I’ve been holding on to cancelled stamps for years and found four Christmas themed stamps to share this week. The US Postal Service issued all of them in the 80s and they each seem to convey a unique holiday feel.

1.  The 20 cent Santa Claus Holding Package stamp was issued October 28, 1983. I like all of the iconic details in it…the tree, ornament, tip of the horn, the gift and snow falling against a red background. I also couldn’t help but notice how blue Santa’s eyes are. Very interesting.

2.  The 25 cent Botticelli “Madonna and Child” stamp was issued on October 20, 1988. It’s based on the “Madonna and Child” painting by Sandro Botticelli. Botticelli is also well known for his masterpieces, “Nativity”, “Saint Sebastian” and “The Birth of Venus.” This stamp offers a more formal or classic Christmas vibe.

3.  Designed by Robert Timberlake, the 15 cent Season’s Greetings stamp was issued in 1980 and includes a selection of antique toys. I love the warm nostalgic feel in this stamp.

4.  The 5.2-cent Sleigh stamp was issued on March 21, 1983. There were two versions of this design issued. The stamp shown above is the utilitarian pre-cancelled version. I chose to share this one because of the sleigh. It just feels like Christmas to me.

Thanks for visiting and Merry Christmas!