Over 17 billion christmas stamps have been printed since the first ones in 1966. It is a matter of some debate as to which was the first christmas stamp. In which country was the first christmas stamp released. British stamps great britain stamps have one of the. However, this practice led to serious problems in post offices because there were many recipients that didnt want to take their mail. We round up our favourite stamp designs from the past five decades, including quentin blakes interpretation of a christmas carol and a festive. Postal service only offers a handful of designs, but minted has over 3,000 christmasthemed postage stamps. Jamie wyeth the son of artist andrew wyeth based his painting, a partridge in a pear tree, on the famous english christmas carol, the twelve days of christmas. The first issued postage stamp began with great britains penny post. A brief history of british xmas stamps all about stamps.
Christmas first day cover bfdc british first day covers. It marked the first year that christmas stamps were issued. Although it does not bear much resemblance to a christmas stamp in the way we would expect today, most philatelists agree that the worlds first christmas stamp is the 1898 canadian imperial postage stamp indeed, it is its lack of christmas imagery that makes it so controversial and lead some to claim that is not a christmas stamp at all, let alone. Get the best deals on seasonal, christmas canadian stamps when you shop the largest online selection at. The first official christmas stamp of the austrian post has been issued in 1953. Get the best deals on first day of issue seasonal, christmas british stamps when you shop the largest online selection at. For deck the halls, christmas lights and holiday cookies set the mood. The reason for refusal was that the dominant feature of british postage stamps had.
So who can lay claim to issuing the first christmas stamp. There is a canadian stamp of 1898 inscribed xmas 1898 but it was issued to mark the inauguration of the imperial penny post, and was not intended as a specifically christmas stamps. However these stamps were actually labels and not issued for postage. Choose from a collection of holiday themed designs or personalize any stamp with your own initials or name. But in 1837, an english schoolmaster named rowland hill noticed that the post office lost out too much by recipients refusing delivery. Imperial penny postage, black, lavender and carmine can0085. Canada post issued a stamp to commemorate the uniform postage rate that would be valid throughout the british empire. They can even be bought at some atms automatic teller machines using a bank card. On may 6, 1840, the british penny black stamp was released.
The curiosity of this issue was that this was the first stamp on the world which depicted expressly christmas scene. What country released the worlds first christmas postage. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you. Austria issued its own christmas stamps in 1937 featuring a rose and zodiac signs. Over 5,000 entries were received, judged by a team of eight stamp designers. The international year of disabled people, pack 125. The penny black engraved the profile of queen victorias head, who remained on all british stamps for the next 60 years.
The above royal mail christmas 1977 stamps were issued on 23 november 1977 by royal mail and feature the following stamp designs. The history of the christmas card history smithsonian. And in 1939, brazil issued its own, decidedly more christmassy, stamps featuring the three kings, a star, and an angel. This holiday season over 3 billion holiday cards, christmas letters and photo cards will be mailed in the united statesand each of them need a postage stamp to reach their final destination.
Britains first christmas stamps were issued on 1 december, fifty. Get the best deals on seasonal, christmas british stamps when you shop the largest online selection at. It also increased the boundaries of the british empire as it. This colourful collectible captures the spirit of the christmas story. Anticipating a huge demand for the new christmas stamp, the department ordered 350 million printed the largest number produced for a special stamp until that time. The first nativity stamp emerged from hungary in 1943. Familiar lyrics from each song highlight the individual stamps. The 12 days of christmas first day cover with the bethlehem special handstamp postmark has been produced by abbey and features these stamps which can make a very collectible.
