U.S. #5333
2018 50¢ Sparkling Holidays: Santa with Wreath, Pointing
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U.S. #5333
2018 50¢ Sparkling Holidays: Santa with Wreath, Pointing
Value: 50¢ 1-ounce First-Class Rate (Forever)
Issue Date: October 11, 2018
First Day City: Pigeon Forge, TN
Type of Stamp: Definitive
Printed by: Ashton Potter
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 1,000,000,000
At the beginning, Santa Claus was a rather imposing figure, despite the treats he left. But then something changed...
Cartoonist Thomas Nast first presented the idea of a gentler Santa in 1863, but it was not until the 20th century that this image of Santa stuck. One of the main reasons for the change was the Coca-Cola company. They wanted a version of Santa that children were not afraid of and who they would look up to. That way, when Santa was pictured drinking a Coca-Cola, he would have more of an influence on sales.
Coca-Cola hired accomplished artist Haddon Sundblom in 1931 to bring their vision of Santa to life. Sundblom quickly found inspiration in the famous poem "A Visit From Saint Nicholas." It was the perfect reference: "His eyes –how they twinkled! His dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! HIs droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow... He had a broad face and a little round belly, that shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly."
The poem helped Sundblom create a warm and inviting version of Santa that is still what most people picture today.
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