The Religious Postal History Museum Project

An Introduction to United States Postage Stamps Honoring Religious Themes

The United States Postal Service began issuing Christmas stamps in 1962. They have become an honored tradition of the holiday season. The very first American Christmas stamp was the 4¢ Wreath and Candles issue of 1962. It was so popular the public's demand created an unprecedented strain on U.S. postal printing facilities. The quantity of stamps printed was huge. It exceeded the average issue by many times. Postage stamp paper ran so low that even off-size sheets were used. This resulted in the printing of 90-stamp sheets in addition to the regular panes of 100. Annual Christmas stamps generated some controversy over the next few years. The mostly secular designs of the first four years were criticized by some people as lacking in the religious spirit of the season. These designs depicted such items as a decorated tree and a l9th Century weathervane. On the other hand, the painting of the Madonna and Christ Child on the 1966 Christmas issue caused the opposite complaint. Some people and groups thought that the stamp was too religious in nature. (?) The conflict was eventually settled in the courts. The compromise means that in each new year at least one secular and one religious Christmas stamp are issued by the USPS. Stamp collectors have created many Christmas envelope designs, or cachets, to obtain a Yuletide postmark on the first day that the stamp is issued. The postmasters of small towns such as Santa Claus (Indiana), Christmas (Michigan) and Mistletoe (Kentucky) help families and friends send an extra bit of cheer along with their holiday cards and letters to loved ones near and far.

Click on the Title Links Below to tour each Image Gallery:

285

548 - 550 Pilgrim Tercentenary Commemorative Stamps of 1920

645

777

854

908 Four Freedoms Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1943

956 Four Chaplins Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1948

1014 Gutenberg Bible Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1952

1099 Religious Freedom Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1957

1142 American Credo Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1960-61

1205 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1962

1240 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1963

1254-1257 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1964

1276 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1965

1312 Bill of Rights Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1966

1321 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1966

1336 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1967

1356 Father Marquette 6c a778 p11 Sept. 20, 1968

1363 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1968

1371 Apollo 8 Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1969

1384 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1969

1414 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1970

1415-1418 - Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1970 - Christmas Toys

1420 Landing of the Pilgrims Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1970

1444 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1971

1445 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1971

1471 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1972

1472 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1972

1507 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1973

1508 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1973

1550 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1974

1551 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1974

1552 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1974

1579 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1975

1580 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1975

1603 Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1976 - Old North Church - Boston, MA

1672 - State Flags - South Dakota - "Under God - The People Rule" Stamp of 1976

1701 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1976

1702 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1976

1729 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1977

1730 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1977

1768 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1978

1769 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1978

1771 Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1979

1780 Baltimore Cathedral by Benjamin Latrobe Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1979

1799 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1979

1800 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1979

1839 Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1980 - Trintity Church - Boston

1842 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1980

1843 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1980

1939 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1981

1940 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1981

2017 Touro Synagogue Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1982

2023 Francis of Assisi Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1982

2025 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1982

2026 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1982

2027-2030 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1982

2063 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1983

2064 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1983

2065 Martin Luther Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1983

2107 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1984

2108 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1984

2165 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1985

2166 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1985

2171 Father Flanagan Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1985

2244 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1986

2245 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1986

2367 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1987

2368 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1987

2399 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1988

2400 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1988

2421 Bill of Rights Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1989

2427 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1989

2428 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1989

2514 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1990

2515 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1990

2578 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1991

2579 - 2581 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1991

2582 - 85 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1991

2593 Pledge of Allegiance - Flag - "Under God".... Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1992

2710 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1992

2711-14 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1992 - toy

2715-18 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1992 - toys

2719 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1992 - toys

2789 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1993

2790 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1993 - booklet

2791-94 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1993

2840d - Freedom of Worship Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1994 - Norman Rockwell

2871 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1994