2014 49¢ Hermey
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Ridiculed for his bright nose and banned from playing in the “reindeer games,” Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer ran away from home. In the 1964 television special that tells his story, the producers added a character named Hermey to enhance the holiday tale.
Herme... more
2014 49¢ Hermey
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Ridiculed for his bright nose and banned from playing in the “reindeer games,” Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer ran away from home. In the 1964 television special that tells his story, the producers added a character named Hermey to enhance the holiday tale.
Hermey is one of Santa’s helpers, lacks pointed ears like the others, and is the only elf with hair on top of his head. He also differs from the other elves in that he dreams of being a dentist rather than a toy maker. After his supervisor threatens to fire him, Hermey decides to run away from Santa’s workshop. Upon meeting Rudolph, who is also running away from home, Hermey decides to join him. The duo is soon joined by Yukon Cornelius, an arctic prospector in search of a peppermint mine.
Their adventure begins when the Abominable Snow Monster spots Rudolph’s nose and pursues them. The chase takes the trio to the Island of Misfit Toys and ends with everyone safe at home, including the newly tamed Snow Monster, and Hermey becoming a dentist. Edits were made after the original show aired. Newer versions have Yukon in search of silver and gold, and Santa visiting with the Misfit Toys. Both versions are heartwarming tales eagerly anticipated each holiday season.
U.S. #4947 is part of a four-stamp set issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the premiere of the animated Christmas classic, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The art for the stamps was from a still frame of the special. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer is the longest-running and highest-rated Christmas special on TV.
49¢ Hermey, issued to satisfy the first-class mail rate
Issue Date: November 6, 2014 – the 50th anniversary of the show’s premiere
City: Washington, DC
Quantity: 125 million
Category: Commemorative
Printed By: CCL Label Inc.
Printing Method: Photogravure in sheets of 120, with six booklet panes of 20 per sheet
Perforations: Serpentine Die Cut 11 X 10 ¾
Self-adhesive
Less 
