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British Christmas stamp of 2
013
by Olga Terekhova
The New Year and Chrismas are near so I decided to do a report on these kind of stamps.
But first, here are a couple of interesting facts about stamps:
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The first postage stamps did not come with a sticky back. People used their own glue or paste or figured out other ways to keep the stamp on the envelope. The most popular US postage stamp sold over 120 million copies. It was a 1993 stamp of rock singer Elvis Presley. The only country to print stamps without its name on them is Great Britain. This is okay, because they invented the stamp. In 1918 a number of stamps of an airplane were accidentally printed upside down. They are called the Inverted Jenny stamps today. Since only about 100 of these were found, they are very valuable. An estimated 20 million people collect stamps in the United States. Some countries print stamps mostly for collectors. Selling stamps to collectors is actually a major way these countries make money. |
Each country will usually have stamps that represent things that make that country special. This includes leaders, famous entertainers, animals that can be found in that country, historical events, historical figures and more.
And now about the special type of stamps- Christmas stamps:
A special stamp is a type of postage stamp typically intended for use on special occasions and holidays that occur repeatedly. Christmas stamp, with a seasonal design, and used in vast numbers to mail. Some tropical islands produce large-format Christmas stamps primarily intended for sale to stamp collectors, for the rest of the world, Christmas stamps are "working stamps" that will be used in large numbers to send greeting cards and postcards. Accordingly, the stamps tend to be normal-sized, and offered in one or a few denominations, for instance to cover differing domestic and international rates. They are usually valid for postage year-round. The choice of designs is highly variable, ranging from an overtly religious image of the Nativity, to secular images of Christmas trees,wreaths,Santa, and so forth.
Christmas stamp 2013 in Great Britain:
Since Royal Mail first issued Christmas stamps in 1966, over 17 billion Christmas stamps have been printed in Britain.
Christmas 2013 Madonna and Child stamps were available from 5th November.
The 2013 designs are of a religious nature, following a long standing tradition of alternating between religious and secular themes. Royal Mail’s objective was to create an issue reflecting different artistic representations of the Madonna and Child across the widest possible timespan, and emphasise diversity in Britain. To emphasise Britain’s diversity, Fadi Mikhail was commissioned to create a Neo-Coptic inspired design, which is featured on the £1.88 stamp.
Christmas 2013 presentation pack available from the Royal Mail shop.
The design brief is reminiscent of the 2005 Christmas stamp issue, which illustrated artistic interpretations of the Madonna and Child in different cultures. A striking image printed on the £1.12 stamp was created in coloured sand by Aboriginal Australian artist Dianne Tchumut.
2005:
Additional handstamps available with the 2013 Christmas stamps.
This year, alongside the religious stamps, two stamp designs have been created by school children. 239,374 school children aged between four and eleven responded to the question “what does Christmas mean to you?” and their entries can be viewed in an online gallery at www.royalmailstampcompetition.com.
The two national winners, whose designs are printed on 1st and 2nd class stamps, were selected by a panel including The Prince of Wales and Tasveer Shemza. Shemza, when she was six years old, designed a winning stamp portraying King Wenceslas1 for the first Christmas stamp issue.
1966 3d Christmas stamp designed by Tasveer Shemza.
The winning designs also needed the approval of The Queen, as with all stamp issues.
‘Santa’, designed by Molly Robson aged 7 from West Sussex is featured on the first class Christmas stamps
‘Singing Angels’, by Rosie Hargreaves aged 10 from Devon, is on the second class Christmas stamp
2013 marks only the third occasion that a British Christmas stamp has been selected from competition entrants. This stamp, designed by Samantha Brown; age five, was a winner in the second national competition, held in 1981, and depicts Santa Clause with a rather charming smile.
1981 11½p Christmas Stamp designed by Samantha Brown.
Christmas stamps have featured the work of renowned artists including Axel Scheffler in 2012, Quentin Blake in 1993 and, memorably in 2010, the team behind Wallace and Gromit.
2012 Christmas stamps designed by Axel Scheffler.
Christmas stamps from 1993 designed by Quentin Blake.
2010 Christmas Stamps featuring Wallace and Gromit.
A Christmas 1969 4d stamp, which features an angel in a floor length, colourfully patterned dress with contrasting patterned wings and headband. The style is highly evocative of late 1960s counter culture fashion, which drew influences from Eastern cultures. These fashions were championed by the hippie movement who, widely involved in anti-war protests, utilised the style to demonstrate a rejection of the establishment. The Christmas 1969 stamp is a window into this era and its aesthetics.
Christmas 1969 4d stamp – a window on to 1960s sensibilities.
Christmas stamps symbolise the important role of communication in the festive period and map the national run up to Christmas. The build-up of excitement begins alongside the sale of the first Christmas stamps as people ponder Christmas card lists, invitations to parties are sent and letters to Santa composed. The post-before deadline marks the peak of preparations, as parcels are rushed to the Post Office and internet shopping cut off dates are frantically met. The distinctive, red pillar box, often capped in snow, is a common feature on all kinds of Christmas illustration including cards, stamps and wrapping paper; demonstrating the intrinsic connection between Christmas and the post in cultural memory.
Original artwork for the 12.5p Christmas 1983 stamp.
Literature:
http://www.postalheritage.org.uk/page/christmas-stamps
http://www.ducksters.com/hobbies/funstampfacts.php
Rick Miller, "Special stamps proliferate in stamp programs", Linn's Stamp News (Oct 24, 2005)
1 Due to his martyr death, Wenceslas was officially canonized in the 10th century alongside his grandmother Ludmila. His legend reached many countries, even England. Anne, daughter of Charles IV, married English king Richard II and brought with her the song about Good King Wenceslas, today a favorite Christmas carol. Wenceslas remains a mysterious figure, some think of him as a pale faced man who spent most of his time in prayer and study. St Wenceslas is a legend, not a historical figure.