Holiday season postal stamps originated in 1962

U.S. postal patrons clamored for decades to be able to purchase holiday-themed postage stamps to apply to their Christmas card envelopes. The post office finally delivered in 1962.

Postmaster General J. Edward Day unveiled the first official Christmas stamp of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) during a big ceremony in Pittsburgh, Pa., at the annual convention of the National Association of Postmasters, on Nov. 1, 1962.

 

The special green and red 4-cent stamp pictured a wreath with a bow and two lit candles. The image was created by artist Jim Crawford.

 

The post office ordered the printing of 350 million copies of the new Christmas stamp – the most ever for a special-issue stamp. 

Historians said the initial supply sold out quickly, and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing began working around-the-clock to print more. By the end of 1962, 1 billion new Christmas stamps had been printed and distributed. 

Day assured his fellow Americans that new Christmas stamps would become an annual tradition. (Day’s popularity soared, and this led the nation to “have faith” when Day introduced the revolutionary ZIP Code system on July 1, 1963.) 

The post office’s official 1963 holiday stamp was designed by Lily Spandorf, a renowned painter in Washington D.C., showing the National Christmas Tree on the White House lawn.

 

Historian Chris West said: “The lights are on in the presidential residence: the first family is at home. Sadly, of course, the stamp tells a much darker story. It was issued in Santa Claus, Ind., on Nov. 1, 1963.” (President John F. Kennedy was assassinated 22 days later.) 

One of the most popular holiday stamps of all time was issued in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., on Oct. 11, 2018, and known as the “Sparkling Holidays” set. It featured four close-up images of Santa Claus that were derived from archived artwork produced in 1963 by Haddon Sundblom for The Coca-Cola Company.

 

Today in 2023, postal patrons can select from 13 different “holiday stamps” in the Forever (66 cents each) category. Some reflect Christians’ “reason for the season,” while others are secular, whimsical and winter-oriented. Additional stamps honor other religions, customs and beliefs.

 

The USPS says it “is proud to offer a stamp program that celebrates the rich diversity of American culture.” 

New for the 2023 holiday season from the USPS is a set of four “Snow Globes” stamps, based on original oil paintings created by artist and illustrator Gregory Manchess of Minneapolis, Minn. Derry Noyes, an art director at USPS, designed the “Snow Globes” stamps. 

The USPS said: “The snow globes depict: a snowman wearing a jaunty red-and-white scarf; Santa Claus on a rooftop, preparing to climb down the chimney; a reindeer standing in a snowy forest; and a snowy tree decorated with colorful ornaments.”

 

Author Harry Rinker said: “Snow globes cause wonder. Every shake is different…and an opportunity to relive a multitude of childhood, winter and winter holiday memories.” 

A second grouping of new holiday stamps this year is “Winter Woodland Animals,” featuring a unique graphic image of a deer, fox, rabbit and owl. 

The USPS publicist said: “The animals appear with details of their habitat in winter, such as a full or crescent moon, snow-covered trees, holly branches with berries and delicate snowflakes.” USPS art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps with Katie Kirk serving as illustrator.

 

A spokesperson for the AARP organization advised its members to “stock up” on 2023 Forever stamps, because the price of a first-class stamp is likely to increase from 66 cents to 68 cents on Jan. 21, 2024.