by catpaw | 2 Jan, 2022 | Index of stamp articles
December
12 articles
Türkiye 2023 stamps – artists, designers … oh my! – published December 31, 2022
Be still my heart – France’s 2023 stamps – published December 27, 2023
This way to Bermuda’s 2022 stamps – published December 27, 2022
Kicking the Isle of Man 2023 stamp program – published December 25, 2022
2023 Canada Post stamp program released – published December 23, 2022
Croatia’s 2023 stamp program – published December 18, 2022
Frankings kick off Faroe Islands 2023 stamps – published December 17, 2022
Åland Post’s stamp program 2023 – published December 17, 2022
By way of Sri Lanka – missent & re-directed mail – published December 15, 2022
Japan Post’s 2023 stamp program isn’t just Peanuts – published December 7, 2022
Belgium 2023 stamps – wigglies & wonders – published December 7, 2022
Tết Quý Mão – Vietnamese New Year 2023 – published December 5, 2022
Year of the Cat
November
9 articles
Christmas 2022 stamps from around the world – published November 30, 2022
2022 Norfolk Island stamp program – published November 27, 2022
Retrospective look at France’s Lunar New Year stamps – published November 24, 2022
Didn’t think we’d see Ukraine’s EUROPA 2022 stamps – published November 22, 2022
Bunnies begin Hong Kong’s 2023 stamp program – published November 19, 2022
New French stamp celebrating Dewoitine aircraft – published November 17, 2022
UN stamp program for 2022 – posted November 16, 2022
Définitions – Cryptos & NFTs – posted November 2, 2022
– what are crypto & NFT stamps? by Luc Mangin
Oh Look! Poland 2023 stamps & postcards – posted November 6, 2022
October
9 articles
China’s Year of the Rabbit stamps revealed – posted October 31, 2022
Cue the drumroll! Here’s a sneak peek at 2023 U.S. stamp program – posted October 25, 2022
Ukraine 2022 – Spring will come again! Весна настане знову – posted October 25, 2022
Apollo 14 stamp complete with a mixed message – posted October 19, 2022
Bénin 2021’s 2 stamp offering – posted October 19, 2022
Uzbekistan’s Treasures on Silk Road Stamps – posted October 14, 2022
Crimean bridge for an encore! – posted October 8, 2022
Kenya’s single stamp for 2021 – posted October 5, 2022
Support for Ukraine stamps from around the world – posted October 4, 2022
September
6 articles
Truth and Reconciliation Day Canada Post – posted September 29, 2022
Royal Mail update – In Memoriam: Her Majesty The Queen – posted September 27, 2022
Drink up! Time for SEPAC 2022 – posted September 26, 2022
Where were you in ’72 – Summit Series at 50 – posted September 25, 2022
2022 Slovensko stamps are here! – posted September 19, 2022
Malta 2022 stamps are here! – posted September 18, 2022
August
5 articles
Stamps from Morocco 2022 – posted August 28, 2022
I had too much fun with the Slovensko 2021 stamp program – posted August 21, 2022
Enjoy 2022 stamps from Andorra SP – posted August 15, 2022
Wandering off to see Uzbekistan 2021 stamps – posted August 13, 2022
Celebrating 150 Yrs of the Feldkirch–Schaan–Buchs Railway – posted August 12, 2022
July
6 articles
Bosnia-Herzegovina 2022 Stamps BH Pošta – posted July 24, 2022
Croatia 2022 stamp program – myths, yummies & history – posted July 24, 2022
Pitcairn Islands 2022 celebrates – posted July 17, 2022
This was fun! Curaçao 2022 stamps – posted July 16, 2022
Ukrainian Dreams stamp issued – posted July 3, 2022
Belarus post office back on line – posted July 1, 2022
June
11 articles
Beautiful stamps from Sri Lanka 2022 – posted June 30, 2022
Ukrposhta post office update – posted June 30, 2022
2022 stamps from Vietnam – posted June 21, 2022
Folktale from Vietnam – starfruit tree – posted June 21, 2022
Canada Post Honours 3 Indigenous Leaders – posted June 20, 2022
July Ukraine stamp design revealed – posted June 15, 2022
Guess where I went? CAPEX 22 – posted June 11, 2022
Special CAPEX 22 souvenir sheets from Canada Post – posted June 11, 2022
“Good evening, we are from Ukraine!” – posted June 9, 2022
CAPEX22 – I’m going, are you? – posted June 6, 2022
Greek post office update – posted June 5, 2022
May
14 articles
Canada Post supports Ukraine – posted May 24, 2022
Ukrposhta is back online – posted May 24, 2022
