Issue: UK 22P Christmas 1990 Stamp
Type: Stamp
Number of Stamps: 1
Stamps Denomination: 22 P
Issue Date: 1990
Issued By: Royal Mail, United Kingdom
About
The UK Christmas Stamp was part of the Royal Mail’s annual Christmas stamp issue, celebrating the holiday season with festive imagery and themes. In 1990, the stamps featured traditional Christmas carols, with the designs inspired by popular holiday songs and scenes from the nativity.
Issuance:
Date of Issue:
The Christmas stamps were issued in November 1990, in the lead-up to the holiday season.
Occasion:
These stamps were part of the Royal Mail’s yearly tradition of releasing Christmas-themed stamps for use on holiday cards and mail during the festive season.
Design:
Theme:
The 1990 Christmas stamps featured Christmas carols as their central theme. The 22p stamp specifically depicted imagery from the popular carol O Come, All Ye Faithful reflecting the joy and religious significance of the holiday.
Artwork:
The stamp design is a classic illustration showing the Three Wise Men (Magi) traveling to visit the newborn Christ. The illustration evokes a traditional and reverent view of the nativity, echoing the themes of faith and celebration found in the carol.
Colors and Style:
The stamp is rich in color, with deep blues, golds, and whites, creating a night scene with the bright guiding star that the Wise Men followed. The illustration style is elegant and captures the spiritual essence of the carol.
Denomination:
The stamp has a face value of 22 pence (22p), which at the time was the rate for sending a standard first-class letter within the United Kingdom during the Christmas period.
Significance:
Christmas Tradition:
The annual release of Christmas stamps by the Royal Mail is a much-loved tradition in the UK. These stamps not only celebrate the holiday spirit but are also highly anticipated by collectors each year.
Religious Imagery:
The depiction of the Three Wise Men links the stamp to the religious aspect of Christmas, focusing on the nativity story that is central to Christian celebrations of the holiday.
Collectibility:
Philatelic Value:
Christmas stamps are popular among collectors, particularly those who focus on thematic stamps related to holidays or religious themes. The 1990 issue, with its carol-inspired designs, holds value for collectors of British philately and festive stamps.
Special Features:
Collectors may seek out first-day covers, which were issued with special Christmas postmarks, or presentation packs that included the full set of the Christmas stamps for that year.
Cultural and Historical Context:
Christmas Carols Theme:
The use of Christmas carols as a theme for the stamps reflects the importance of music and song in the UK’s Christmas traditions. Carols such as “O Come All Ye Faithful” are sung in churches and homes during the season, and the stamp celebrates this rich cultural heritage.
Royal Mail Tradition:
The release of Christmas stamps began in the UK in 1966, and by 1990, it had become an annual event that was widely appreciated by the public. These stamps are a key part of holiday celebrations, with many people looking forward to using them on their Christmas cards and letters.
Summary:
The Stamp is part of the Royal Mail’s traditional Christmas stamp series featuring the theme of Christmas carols. This particular stamp illustrates the Three Wise Men inspired by the carol With its rich colors and elegant design the stamp captures the spirit of the nativity and the festive season. It is a sought after item for collectors interested in holiday-themed stamps or British philately.
