The holiday season is well and truly upon us – as I write this, the APC is glittering with lights and resplendent with evergreen swags and bows, and the APS & APRL staff are gearing up for our annual holiday party on Friday. And as the spirit of the season cloaks us all in warmth and glad tidings, my thoughts turned to…stamps!

Having only recently become acquainted with Christmas Seals, I found myself wondering what other holiday stamps and philatelic materials were out there that I didn’t know about. Curious (and nosy) as ever, I sent an email to our staff and volunteers here at the APC and asked them to share their favorite holiday stamps, labels, and more – and they kindly did just that.

But I know there are even more examples of holiday philately out there, so now I’d like to ask you to join this seasonal knowledge exchange – write in and share your favorite holiday stamps, labels, postal stationery, or philatelic materials with us (and your fellow philatelists), and we’ll collect the responses and publish them on our website for all to see!

To participate, just drop us a line at digitalcontent@stamps.org or send your response via the mail to:

The American Philatelic Society

Attn: Nora Bryson

100 Match Factory Place

Bellefonte, PA 16823

Items celebrating and commemorating any and all winter holidays are welcome – the more the merrier! 

National Christmas Tree & White House

Scott Number: US 1240

Issued On: November 1, 1963

My favorite Christmas stamp is the U.S. 1963 stamp that shows the national Christmas tree standing in front of the White House.

Aside from it being a simple, but striking, design, I love the backstory. The stamp’s artwork is based on a painting by artist Lily Spandorf (1915-2000), who emigrated with her Jewish family from Austria prior to World War II. 

She was a working artist in the nation’s capital in December 1962 when she made her way to the White House and watched as President John Kennedy lit the 5,000 colored lights on the 72-foot Norway spruce brought from Colorado. Inspired, she recreated the scene in a painting, which was utilized to create the 1963 holiday stamp.

Jeff Stage, Senior Editor

Snow Globes

Scott Numbers: US 5816-5819

Issued On: September 19, 2023

The snow globe stamps make me feel nostalgic. They reflect an era gone by where snow globes were holiday decorations in my grandparents’ home over the holidays.

Amy Larimer, Executive Assistant

I really like the Snow Globes stamps that came out this year. The art is beautiful, and I love snow globes.

Darlene Bloom, Stamp & Cover Shop

Navidad 1954-55

Scott Numbers: CU 532 & 533

Issued on: December 15, 1954

In 1951, the Republic of Cuba began issuing annual Navidad (Christmas) stamps priced at 2 and 4 centavos. The stamps were typically printed in the festive red and green combinations. In 1954, Cuba issued the world’s first Santa Claus stamp in the traditional red and green combinations. Images of Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, and Santa Claus varied throughout time, but the modern depiction took form in the late 19th century and more widely used in commercial works, like those drawn by Haddon Sundblom for Coca-Cola. However, it was not until 1954 that Santa Claus made an appearance on a Christmas stamp in Cuba, 18 years before the United States issued its first of many Santa stamps.

While a historical first, it’s also a fun stamp and a warm remembrance of the Christmas holiday. Every collector should keep one fun stamp in their lives.

Scott English, APS Executive Director

Charlie Brown Christmas

Scott Numbers: US 5021-5027

Issued on: October 1, 2015

My favorite are the Peanuts Christmas stamps. They take me back to my younger days. It was a tradition in my house to watch the Charlie Brown holiday special on CBS every Christmas season.

Stephanie Frankhouser, Internet Sales

Viking in a Bath of Ice

View on Colnect

Scott Number: DK 1567

Series: Winterfairy 2011

Issued On: October 25, 2011

I like this stamp because it’s unprecedented. You don’t see a lot of things like this for the winter season. It’s so weird. And it gives Vikings credit – there’s not enough Viking representation in this world.

Tess English, Media Intern

Early U.S. Christmas

Scott Numbers: US 1205, US 1240

Issued: 1960s

I have a lot of favorites, but I really enjoy the early U.S. Christmas stamps, like the 1962 Wreath and Candles (the first U.S. Christmas stamp) or the National Christmas Tree stamps from 1963. They remind me of the Christmas decorations my family had when I was growing up. They’re very classy stamps.

Alicia Leathers, APRL Library Assistant

1968 Christmas Seals

Scott Number: WX233

Issued: 1968

This Christmas seal from 1968 and its matching lime green counterpart are my favorite pieces of holiday philately (for now, at least). I love the bright colors and the simple but beautiful design – like Alicia, I’m partial to this classy era of U.S. stamps and philately. Plus, pears always make me nostalgic for the holidays because my grandmother always sent us some for Christmas.

Nora Bryson, Digital Editor

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