary, or multicultural way to celebrate the season, you can find a Christmas stamp that suits your style and taste.
Christmas stamps are more than just postage, they’re a way to express your joy and gratitude to the people you care about.
So why not add some Christmas stamps to your holiday mail this year, and share the spirit of the season with your friends and family? 🎄
Pingback: How to Choose the Best Christmas Stamps for Cards 2023 🇺🇸