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US #2578a
1991 Christmas
Category of Stamp: Commemorative
Set: Christmas
Value: 29¢, the First-class mail rate
First Day of Issue: October 17, 1991
First Day City: Houston, Texas
Quantity Issued: 701,000,000 (104,000,000 as sheet stamps and 300,000,000 as booklet stamps
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: lithographed and engraved
Format: Panes of 50 and Booklets of 20 (2 panes of 10)
Perforations: 11
Reason the stamp was issued: This traditional Christmas stamp was issued for the 1991 holiday season.
About the stamp design: The design for the 1991 Christmas stamp is from a painting housed at the Museum of Fine Arts of Houston, Texas. The 15th-century painting is called Madonna and Child With Donor, by Antoniazzo Romano of Rome. It was painted in tempera with gold leaf. In the original painting, a man is kneeling in the left corner. This is thought to be the donor mentioned in the title of the work.
Special design details: The US Postal Service was hoping to be approved to raise the first-class mail rate to 30¢, but the decision hadn’t been made by the time the Christmas stamps went to print. As a result, they were printed without a denomination. The USPS was not approved for a rate increase, so the cost of the stamp remained at 29¢
First Day City: The Traditional Christmas stamp was dedicated at the Houston museum, where the original painting is on display. The curator who nominated the painting for use on a stamp was on e of the speakers at the ceremony.
Unusual thing about this stamp: The USPS gave post offices permission to allow this stamp to be used on mail to foreign destinations. Usually stamps without denominations weren’t permitted by the Universal Postal Union. The traditional and contemporary Christmas stamps were exempted from the rule in 1991, as long as additional postage was added to make up the rate difference.