U.S. #2244
1986 22¢ Madonna and Child
Traditional Christmas
- 16th Madonna and Child stamp
- Pictures 15th century painting by Il Perugino
Stamp Category: Commemorative, Definitive, Express Mail, semi-postal, airmail
Series: Traditional Christmas
Value: 22¢, first-class rate
First Day of Issue: October 24,... more
U.S. #2244
1986 22¢ Madonna and Child
Traditional Christmas
- 16th Madonna and Child stamp
- Pictures 15th century painting by Il Perugino
Stamp Category: Commemorative, Definitive, Express Mail, semi-postal, airmail
Series: Traditional Christmas
Value: 22¢, first-class rate
First Day of Issue: October 24, 1986
First Day City: Washington, DC
Quantity Issued: 690,100,000
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Photogravure
Format: Panes of 100 in sheets of 800
Perforations: 11
Why the stamp was issued: For use on holiday mail.
About the stamp design: The Madonna and Child image on this stamp was taken from an oil on wood painting by Pietro di Crisoforo di Vannucci (better known as Il Perugino – “the Perugian”) between 1445 and 1452. Bradbury Thompson designed this stamp, as he had 11 Madonna and Child stamps before it. The stamp was originally going to be a vertical commemorative, but was changed to a smaller definitive sized stamp.
First Day City: The First Day ceremony for this stamp was held at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, where the 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: Pietro Perugino (1446-1524) was the leading artist of the Umbrian school, which developed qualities that found expression in the High Renaissance. Raphael, whose work has also graced Traditional Christmas stamp designs, was Perugino’s most famous pupil. In fact, Perugino’s influence is so obvious in Raphael’s early work it’s sometimes hard to tell which artist was at work.
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