A tale of two Draculas – Romania & Ireland take on the myth – posted May 23, 2022
Uruguay 2022 cancel jackpot! – posted May 21, 2022
FDCs & stamps from Colombia 2022 – posted May 20, 2022
A voyage around Andorra (fr) 2022 stamp program – posted May 17, 2022
Competition for new Ukraine stamp Ukraine Under Occupation – posted May 16, 2022
Charity auction for “Russian warship, go to#uy!” – posted May 15, 2022
A voyage to Cocos (Keeling) Islands 2022 stamps – posted May 10, 2022
BEEP BEEP! EUROPA 2013 Postal Vehicles – posted May 9, 2022
More from SEPAC 2020 – Art from National Collections – posted May 6, 2022
Changes to upcoming EUROPA competition – posted May 4, 2022
Another quick trip via Albanian 2021 stamps – posted May 1, 2022
A trip to see the Albanian 2022 stamp program – posted May 1, 2022
April
8 articles
Zimbabwe 2022 stamps start with cottage industries – posted Apr. 27, 2022
More stunners from the Namibia 2022 stamp program – posted Apr. 24, 2022
Colourful Croatian stamps for 2021 – posted Apr. 18, 2022
More treasures from 2022 Azerbaijan stamps – posted Apr. 15, 2022
Tracking COVID through stamps – posted Apr. 14, 2022
Armenia 2022 stamp program – eye catching – posted Apr. 10, 2022
Gibraltar 2022 program – Tigers ‘n Hercules oh my – posted Apr. 10, 2022
More delights from the South Korea 2022 stamp program – posted Apr. 9, 2022
March
9 articles
2022 stamps Uzbekistan shows off its history – posted Mar. 28, 2022
Orchids for the 2022 Aruba stamp program – posted Mar. 28, 2022
Spain 2022 stamps – Oh why do you torture me – posted Mar. 27, 2022
Invertebrates are calling! Botswana 2022 stamp program – posted Mar. 12, 2022
Red Panda stamps? That’s a lot of FLOOF! – posted Mar. 11, 2022
Winding my way through the Beijing Winter Olympic stamps 2022 – posted Mar. 10, 2022
Tunisian 2022 stamps land on Tatouine – posted Mar. 7, 2022
Looking back at Indonesia’s 2021 stamps – posted Mar. 5, 2022
Weaving tales with EUROPA 2022 – Stories & Myths – posted Mar. 2, 2022
February
9 articles
Mail theft, ice flows & a Canadian scandal – posted Feb. 27, 2022
Day of Unity – Ukraine’s 2022 stamps – posted Feb. 26, 2022
Greeks bearing more philatelic gifts (Greece 2022 stamps) – posted Feb. 22, 2022
Check out the Belarus 2022 stamps! – posted Feb. 13, 2022
Alderney’s 2022 stamp program – short ‘n interesting – posted Feb. 11, 2022
Monaco’s 2022 stamp program – posted Feb. 8, 2022
2022 Serbian stamp program – posted Feb. 5, 2022
2022 Australian stamps, FDCs, cancels – posted Feb. 2, 2022
China’s 2022 stamp program 中国邮政 – posted Feb. 1, 2022
January
22 articles
Estonia’s 2022 stamps, FDCS & cancels – posted Jan. 31, 2022
All of New Zealand 2022 stamps – posted Jan. 30, 2022
Mongolia’s 2022 stamps – posted Jan. 28, 2022
Germany’s 2022 stamps & more – posted Jan. 27, 2022
Where’s Canada’s Tiger Stamps? – posted Jan. 25, 2022
Finland’s 2022 stamps – MEOW! – posted Jan. 25, 2022
The (not so) great Canadian mail train robbery – posted Jan. 23, 2022
Wonderful Thailand 2022 stamps – posted Jan. 23, 2022
More great Jersey stamps for 2022 – posted Jan. 23, 2022
Norway’s 2022 stamp program – posted Jan. 20, 2022
Greenland’s 2022 stamp season – posted Jan. 15, 2022
Irish stamps for 2022 starts with a little history – posted Jan. 14,2022
The excellence of Japan’s 2022 stamps – posted Jan. 14, 2022
Algeria’s 2022 stamps – SCORE! – posted Jan. 12, 2022
Royal Mail stamp program 2022 – posted Jan. 12, 2022
UAE’s 2021 stamp program – posted Jan. 12, 2022
The beauty of Guernsey’s 2022 stamps – posted Jan. 11, 2022
Taiwan’s 2022 stamp program – posted Jan. 10, 2022
DR Congo’s 2021 stamps honour Patrice Lumumba – posted Jan. 10, 2022
TAAF 2022 stamps OH YEA! – posted Jan. 9, 2021
Isle of Man stamps roaring into 2022 – posted Jan. 7, 2022
New Swiss stamps for 2022 – posted Jan. 1, 2022
by catpaw | 10 Nov, 2021 | country Stamps, Espresso fueled mumblings, Stamps
Welcome to Christmas stamps 2021 from around the world. Each November, a rush of new stamps hits the market, just in time for the Christmas delivery schedule. Are you ready for cuteness overload? Hope so, because there are some stamps that are inexcusably adorable.