The royal mails christmas stamps through the ages christmas. Wyeth also gained fame by designing the 1981 and 1984 white house christmas cards and for his moving portrait of john f. King wenceslas, tasveer shemza, 1966 the designs for the uks first ever christmas stamps came about as a result of a competition held by childrens tv show, blue peter. The united states post office department issued its first christmas stamp in pittsburgh, pennsylvania, on november 1, 1962. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Denmark claims it printed the first christmas stamp in 1904 after an idea from postmaster, einar holboell, to add an extra stamp to the christmas mail and the money go to help sick children. While it was printed for a new postage rate, canada issued the first stamp referred to as a christmas stamp. We have everything you need to organise and optimise the daily operations of your business, home office or school with a selection of highquality products from reputable. British first day covers gb first day covers fdc great britain stamp dealers in gb stamps british first day covers jersey guernsey isle of man. Step into christmas with a stunning set of special stamps and collectibles bringing the nativity story to life. Here youll find helpful information about the 2019 christmas stamp designs, prices. The above royal mail christmas stamps were issued on 23 november 1977 by royal mail and feature the following stamp designs.
This has led me to the conclusion that hungarys 1943 set. Stamp dealer and publisher george linn created the first firstday cover when he developed a simple text cachet for the harding memorial stamp issue of 1926. Well despite the controversy, to me, there is only one winner and that is canada. This year marks 52 years since the introduction of the royal mails annual christmas stamp tradition. Find the perfect great britain christmas postage stamp stock photo. It contained a picture of the world with the countries controlled by great britain in red. Buy seasonal, christmas british stamps and get the best deals at the lowest prices on ebay. In 1898 canada issued what is claimed to be the first christmas stamp. Here, we look back at every issue, starting with the king of.
This article is devoted to the stamp that almost changed the history even such a tiny piece of paper could lead to great changes. The chart below shows how the price of a firstclass stamp has changed since 1980 and how it would have looked if it had risen in line with inflation. Birds bahamian stamps 1973now seasonal, christmas british stamps. Whether it was issued specifically for christmas or not, it bears the words xmas 1898 and therefore i think it rightly deserves the title of first christmas stamp. Shop our selection of holiday stamps on the postal store. Royal mail visions of the universe first day envelope. Caught in the grip of world war ii, hungary in 1943 issued three stamps depicting the nativity. Uk christmas stamp, my fathers profession was a philatelist. The britains first christmas stamps first day cover.
Post office perhaps speaks even more powerfully to. Previous slide next slide 1 of 54 view all skip ad. From those humble beginnings, the collecting of firstday covers grew into a market with sales in the millions of dollars. In 1935, british forces troops stationed in egypt were issued with a christmas stamp for their mail home. Mayfairstamps great britain fdc 1979 christmas carolers combo first day cover ww. On 1 may 1840, the first stamps went on sale in britain. The very first christmas stamps about two centuries ago, sending mail was free for the sender because in order to receive the mail, the receiver had to pay a small amount of money. The gpo received a many requests for special christmas stamps in the years up. Shop for christmas stamps and other related products.
Royal mail celebrates 50 years of christmas stamps. First day of issue seasonal, christmas british stamps for. Christmas 1966, britains first christmas stamps first. The twelve days of christmas first day cover with the partridge green cds postmark postmark has been produced by royal mailpost office and features these stamps which can make a. The artist first sketched the artwork in pencil and then rendered it as a digital illustration. This year, the us post office will print more than 4 billion christmas postage stamps.
Christmas stamps usps postage stamps for holiday mail. The first official us christmas stamp was launched in 1962. The very first christmas stamps tony lester auctions ltd. Welcome to our onestop shop first and second class stamps alongside essential office supplies, from office stationery and filing products, to printers, shredders, and more. As a result, the stamp was officially released on 7th december 1898 bearing mercators famous map with the british empire highlighted in red. In 193940, brazil issued a set of four semipostals to raise money for charitable institutions. A letter from philatelia hungarica states the first christmas stamp in hungary was issued in december 1943. The canadian map stamp of 1898 bears an inscription xmas 1898. You can even create your own stamp to match your christmas stationery perfectly. Containing all eight stamps featuring papercut art and light. The first stamp, issued december 20, 1939, shows the three wise men and star of bethlehem leftmost stamp below. Royal mail james bond first day cover spy post, wellington item available from 17 march. The stamp art is designed so the stamps are as graphically pleasing in a group as they are individually.