Christmas 2009
03.11.2009
The image above is shown for reference only, and is not for sale.
© Reproduced with the permission of Royal Mail Group Ltd. All rights reserved.
© Reproduced with the permission of Royal Mail Group Ltd. All rights reserved.
Click on image for larger view
Date:
3rd November 2009
Issue:
Stamp Type:
Stamp Details:
2nd Madonna
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2nd (Large) Madonna
1st Madonna and Child
1st (Large) Madonna and Child
56p Joseph
90p Wiseman
£1.35 Shepherd
1st Madonna and Child
1st (Large) Madonna and Child
56p Joseph
90p Wiseman
£1.35 Shepherd
Reference Images:
The numbers alongside each of the postmark images relates to the entry in the catalogue Collecting
British First Day Covers Published each year since 1980, it is regarded as the ‘bible’ by collectors
of British FDCs click here for more details.
Royal Mail provided background information for this issue
click on titles to view details.
Reason and inspiration
Royal Mail’s policy for Christmas stamps is to alternate religious and secular themes. The 2008
Christmas stamps celebrated Pantomimes, and so in 2009 a religious theme is featured.
The new stamps show characters from the nativity as depicted in stained glass windows from the Pre-Raphaelite era.
Since 2006 all Christmas stamps are standard definitive size except for the 1st and 2nd Large stamps where the 1st and 2nd images are repeated on the wider format stamps. And to provide choice for customers, the popular 1st and 2nd Class Madonna and Child stamps will also be available. All Christmas stamps are self-adhesive.
The new stamps show characters from the nativity as depicted in stained glass windows from the Pre-Raphaelite era.
Since 2006 all Christmas stamps are standard definitive size except for the 1st and 2nd Large stamps where the 1st and 2nd images are repeated on the wider format stamps. And to provide choice for customers, the popular 1st and 2nd Class Madonna and Child stamps will also be available. All Christmas stamps are self-adhesive.
Stamp design and background
Designer Andrew Ross trawled through hundreds of photographs of stained glass windows
before deciding upon the final selection of images. Once selected Andrew had the windows
photographed by Phil Sayer before cropping the images to produce the set. The stamps show
the Madonna and Child (1st Class), an Angel (2nd), Joseph (56p), a Wise man (90p) and a
Shepherd (£1.35).
Stamp by Stamp
2nd Class – Angel
The Angel shown here is a detail taken from a stained glass window designed by William Morris. The window is from the Church of St James, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria.1st Class – Madonna and Child
Designed by Henry Holiday the Madonna and Child are taken from a detail from window from the Church of Ormesby St Michael, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.2nd Class Large – Angel
The different format of the Large stamp allows for a different crop of the Morris and Company window.1st Class Large – Madonna and Child
The different format of the Large stamp allows for a different crop of the Madonna and Child window.56p – Joseph
Joseph is taken from a detail of another Holiday window, this time from the Parish Church of St Michael at Minehead, Somerset.90p – Wise Man
From the Church of St Mary the Virgin at Rye in East Sussex the Wise Man was designed by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones.£1.35 – Shepherd
Another Henry Holiday design the shepherd is taken from a detail from a window at St Mary’s, Upavon, Wiltshire.Mint Stamps - Technical Details:
| Feature | Type/Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps | Seven |
| Design | Osbourne Ross |
| Photography | Phil Sayer |
| Acknowledgements | Angel with Mandolin by William Morris, from the Church of St James, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria; Madonna and Child by Henry Holiday, from Ormesby St Michael, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk; Joseph by Henry Holiday, from the Parish Church of St Michael, Minehead, Somerset; Wise Man by Edward Burne-Jones, from St Mary the Virgin, Rye, East Sussex; Shepherd by Henry Holiday, from St Mary’s Church, Upavon, Wiltshire |
| Stamp format | Standard: portrait Large: landscape |
| Stamp size | Standard: 20mm x 24mm Large: 30mm x 24mm |
| Printer | De la Rue Security Print |
| Print process | Gravure |
| Number per sheet | 50 |
| Perforations | Kiss die-cut simulated perforations |
| Phosphor | bars |
| Gum | Self adhesive |
Text © reproduced with the permission of Royal Mail Group Ltd. All rights reserved.
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