Sprinkled amongst the usual cute animals ‘n elves are a handful of notable designs that tell stories through an unusual or unexpected design. There are a few outstanding issues that merit highlighting. I’ve posted them at the beginning of this article to draw your attention to them and invite comments on your opinions on my choices. As stamps are released and added, I may amend the introduction to add new finds worth a closer look.
Please keep in mind, this is a work in progress. I opted not to wait until everything is released and hope you enjoy the edits, new editions and on going commentary. You are welcome to leave a comment below about your picks, dissecting my top choices, or to simply to say Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays. I really enjoy reading comments. Except for spammers. No one likes spammers.
Cubist Christmas
A few stamps stand out this year. They include Royal Mail’s set from cubist artist Jorge Cocco. At first glance I wasn’t fond of the stamps but they take time and thought to appreciate the rich, earthy tones and details. It’s turned into one of my top picks.
Have you seen this elf, ma’am?
I’m also fond of Canada’s “mug shot trio” – Holiday Portraits from illustrator Geneviève Godbout. What can I say? I’m a push over for well done cartoons.
Best over all stamp
Greenland’s November 9th stamp has to be the most stunning design of the year. I doubt anything released after the 9th will come close to the singular beauty displayed in this small stamp. Originally, I tagged Jorge Cocco’s Nativity as the best of the year, but one looks at this stamp and wow, I was immediately bowled over.
This singular design by artist Maria Bach Kreutzmann is a showcase of Greenlandic culture and history. I can’t say enough about the details nestled in this stamp. I often speak about the stories stamps tell, and this is a beautiful example of what I mean. I’ll let Kreutzmann explain the meaning behind the various symbols within the stamp:
…I chose to combine it with a woman with Greenlandic tattoos, as I feel this conveys ’new-meets-old-meets-new-again’. Tattoos are a tradition that is
making a comeback. Along with the old tradition of the Christmas star, it just felt right to put them together, also to show tattoos in the context of being ordinary and commonplace. Just as I hope that the tradition of the Christmas star never disappears, I also believe that tattoos are an old tradition that has come back to stay.” Maria Bach Kreutzmann.
What do you think? Have your say. Pick a favourite and leave a comment about why you like it. And don’t forget to return to see if new stamps have been added.
Christmas cheers
Catpaw
Christmas Stamps 2021
Åland
2 stamps, cancel
Designer: Rebecca Elfast
Date of Issue: October. 20, 2021
Alderney Christmas
Set of 7 Stamps, FDC, cancel, Presentation Pack, Sheets of 10
- 45p Stamp: Luke 2.14
- 50p Stamp: Luke 1.30
- 70p Stamp: Luke 1.31
- 73p Stamp: Luke 2.7
- £1 Stamp: Luke 2.10
- £1.15 Stamp: Matthew 2.9
- £1.20 Stamp: Matthew 2.14
Designer: Joe Smith
Release date: November. 3, 2021
Andorra (Fr)
Christmas Angel
1 stamp, sheet of 15
Artwork taken from Mestre Çanou’s 1606 canopy.
Designer: Àlex Tena and Stéphanie Ghinéa
Release date: November 8, 2021
Argentina
1 stamp, souvenir sheet
When the QR code directs the user to a page with 6 Christmas carols and traditional songs composed by Argentine musicians.
