This third U.S. Christmas issue was unique in that it was the first time the Post Office had printed more than one stamp design on one sheet. Each block of four contains four different illustrations that were issued attached or "se-tenant." The first, mistletoe, symbolizes peace, according to ancient tradition. Holly symbolizes the thorns placed upon Christ's head. The use of evergreens for trees and wreaths is depicted. The poinsettia is the traditional Christmas flower.
First U.S. Se-Tenant
On November 9, 1964, the U.S. Post Office issued its first se-tenant, which was also America’s third Christmas issue.
A se-tenant is two or more stamps with different designs or values printed together on the same sheet. The name comes from the French phrase for “joined together” or “holding together.”
While U.S. #1254-57 is often considered America’s first se-tenant, the U.S. did issue attached stamps with different designs more than a century earlier. Between 1845 and 1847, there were four U.S. Postmasters’ Provisional stamps that were se-tenants. There was the Baltimore Postmaster’s Provisional that had two different images and values on a sheet of 12, the St. Louis Bears provisional that had three different images on a sheet of six, the Providence, Rhode Island provisional with two different images on a sheet of 12, and the Alexandria provisional, which were a pair of similar, but not identical, 5¢ images.