Christmas has been around for over a hundred years – Christmas on stamps that is. Ever since the words ‘Xmas 1898’ appeared on an issue from Canada, over 150 countries have issued stamps to honor this holiday. Due to the high volume of stamps, in 1989, the American Topical Association asked Dorothy Henderson, then President of the Christmas Philatelic Club (CPC), to recommend someone to compile a list of Christmas stamps, which they could add to their collection of Topical CHECKLISTS. Everleigh (Ev) Foster (CPC #179), with the assistance of James (Jim) Bie (CPC #876) undertook the task, which took two and a half years to complete. It was published by the ATA in 1991 and listed every stamp (each with its own individual description) from 159 countries, from the earliest date of 1898 until 1990. It is currently still available from the ATA as "Christmas Stamps of the World" -- ATA Handbook 120. After 1990, an annual update was submitted by Mr. Foster and published in bi-monthly issues of CPC's newsletter, the YULE LOG. This continued until his death in 2000. After his passing, Christina Howland-Stitt (CPC #810) took over the task that had proven so helpful to Christmas stamp collectors. It is unfortunate that circumstances prevented Christina from being able to continue the work she had so ably undertaken. The current updates -- from 1991 on -- are now done by Patricia Prevey CPC #971. These have incorporated information taken from YULE LOG issues since the last entry in Ev Foster's "Christmas Stamps of the World", after which recent issues by country as they appear in Scott Magazine Monthly are used as the basis for the updated list appearing on this web site. The number of countries has increased from 159 to over 180. The difference can be attributed to the fact that some countries have discontinued issuing Christmas stamps, while others, such as those created through the break-up of the USSR, have begun issuing stamps as independent nations. This current update is not as definitive as the first compilation, having group numbering and descriptions rather than individual ones. On-line users are welcome to submit additions and/or corrections to: [email protected] . Please be sure to include a clear subject heading to avoid having your e-mail deleted. Merry Christmas and Happy Collecting Patricia Prevey 1 AITUTAKI ANDORRA, SPANISH (Cont.) 1991 455-9 Renaissance paintings 2002 286 Street scene 1992 474-478 Religious painting by Reni 2003 295 Christmas scene 1993 483-87 Religious sculptures by various artists 2004 307 Angel at Nativity scene 1994 508a-d-09a-d Paintings 2005 317 Nativity scene No listings after 1994 2006 326 Nativity 2011 579a-e Scenes from Christmas songs 2007 335 Baby Jesus and shepherd w/ mouth organ 2012 594a-b -59a-f Religious paintings 2008 345 La Missa del Gallo by Sergi Mas 2013 617-18, 619 Religious paintings 2009 355 Three Magi 2014 2010 364 Family at prayers 2015 2011 2012 384 Stylized Madonna ALDERNEY 2013 394-95 Madonna; stylized tree 2009 2014 2010 390-96 Illustrated Christmas song titles 2015 2011 421-27 Winter scenes 2012 452-58 Nativity scenes ANGOLA 2013 477-83 Scenes w/Santa and reindeer 2003 1252-53 Angels, Nativity, Adoration of Shepherds. 