With a week of summer remaining, USPS unveils Christmas stamp collection

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Portrait of William Westhoven William Westhoven
Morristown Daily Record

With an even 100 shopping days left before Christmas — and a week of summer still ahead — the U.S. Postal Service is getting a jump on the holiday shopping season with the unveiling of its holiday stamp series for 2024.

Featuring 17th-century Italian art and inspired by Mexican folk art, the 2024 Christmas Madonna and Child and Holiday Joy stamps were premiered on Saturday at the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum in Washington D.C.

Speaking to a crowd of art enthusiasts, stamp collectors and postal officials, USPS Vice President of Supply Management Mark Guilfoil said the stamps "capture the spirit of the holiday season."

The U.S. Postal Service unveiled its 2024 series of holiday-themed stamps on Saturday at the National Postal Museum in Washington D.C.

“These stamps provide our customers with beautiful images for the holidays and are more than just decorations for their cards and packages," Guilfoil said. "They enable and provide a bridge between families and friends across America. They remind us of the cherished seasonal tradition of sharing love, hope and memories through the mail, helping us stay connected with those who matter most.”

Madonna and Child

The Christmas Madonna and Child recreates artwork from the workshop of the 17th-century Italian artist Giovanni Battista Salvi, called “Sassoferrato” (1609-1685).

“The Christmas Madonna and Child stamp is a beautiful reminder of the season’s roots,” said Holman. “It’s a timeless design that brings a touch of reverence and warmth to every piece of mail. We’re proud to offer this special stamp to our customers as they share their holiday greetings.”

The four Holiday Joy stamps were inspired by Mexican folk art and designed by Antonio Alcalá, an art director for the USPS, using original digital illustrations by Michelle Muñoz.

The National Postal Museum houses one of the world’s largest collections of stamps and is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of communication, according to a press release announcing the new stamps.

Attendees at the unveiling witnessed a first-day-of-issue ceremony and were permitted to purchase the new stamps and have them postmarked with a special cancellation. A Holiday Stamps Family Festival followed at the museum, where children and families participated in holiday-themed games and crafts.

How to purchase

Christmas Madonna and Child and Holiday Joy are Forever stamps, which are always equal in value to the current first-class mail 1-ounce rate. The stamps and other philatelic products can be purchased at Post Office locations nationwide. Stamps are currently 73 cents each. The price went up from 68 cents in July.

Stamps may also can be ordered online at ThePostal Store or by calling 844-737-7826. Additional information on stamps, first-day-of-issue ceremonies and stamp-inspired products can be found at StampsForever.com.