The six audiovisual pieces that make up the video were produced and provided by the governments of Tierra del Fuego, Salta, Santa Fe, San Juan, La Rioja and Catamarca, in a great joint effort. Each piece embodies the culture of each region, and invites us to contemplate its particularities; to immerse ourselves in their music, their landscapes, their customs, their stories and their traditions. Correo Argentino press release Friday, December 24, 2021
Release date: December 22, 2021
Armenia
New Year and Christmas
1 stamp
Designer: Rem Saakyan
Release date: December 24, 2021
Australia
5 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, numismatic cover, cancel, 3 gutter strips of 10, 2 booklets of 20, 4 mini sheets of 5, mini sheet pack, stamp pack, 5 maxi cards
Designer secular stamps: Sonia Young, Australia Post Design Studio
Designer religious stamps & product design: Jo Muré, Australia Post Design Studio
Release date: November 1, 2021
Austria
Christmas at Holly Pond
6 postcards and 6 stamps
Release date: November 2, 2021
Merry Christmas
4 postcards and 4 stamps
Release date: November 2, 2021
Package of Christmas stamps & recipes
20 self adhesive stamps
A nostalgic rocking horse and an idyllic watercolour painted by former Bishop Stecher (1921–2013) spread Christmas spirit, as well as a portrait from St. Stephen’s Cathedral showing St. Joseph with the Child Jesus, and an expressive painting from the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Release date: November 2, 2021
Christmas Mittens
1 stamp
Designer: David Gruber
Release date: November 12, 2021
Christmas – Nativity Scene
1 stamp
Multilateral Christmas 2021
1 stamp
This is a joint issue with Liechtenstein, Austria, Switzerland and Germany
Bahamas
4 stamps
- Christmas presents
- Christmas ornaments
- Christmas lights
- Holly
Designer: Andrew Robinson
Release date: December 20, 2021
Belarus
Happy New Year! Merry Christmas!
С Новым годом и Рождеством Христовым!
second stamp image shows security mark
2 stamps, 2 sheets of 3 + labels, FDC, cancel, 2 maxi cards
Designer: Marina Vitkovskaya
Release date: Oct. 28, 2021
Belgium
Christmas Decorations
2 stamps, booklets of 10
Designer: Stephanie Dehenni
Release date: October 25, 2021
Bermuda
4 stamps
- Christmas village
- gingerbread lighthouse
- gingerbread houses
- gingerbread village
Release date: September 30, 2021
Brazil
1 stamp
Designer: Ariadne Decker and Meik
Release date: October 12, 2021
Bulgaria
1 stamp
Designer: Nenko Atanasov
Release date: November 15, 2021
Canada
Two sets issued – one religious, the second secular – by different designers.
Angels
1 stamp, booklet of 10, FDC, cancel
Designer: Stéphane Huot
Illustrator: Luc Melanson
Release date: November 1, 2021
Canada Holiday Portraits
3 stamps, 3 booklets of 12 (Santa) and 6, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel
Stamp Designers: Larry Burke, Anna Stredulinsky | Burke & Burke
Illustrator: Geneviève Godbout
Release date: November 1, 2021
Chile
1 stamp
Release date: December 2021
Christmas Island
2 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 gutter sheets of 10, booklet of 10, 2 FDCs, cancel, numismatic cover, cancel
Snorkeling Santa & Greeting wildlife
Illustrator: Andrew McIntosh
Set designer: Simone Sakinofsky, Australia Post Design Studio
Release date: November 1, 2021
Colombia
1 stamp, mini sheet of 4
Release date: December 16, 2021
Croatia
1 stamp, mini sheet of 10, sheet of 20, FDC, cancel
Designer: Ariana Noršić
Release date: November 22, 2021
Curacao
Christmas Around the World
6 stamps
- 70c – Paskong Pinoy – Philippines
- Cat. 1 – Krampus – Austria
- Cat. 2 – Yule Lads – Iceland
- 331c – Pohutukawa – New Zealand
- 335c – Gävle Goat – Sweden
- 474c – Hallacas – Venezuela
Designer: Andre van Hoop
Curacao Christmas
6 stamps
Sorry, this is the best image I can find.
Designer: Martine den Boer
Cyprus
3 stamps, 3 sheets of 8, 2 FDCs, cancel, postcard
- Cypriot Folk Art of embroidery and basket weaving.