2014 Musicians 2015 2004 1278a-b Nativity, Magi, (se-tenant) 2005 – 2012 None ANDORRA, FRENCH 2013 1969 544-47* Ancient crosses & Holy Family* 2014 1991 none 2015 1992 none 1993 none ANGUILLA 1994 none 1991 839-43 Modern Drawings 1995 none 1992 867-71 Christmas trees & scenes 1996 none 1993 894-98 Christmas customs 1997 none 1994 913-17 Paintings 1998 none 1995 937-40 Island's nature scenes 1999 516 Angels by Jean Xandri 1996 - 1997 None 2000 - 2003 none 1998 979-82 Modern painting 2004 592 Nativity (As Sp. Andorra/close-up) 1999 1001-04 Christmas scenes 2005 605 Adoration of shepherds by Antoni 2000 1034-39 Flowers / Garden show arrangements Viladomat 2001 1060-66 Musical instruments 2006 617 St. Martin Church, Cortinada 2002 – 2003 None 2007 632 Adoration of Magi, Altarpiece, St. 2004 1128-32 Santa in various native scenes Martin Church, Cortinada 2005 --2010 None 2008 646 Flight into Egypt, Altarpiece, St. Marc 2011 3173-76 Religious paintings by various artists & St. Maria 2012 2009 660 3 Kings -Epiphany 2013 2010 682 Crèche scene 2014 2011 1v Epiphany 2015 2012 2013 ANTIGUA & BARBUDA 2014 1991 1503-12 Paintings by Fra Angelico 2015 1992 1609-18 Religious paintings 1993 1742-52 Disney's "The Nutcracker" ANDORRA, SPANISH 1994 1857-66 15th & 16th Century Madonna 1991 215 Triptych by Verg Trijerusa 1995 1949-56 Paintings 1992 220 Nativity by Fra Angelico 1996 2018-25 Paintings by F. Lippi 1993 226 Letter / Page Illustrations 1997 2111-18 Fine Art 1994 231 Madonna & Child 1998 2211-19 Christmas scenes 1995 235 Flight into Egypt 1999 2295-01 Religious paintings 1996 241 Annunciation 2000 2413-18 Angels / Holy Family 1997 246 Figurine 2001 2526-31 Religious paintings 1998 253 St. Lucia & Fair 2002 2614-19 Details from religious paintings 1999 260 Altarpiece, St. Sermi Church 2003 2697-04 Religious paintings 2000 269 Painting by J. Casanovas 2004 2788-93 Rel. paintings; 2 Santa, 1 elf 2001 275 Nativity 2005 2842-53 Churches 2 ANTIGUA & BARBUDA (Cont.) ARMENIA (Cont.) 2006 2928-32 Ornaments, Tree, Santa at beach 2009 816-18 Madonna & Child (816 w/ country in 2007 2995-98 Stylized map; dancers; decorated White, 817 in black; 818* Stylized tree w/ cake; women in costume baubles 2008 3025-28 Stained glass windows/Holy (NYs’)*2 rows of 5 triangular stamps arranged tete-beche Family. Babe in manger, Madonna 2010 1v Stylized Madonna & child, St Elizabeth & John the Baptist 2011 893 Santa 2009 3056-59 Christmas light displays: Candles; 2012 936 Tree, Moon, Bldg. & decorated tree in night palm tree & Reindeer; Bells; scene Nativity scene 2013 2010 3122-25 Religious paintings by various 2014 artists 2015 2011 3173-76 Religious paintings 2012 3194-99 Religious paintings / various artists ARUBA 2013 1991 – 1993 None 2014 1994 B37-39 Children in Literature 2015 1995 - 1998 None 1999 182-84 Magi; Holy Family ARGENTINA 2000-2003 None 1991 1736a-d Stained glass 2004 252-54 Children/tree/gifts; choir/stained 1992 1784 Angel glass /candle/gifts; fireworks display 1993 1807a-d Stylized star & leaves 2005 None 1994 1849-50 Christmas 2006 ---- New Year’s only 1855-56 Christmas & UNICEF 2007 305-06 Mother & Child; girl w/toys; 1995 1904-08 Christmas / New Year's 307* Boy at New Year’s celebration* 1996 1945-46 Tapestries 2008 355-58 Madonna; Angel; Globe; Shepherds 1997 1984B-H Tapestries 2009 – 2011 None 1998 2033 Angel / Shooting