Who had the first Christmas stamp?

By Patricia Kasten
Compass Associate Editor

Mailed all your Christmas cards yet?

Since Christmas is almost two weeks past, you might be a bit late. However, in the church, the season continues until this coming Monday, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. (And in some places, like the Vatican, the nativity set stays up until after Feb. 2.)

So it's not too late to talk about Christmas stamps.

This year's U.S. Christmas stamp - "Madonna and Child with Bird," by Ignacio Chacon - marked the 40th anniversary of such a U.S. stamp. The first religious U.S. Christmas stamp was issued in 1966: a "Madonna and Child" by Hans Memling. (It was issued for two years in a row.)

Since then, there have been 33 Madonna and Child stamps issued by the U.S. Post Office. Interestingly, in order not to be accused of introducing religion into government, these stamps are officially listed as "work of art" stamps. In 1995, the Post Office announced it would not issue a religious Christmas stamp. However, Pres. Bill Clinton intervened and Giotto di Bondone's "Madonna and Child" (lacking the usual "Christmas" title on the stamp) was issued.

While there has been a Madonna and Child stamp issued each year since 1978, the first U.S. Christmas stamp was issued in 1962. It depicted a wreath.

Even though Christmas has been celebrated since the 4th century, Christmas stamps - anywhere in the world - date back less than 70 years.

Postage stamps themselves do not have a long history. The first regular postage stamp was issued in London in 1840 - the famous "penny black" - depicting Queen Victoria in profile on a black background. (Before that time, recipients - not the mailers - of letters paid the postage upon its arrival.)

Among stamp collectors, there has been some controversy about who issued the first Christmas stamp. Many claim that honor for Canada, dating to 1898. It showed a map of Canada and held the caption "XMAS 1898." However, it turns out that the date indicates its issue time - December 1898 - rather than the holiday. The stamp's original issue was first meant to be in November, to honor the Prince of Wales birthday (Nov. 9). However, that did not amuse Queen Victoria, and the Prince to be honored by the stamp quickly became the Prince of Peace - which meant adding "XMAS 1898" and issuing it around Christmas.

Several other stamps - Austria in 1937, Brazil in 1939 and Hungary in 1941 - variously claim the title of first Christmas stamp. However, most collectors cite Hungary's 1943 Nativity scene, issued during World War II, as the first religious Christmas stamp in the world.

Since then, countless Christmas stamps have been issued around the world. The Vatican, which has been issuing postage stamps since 1929, also issues Christmas stamps, with the earliest dating to the 1950s.

In our country, other religious stamps have also been issued: a Hanukkah stamp was first issued in 1996; the Eid Muslim stamp (translated from Arabic as "blessed holiday") was first issued in 2001; and the first Kwanzaa stamp (considered more a cultural than a religious stamp) was issued in 1997.

If you're planning ahead, next year's religious Christmas stamp has already been selected by the U.S. Post Office: it is 16th century "Madonna and the Carnation" by Bernadino Luini.

And just in case you already used up all your Christmas stamps, don't worry because there's another stamp coming soon that can help you continue to spread the message of hope and blessings to others.

Since 1973, the U.S. Post Office has issued its famous "Love" stamp. This year, it is called "Love with Kisses" and honors the 100th anniversary of Hershey's chocolate kiss. Despite these commercial overtones, the Love stamp is tied to another religious holiday. Since its inauguration, it has always been released to time with Valentine's Day - another feast that originated in the celebrations of the church.