- Nativity of Christ from the Leventis Gallery, (1489-1571)
Release date: November 18, 2021
Czech Republic
1 stamp
Designer: Pavel Sivko
Release date: November 10, 2021
Estonia
2 stamps, 2 mini sheets of 10, FDC, cancel, info car
Designer: Indrek Ilves
Release date: October 15, 2021
Faroe Islands
5 stamps on a sheet of 15, 3 Christmas cards
Portion of sales goes to Christmas Seal Foundation
Photographer/designer: Harriet Olafsdóttir av Gørðum
Release date: November 4, 2021
Finland
3 stamps
- Red stopper bird
- Northern lights
- Christmas Lights
Designer: Klaus Welp
Release date: November 3, 2021
France
Notebook Together, let’s celebrate a Christmas that feels good
12 self-adhesive stamps in booklet format
Photogravure
Designer: Arobace
Release date: November 2, 2021
1521 – 2021 Christmas tree tradition – Sélestat
1 stamp, sheet of 12, info sheet, cancel, philatelic souvenir
Photogravure
1521 Christmas tree tradition – Sélestat 2021
The City of Sélestat, a humanist city in the heart of Alsace, carefully preserves in its municipal archives a register of accounts where it is reported that in 1521, it was necessary to pay the forest guards 4 schillings so that they watch over the corn* from St. Thomas, once celebrated on December 21, three days before Christmas. This is the oldest known handwritten mention to date referring to this part of the Christmas tree tradition.
1521 Christmas tree tradition – Sélestat 2021 | The ink square (lecarredencre.fr)
The decorative balls in the image are explained by the city of Sélestat:
After several tracks considered, it is the visual of the chandelier in Meisenthal balls that was retained. “Like a chandelier” is a pendant lamp composed of 173 Christmas balls in Meisenthal glass, created and designed by the City of Sélestat in partnership with the International Center of Glass Art of Meisenthal. This chandelier is visible every year in December in the Romanesque church of Sainte-Foy (12th century) in Sélestat. Suspended in the crossing of the transept, the balls with multiple colors come in counterpoint to the stained glass windows, recreating the shape of a fir tree that the light comes to animate. Official launch of the national stamp – City of Sélestat (selestat.fr)
Christmas balls of Meisenthal glass, this chandelier is a contemporary evocation of the old chandeliers of the church. image courtesy City of Sélestat
Sélestat and its fir tree – City of Sélestat (selestat.fr)
Official Website of the City of Sélestat – City of Sélestat (selestat.fr)
Designer: Bruno Ghiringhelli
Release date: November 20, 2021
Germany
Christmas – The Message of the Angel: Do not be afraid
1 stamp, sheet of 10, 3 cancels
Painting: Angel of the Annunciation” by Johann Michael Hertz (1725–1790)
Designer: nexd, from Dusseldorf
Release date: November 2, 2021
Deutsche Post also issues a series of special self-promotion postmarks
Himmelpfort
Self-promotion postmark
Sponsor:
Deutsche Post AG
Branch MAIL Berlin 1
Sonderstempelstelle
Letter: 11508 Berlin
Freight: Eresburgstr. 21, 12103 Berlin
Address to send letters to Santa:
To Santa Claus
Weihnachtspostfiliale
16798 Himmelpfort
Graphic shows Santa Claus
Designer: Stempel-Müller, Nürnberg
Release date: November 11, 2021
Christmas Market Munich 2021
Self-promotion postmark
Sponsor:
City of Munich,
Department of Labour and Economy, Events
Janine Wagle
Herzog-Wilhelm-Str. 15
80331 Munich
Graphic shows a star over the Frauenkirche
Designer: Stempel-Müller, Nürnberg
Release date: November 11, 2021
Children’s Christmas post office “Himmelpforten”
Self-promotion postmark
Sponsor:
Deutsche Post AG
Organizer
Press Office Hamburg
Graphic shows a shooting stars over a church and mill in Himmelpforten
Designer: Stempel-Müller, Nürnberg
Release date: November 26, 2021
ENGELSKIRCHEN
Self-promotion postmark
This is a special campaign by Deutsche Post AG “Children write to the Christ Child”
Sponsor:
Deutsche Post AG
Organizer
Press Office Düsseldorf
Graphic shows a house with mailbox, Christ Child
Designer: Stempel-Müller, Nuremberg
Release date: November 26, 2021
Himmelstadt Christmas post office Bayern
Self-promotion postmark
Sponsor:
Deutsche Post
Pressestelle Frankfurt am Main
Graphic shows angel and children with letters
Designer: Stempel-Müller, Nuremberg
Release date: November 28, 2021