star 2012 409a-d Candles, baubles, pkgs, friends 1999 2094-95 a-h Children's art 2013 2000 2138 Stained glass window 2014 2001 2173 Annunciation 2015 2002 2211 Flight into Egypt 2003 2265-66 Clay and wooden crèche figures ASCENSION 2004 2302-03 Stained glass windows 1991 512-15 St. Mary's Church 2005 2354-55 Madonna, Nativity scene 1992 549-52 Children's drawings 2006 2416-17 Madonna; Annunciation 1993 570-74 Mail transfer 2007 2459-60 Magi, Holy Family 1994 599-03 Animals and Adults 2008 2493* Characters from “Letters to Santa” by 1995 623-27 Children's drawings Luis Maria Pescetti* 1996 660-64 Santa Claus 2009 2554 Stained glass window/Holy Family 1997 688-91 Church windows 2010 2597 “El Nino de Seten” by Aldo Severi 1998 711-14 Ascension Christmas 2011 2630 Christmas star (w/ glitter affixed) 1999 741-44 Children 2012 2667 Native children in crèche scenes 2000 764-67 Christmas Carol Scenes 2013 2001 None 2014 2002 814-17 Religious paintings 2015 2003 834-37 First Anniv. Of Democracy 2004 None ARMENIA (After USSR break-up 12/1991) 2005 882-85 Scenes from Hans Christian Anderson 1991- 1996 None 2006 901-02* Greeting stamps; island scenes 1997 570 Nativity 2007 None 1998 – 1999 None 2008 957-60 Santa in 4 different activities 2000 619 Painting, Holy Family 2009 2001 - 2005 None 2010 1008-11 Christmas lunch; parade; Christingle; 2006 731 Paintings – Nativity & Magi Nativity play *(issued in March) 2011 1039-42 Pantomimes: Mother Goose, Jack in After Nov. 2006post office sold to Hay Post CJSC Beanstalk, Aladdin, Cinderella Netherlands Postal Co-op 2012 1062 - 65 Scenes from Dickens “A Christmas Carol” 2007 749-50 15th Century crèche *(issued in May) 2013 1105-09a-d Churches, Stained glass (stamps w or wo (See France # 3335-6) white frame) Not valid for postage; negotiations underway 2014 2008 2015 3 AUSTRALIA AUSTRIA (Cont.) 1991 1231-33 Nativity scenes 2004 1975 Christmas market scene 1992 1303-05 Christmas designs 2005 2031 Church scene (Advent & Christmas) 1993 1354-56 Christmas greetings 2033 Houses in the snow (Christmas) 1994 1392-95 Paintings by G. Toscani 2006 2073-74 Holy Family; Christkindl church 1995 1472-75 Stained glass windows 2007 2126-27 Nativity from: Sts. Peter & Paul Chapel, 1996 1567-70 Christmas scenes Oberwollan, St Barbara’s, Vienna 1997 1626-29 Nativity play / children 2008 2185-86 Adoration of Magi, 1st Xmas tree 1998 1713-16 Part of Christmas story 2009 2229-30 Holy Family; Church in Mountains 1999 1777 Christmas ornament * 2010 2287-89 Nativity; Innsbruck bldg & trees; 1795-97 Madonna; trees Adoration of Magi 2000 1922-23a,24a Nativity; Beach scenes 2011 3v Madonna; Virgin & Child; Church in snow 2001 2000-01 Tree; star - with label 2012 2410-13 Altar piece, St. George Church, 2018-20 Nativity, Magi “Hunters in snow” by Breughel,the elder 2002 2074 Star - with label * Magi by Bassano 2002 2108-10 Adoration of Magi, Flight into 2013 2476-79 Nativity by van Cleve; Abbey/Composer of Egypt Silent Night 2003 2183-84 Christmas Tree, star w/label* 2014 2203-06 Stylized Nativity scenes 2015 2004 2316-20,19a,20a Madonna & Child; Shepherds; Magi BAHAMAS 2005 2423-24 Tree; map; bears 1991 736-39 Designs / Book of Hours ‘05 2448-51 Madonna & Child; angel (2 water & 1992 763-66 Nativity Designs 2s/a) 1993 788-92 Scenes by J.