Christmas stamps from Royal Mail
Date of Issue : 8 November 2011
Forthcoming GB’s Christmas stamps show various nativity scenes including Baby Jesus and two cows (on the 68p value) and the three wise men (£1.65). The stamps will feature on a miniature sheet, while each value will also be available on self-adhesive sheets. The 1st and 2nd Class values will also be issued in booklets.
Holiday stamps from USPS
Date of Issue : 13 October 2011
The U.S Postal Service released two 2011 Christmas stamps on Thursday. The traditional Madonna and child Christmas stamp features a painting by the 16th century artist Raphael. The modern holiday stamp features a set of four 1950s style Christmas tree ornaments.
Date of Issue : 14 October 2011
On Friday USPS issued new stamps to commemorate the Jewish holiday Hanukkah and the African-American celebration Kwanzaa. The Kwanzaa stamp is illustrated with a family dressed in green, red and black. The Hanukkah stamp features the eight letters Hanukkah on colored fields, representing the eight candles, and the second letter “K’’ resembles the toy known as a dreidel.
A flower for Christmas from Aland
Date of Issue : 7 October 2011
“I frequently recur to nature”, says Helene Schmitz, the photographer behind this year’s Aland’s Christmas stamp depicting a hyacinth. She is universally recognized for her close-up pictures of flowers.
Christmas Carols stamps from Faroe Islands
Date of Issue : 28 September 2011
The Faroese Post has launched the second issue of Christmas carols stamps.
The motif of the 6.50 stamp is based on the modern Faroese Christmas classic, "Eg eri so spent til jola" – "I can't wait for Christmas to come." The music was written by Johannus a Rogvu Joensen and lyrics by Ella Smith Clementsen.
The song and the story is about the six-year old Margreta who has problems with controlling her longing and expectations for Christmas. In her restlessness she goes out for a walk and in Torshavn's old cafe, she meets a pixie-girl, who takes her out on adventures that only six year olds can experience.
The second song was written on Christmas Eve 1858 by the 26 year old Marie Wexelsen, waiting for the Christmas guests to arrive. As she sat there and looked out the window, she came to think of her childhood Christmas, and began in her mind to formulate a Christmas song. Her song "I rejoice every Christmas Eve" became one of the greatest Nordic Christmas classics.
Competition for Guernsey Post’s 2011 Christmas stamps
Guernsey Post announce Winter Wonderland Photographic Competition winner and runners up
Guernsey Post has announced the winner and the runners up of its Winter Wonderland Photographic Competition. The competition, which was open to everyone, required its entrants to capture their favorite local winter wonderland scene for a chance to have their image depicted on Guernsey Post’s 2011 Christmas stamps.
The winning shot came from Mr Nigel Byrom who wowed the judges with his stunning image of a snowy L’Ancresse Common. Mr Byrom’s photograph will now appear on Guernsey Post’s 2011 local letter Christmas stamp (36p).
The judges have also chosen six talented runners up; their photographs will be used on the remaining stamp values.*
Judges Alistair Mitchell, Creative director of design agency, The Potting Shed, and Internationally renowned photographer, Karl Taylor, were extremely impressed with the high quality of images submitted.
Dawn Gallienne, Head of Philatelic at Guernsey Post said:
“Thank you to everyone who entered, it was lovely to receive so many fantastic images and many congratulations to the final seven; I hope they enjoy seeing their images on Guernsey Post’s world renowned Christmas stamps!”
These stamps are subject to approval.