Children’s Christmas post office “Himmelsthür”
Self-promotion postmark
Sponsor:
Deutsche Post AG
Pressestelle Hamburg
Graphic shows open door with Christmas angels and children
Designer: Stempel-Müller, Nuremberg
Release date: November 30, 2021
56 years of action in Nikolausdorf
Self-promotion postmark
Sponsor:
Nikolausdorf Garrel
Graphic shows St. Nicholas on a horse, stars
Designer: Stempel-Müller, Nürnberg
Release date: December 6, 2021
Gibraltar
6 stamps, 2 FDCs, cancel, stamp pack, souvenir sheet
Designer: Stephen Perera
Illustrations: ingimage.com
Release date: November 2, 2021
Great Britain
8 stamps, 2 cancels, 2 FDCs, souvenir sheet, presentation pack, 1 collector’s sheet, 2 booklets of 12, 8 sheets of 25 and 50, 8 postcards
POSTMARK PLACE: Edinburgh|Bethlehem, Llandeilo
Artist: Jorge Cocco Biography – Jorge Cocco Santángelo
Designer: Supple Studio
Release date: November 2, 2021 (available until November 230, 2021)
Greece
2 stamps, 2 FDCs, cancel, 2 booklets, numbered album
Designer: Anthoula Lyga
Release date: November 4, 2021
Greenland
2 stamps, 3 FDCs, cancel, self-adhesive booklet, 2 sheets of 10
I chose to combine it with a woman with Greenlandic tattoos, as I feel this conveys ’new-meets-oldmeets-new-again’. Tattoos are a tradition that is
making a comeback. Along with the old tradition of the Christmas star, it just felt right to put them together, also to show tattoos in the context of being ordinary and commonplace. Just as I hope that the tradition of the Christmas star never disappears, I also believe that tattoos are an old tradition that has come back to stay.” Maria Bach Kreutzmann
Designer: Maria Bach Kreutzmann
Previous works include last years Myths and Beasts. Also editor of Bestiarium Groenlandica Bestiarium Groenlandica by Maria Bach Kreutzmann (goodreads.com)
Release date: November 9, 2021
Guernsey
7 stamps, FDC, cancel presentation pack, sheets of 10
- 45p Stamp: Nativity Scene
- 50p Stamp: Angel Gabriel speaks to Mary
- 70p Stamp: Joseph has a dream
- 73p Stamp: Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem
- £1 Stamp: Jesus is born in a stable
- £1.15 Stamp: An Angel appears to the Shepherds
- £1.20 Stamp: Three Wise Men follow the star to Bethlehem
Release date: November, 3, 2021
Hungary
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, 4 special cancels, sheet of 50
Centre part of the stamp contains varnished sparkling snow flake that smells of pine when rubbed.
Designer: Krisztián Daniel
Release date: October 25, 2021
Ireland
2 stamps, 2 booklets, FDC, cancel
Designer: Thinkhouse
Release date: Nov 5, 2021
Isle of Man
Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends at Christmas 2021
6 stamps, 6 sheets of 20, 3 FDCs, cancel, presentation pack, sheetlet
- 1st Class value (Local, UK/CI mail) – Thomas at Castletown Station
- EU value – Toby on Snaefell Mountain Railway
- Large Letter value (Local, UK/CI mail) – Duncan at Groudle Glen Railway Station
- Rest of the World value – James at Ballasalla Station
- USA value – Henry at Douglas Station
- EU Large Letter value – James and Gordon at Port Soderick Station
Designer: EJC Design
Release date: October 27, 2021
Israel
1 ATM label
Thanks to Israel Stamp Reviews for alerting me to this label.
Designer: Melissa Webb
Release date: November 30, 2021
Italy
Holy Christmas 2021 – secular subject
1 stamp, postcard, cancel, philatelic card, info bulletin, folder
The info bulletin covers both the secular and religious Christmas issues. It includes articles signed by Cinzia Lacchia, Curator of the Burgundy Museum, and Fabio Gregori, Head of Philately, Corporate Affairs.
Designer: Valerio Pradal
Release date: December 1, 2021
Holy Christmas 2021 – religious subject
1 stamp, postcard, cancel, philatelic card, info bulletin, folder
The info bulletin covers both the secular and religious Christmas issues. It includes articles signed by Cinzia Lacchia, Curator of the Burgundy Museum, and Fabio Gregori, Head of Philately, Corporate Affairs.
Painting: Bernardino Lanino’s “Madonna Enthroned with Child between St. Bernardino of Siena and St. Francis“, also called “Madonna of the Dog” from the the Francesco Borgogna Museum in Vercelli
Designer: Philatelic Center of the Operational Management of the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato S.p.A..
