U.S. #2026
1982 20¢ Madonna and Child
Traditional Christmas
- Features 18th century painting by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Madonna of the Goldfinch, believed painted around 1760
- 16th Traditional Christmas stamp
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Traditional Christmas
Value: 20¢, first-class rate
First Da... more
U.S. #2026
1982 20¢ Madonna and Child
Traditional Christmas
- Features 18th century painting by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Madonna of the Goldfinch, believed painted around 1760
- 16th Traditional Christmas stamp
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Traditional Christmas
Value: 20¢, first-class rate
First Day of Issue: October 28, 1982
First Day City: Washington, DC
Quantity Issued: 703,295,000
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Photogravure
Format: Panes of 50 in sheets of 200
Perforations: 11
Why the stamp was issued: For use on holiday mail.
About the stamp design: As he had with many previous Traditional Christmas stamps, Bradbury Thompson designed this stamp using a Madonna and Child painting from centuries earlier. The painting shown on this stamp, Madonna of the Goldfinch, was completed by Italian artists Giovanni Battista Tiepolo in the 1700s. The young child holds the painting’s namesake bird in his hand. The original painting measures 20 inches by 25 inches.
First Day City: The First Day ceremony for this stamp was held in the National Gallery of Art, where Tiepolo’s original painting hangs.
Unusual fact about this stamp: Imperforate error varieties have been found.
About the Traditional Christmas Series: In 1966, the Post Office issued its first Madonna and Child stamp, a 15th century painting by Flemish painter Hans Memling. The stamp was very popular and over 1.1 billion were printed. This led the Post Office to issue another traditional Christmas stamp in 1968, this time picturing the Angel Gabriel. In 1969, they went back to more contemporary holiday subjects before finally deciding in 1970 to issue one Traditional Christmas stamp and one Contemporary Christmas stamp. Their decision proved popular and they’ve continued to issue both Traditional and Contemporary Christmas stamps ever since.
History the stamp represents: Italian artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1771) spent most of his life in Venice and is considered one of the Old Masters. Art historian Michael Levey called Tiepolo “the greatest decorative painter of eighteenth-century Europe, as well as the most able craftsman.”
Tiepolo’s painting, Madonna of the Goldfinch shows the young baby Jesus clutching a goldfinch. The goldfinch is a popular symbol in paintings of the Madonna and Child. Legend states that the goldfinch first got the red spot on its face when it removed a thorn from Christ’s head as he made his way to Calvary (the spot outside Jerusalem where he was crucified). Because of this, the goldfinch has become a symbol of Christ’s future passion. It was also used during medieval times as a symbol of protection against the plague.
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