US #5723
2022 Girl Elf with Present – Holiday Elves
Contemporary Christmas Series
- Commemorates Santa’s elves, the magical beings that help him make presents for every child in the world
- Part of the Contemporary Christmas series
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Contemporary Christmas
Value: 60¢ Fir... more
US #5723
2022 Girl Elf with Present – Holiday Elves
Contemporary Christmas Series
- Commemorates Santa’s elves, the magical beings that help him make presents for every child in the world
- Part of the Contemporary Christmas series
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Contemporary Christmas
Value: 60¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: September 15, 2022
First Day City: North Pole, Alaska
Quantity Issued: 600,000,000
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Booklets of 20
Tagging: Phosphor tagged paper, block tagged
Why the stamp was issued: To celebrate Santa and his elves, the most important figures in the classic non-religious Christmas story.
About the stamp design: Pictures a colorful digital illustration of an elf wrapping a presents as it moves along a conveyor belt with a snowy forest in the background. Art by Don Clark.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska.
About the Contemporary Christmas series: The US issued its first Christmas stamp (picturing a wreath and candles) on November 1, 1962, and it was wildly popular. The Post Office printed 350 million stamps, the largest print run for a special stamp up to that time, but still the stamps quickly sold out. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing produced more to satisfy demand and the total number issued was over 860 million by the end of the year.
In 1966, the Post Office started issuing traditional themed Christmas stamps picturing the Madonna and Child and other religious icons. In 1969, they switched back to non-religious Christmas designs with a stamp picturing the painting Winter Sunday in Norway, Maine.
Finally, in 1970, the Post Office decided to permanently split Christmas stamps into two categories to satisfy everyone: Traditional and Contemporary. They issued a block of four stamps picturing Christmas toys along with a stamp picturing a classic painting of the Nativity. The decision to do both proved popular, and the Post Office has continued to issue stamps in both categories ever since.
History the stamp represents: Each of the elves at the North Pole have their own talents and quirks. As different as they are, they work together to make Christmas magical for all.
Alabaster Snowball distinguishes himself from the rest of the elves as the only one with a university degree. He has a degree from Oxford (where he lived in the Oxford Dictionary). Alabaster is in charge of the Naughty or Nice List.
Until Alabaster arrived, Santa estimated how many children there were and hoped he brought enough toys. With his knack for numbers and organization, Alabaster developed the Naughty and Nice List. He oversees a group of apprentice elves and makes sure that they check the list twice.
Another notable elf, Sugarplum Mary, was bringing peace and joy to people long before she moved to the North Pole. She came from a land where humans and elves were scared of each other. She thought it was silly and made sugarplum treats that warmed people’s hearts. They bonded over a love of her cooking.
When Mary made her way to the North Pole, she found lots of elves working hard to build Santa’s workshop. It was almost lunchtime, so she prepared a tasty sugarplum meal beloved by all. Ever since, she has been the North Pole’s head chef and Mrs. Claus’s top assistant..
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