Release date: December 1, 2021
Japan Winter Greetings
10 stamps, 2 sheets of 10, 2 cancels
Red Sheet:
（1） Red Bird
（2） lantern
（3） poinsettia
（4） Winter Letters
（5） Apple
Blue Sheet:
（1） Rotary candle stand
（2） sledge
（3） wolf
（4） gift
（5） reindeer
Designer: 星山 理佳 Rika Hoshiyama
Release date: November 19, 2021
Jersey
8 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, presentation pack
A visit from St. Nicholas
Designer: Nanette Regan
Release date: November 11, 2021
Latvia
3 stamps, FDC, cancel, 3 sheets of 15
Designer: G. Grīva
Release date: November 15, 2021
Liechtenstein
4 stamps, 4 sheets of 20, FDC, cancel
Offset 2-colour Pantone with hot foil gold embossing
Designer: Sereina Hatt, Vaduz
Release date: November 15, 2021
Lithuania
2 stamps, FDC, cancel
One of the festive stamps depicts an ancient Lithuanian mythological creature – a deer nine-year-old carrying celestial bodies in its horns.
Various mythological sources say that the white deer escapes into the forests during the solstice and returns at Christmas. On this trip, the deer takes nine days, so the deer is called a nine-year-old. It is believed that it bears the sun in its horns, so the deer nine symbolizes the light returned to Earth, and at the same time the most beautiful celebrations of the year – St. Peter’s Square – are brought to each house. Christmas.
The second postage stamp depicts a holiday symbol that is familiar to everyone – a gift. It is decorated with a ribbon, which serves as an extension of the illustration of the nine celestial bodies carried by the deer depicted in the first postage stamp.
Lithuanian Post News Release Nov.26, 2021
Designer: R. Auškalnytė
Release date: November 27, 2021
Luxembourg
The end-of-year celebrations – Christmas 2021
2 stamps
Artist: Jens W. Beyrich (FL)
Designer: Ben Hemmen, POST Luxembourg (LU)
Release date: December. 7, 2021
Use our Christmas stamps
Slogan cancel
Release date: December 14, 2021 to December 17, 2021
Macedonia
1 stamp, sheet of 9
Release date: December 6, 2021
Malta
3 stamps, 3 sheets of 10, FDC, cancel, blocks of 4
Designer: Miguel Farrugia
Release date: November 15, 2021
Mexico
2 stamps on a sheet
Designer: Sergio Barranca Rábago
Release date: December 12, 2021
Monaco
1 stamp, sheet of 10, FDC, cancel
3 postcards were also issued, that included images from 2014, 2015 and 2016 Christmas stamps.
Artists/Designers: Marie-Christine Lemayeur and Bernard Alunni
Release date: November 5, 2021
Netherlands
10 stamps, sheet of 20
The 10 stories on the December stamps together tell 1 big story, in which the animals in the forest are busy with the December festival. “They are working on decorations,” says Geertje. “They are on the road with gifts and mail and they pay attention to each other. Just look at the kissing blue under the mistletoe. Everyone enjoys it. While making the papercuts for the December stamps in the spring, I often thought back to last winter. Then the pond in front of my house was frozen, children were busy skating, big people were having snowball fights and there was a lot of fun. I wanted to convey that feeling. DECEMBER STAMPS 2021 PostNL « Geertje Aalders Illustrations
Papercut Designs
Designer: Geertje Aalders
Release date: November 15, 2021
New Zealand
4 stamps, 2 FDCs, cancel, a & b blocks, self adhesive books, 4 sheets of 20
Designer: Cam Price, New Zealand Post
Release date: November 3, 2021
Norway
2 stamps, FDC, cancel, gold FDC, 2 maxi cards, collector’s pack, presentation pack
no images for presentation pack or the maxis, hopefully coming soon
Artist/Designer: Lisa Aisato
Release date: November 5, 2021
Paraguay
2 stamps
Artist: Martín Vallejos
Release date: December 17, 2021
Philippines
4 stamps, FDC, cancel
Print reads:
- Here it is, the Christmas of Hope
- We are still together this Christmas
- Wholehearted faith in Christmas full of Love
- Trust, Believe, Christmas of Miracles
The 2021 Christmas stamp illustrated the Filipino way of celebrating Christmas here and abroad. It was anchored on hope, togetherness, love and faith. These virtues were depicted in the traditional Filipino Christmas parol (lantern), a star-shaped bamboo decoration lit and hung in houses and along streets to brighten the joy of the holiday season. Philippine Post Office features ‘Paskong Pilipino 2021’ in postage stamps | The Manila Times
Parol: The Filipino Christmas Lantern – Christmas in the Philippines
Artist/designer: Ryman Dominic Albuladora
Release date: December 10, 2021
Romania
1 stamp, 1 stamp on souvenir sheet, special folder, mini sheet of 8, full sheet of 28
Designer: Mihail Vămășescu
Release date: November 19, 2021
Saint Pierre et Miquelon
Stamps designed by:
- Lomig Briant
- Alexy Tillard
- Clara Robert
Release date: November 8, 2021
San Marino
2 stamps, 2 sheets of 12, cancel
Paintings: “Madonna and Child” by Orazio Gentileschi and “Madonna and Child with Saints Francis, John the Baptist, Jerome and Clare:
From Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica, Roma (MiC) – Bibliotheca Hertziana, Istituto Max Planck per la storia dell’arte/Enrico Fontolan
Release date: September 21, 2021
Serbia
2 stamps, FDC, cancel, 2 sheets of 25
… the Orthodox celebrate it on January 7th, and the Catholic on December 25th, but its message remains the same – the message of peace and love.
We celebrate Christmas for three days. It is primarily family holiday, and there are numerous traditions and customs regarding Christmas. On the day before Christmas and Christmas Eve, the yule log is being brought into house, cresset lit and hay with hidden candies, prunes, walnuts, sugar and coins, spread all over the house. The hay is a symbol of the manger in which Christ was born. The yule log represents longevity and substance of Christianity, as well as of the warmth of the love Christ brought to us when he was born and arrived to the Earth. On the very day of the Christmas, early in the morning the church bells of all Orthodox temples are ringing, announcing the nativity of Christ. People go to church to attend Christmas liturgy and they all greet each other by “Christ has been born” and “Indeed he has”. Пригодна издања – 2021 – еФилателија (posta.rs)
Designer: Marija Vlahović
Release date: November 26, 2021
Slovakia
2 stamps, 2 FDC, 2 cancels, 4 special cancels, 1 postcard
Designers: Kristina Gubien (stamp)
Adrian Ferda (cancels, second stamp set)
Release date: December 12, 2021
Slovenia
2 stamps, 2 folders of 12 stamps
- B – Birth of Christ
- C – three kings
Designers: Zadruga Traparij & Villa Creativa
Release date: Nov. 12, 2021
Spain
Monumental Bethlehem of the Army-Burgos & Christmas Lottery
Series: regional nativity scenes
2 stamps
The Monumental Bethlehem of Burgos is one of the largest nativity scenes in Spain. The second stamp was issued for the annual lottery. The first lottery was held December 18, 1812, during the dark days of the Napoleonic Wars.
Release date: November 5, 2021
Sri Lanka
2 stamps, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel
Artists: H.Sinali Ruwanya Thushmini Peiris (15rs stamp)
K.Nimesh chamath perera (45rs stamp)
Release date: December 1, 2021
Sweden
The Garden Gnomes’ Christmas – Christmas mail 2021
10 stamps in booklet format, coil stamp, FDC, cancel, souvenir sheet
Designer: Maria Trolle www.mariatrolle.se
Trolle is a busy artist. She has illustrated numerous books, magazines, children’s books and adult colouring books including her seventh in 2021. She has created over 600 images for her various colouring books.
Release date: November 11, 2021
Switzerland
Christmas Traditions
Designer: Anita Dettwiler and Dani Pelagatti
Release date: November 4, 2021
Ukraine
1 stamp, sheet of 8, FDC, cancel
Designer: Nikolai Kochubey
Release date: December 7, 2021
Uruguay
1 stamp, sheet of 25, cancel
Designer: Alejandro Muntz
Release date: December 17, 2021
Vatican
2 stamps, souvenir booklet
[The artist} of the two paintings is Adam Piekarski, a young homeless Polish painter who frequents the showers that Pope Francis has opened near the colonnade of St. Peter’s so that all pilgrims entering the Basilica can come across this new service. To portray the Magi, the author wanted to be inspired by his companions of misfortune. Two are more or less recognizable, the third is not, since it represents them all. With this small initiative, Vatican philately wanted to make the Nativity of the Lord more concrete by promoting the redemption of these disadvantaged brothers and sisters of ours. Christmas MMXXI (vaticanstate.va)
Artist: Adam Piekarski
Release date: November 9, 2021
