2022 Virgin and Child Stamps
2022 Virgin and Child – Traditional Christmas Series
- Pictures a 16th century oil painting of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus
- Part of the Traditional Christmas stamp series
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Traditional Christmas
Value: First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: September 22, 2022
First Day City: Boston, Massachusetts
Quantity Issued: 200,000,000
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset, Microprint
Format: Booklets of 20
Tagging:
Why the stamp was issued: To commemorate the traditional religious figures associated with Christmas.
About the stamp design: Pictures a 16th century oil painting by a Florentine artist known as the Master of the Scandicci Lamentation.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, the home of the original painting pictured on the stamp.
About the Traditional Christmas Series: In 1966, the Post Office issued its first Madonna and Child stamp, a 15th century painting by Flemish painter Hans Memling. The stamp was very popular and over 1.1 billion were printed. This led the Post Office to issue another traditional Christmas stamp in 1968, this time picturing the Angel Gabriel. In 1969, they went back to more contemporary holiday subjects before finally deciding in 1970 to issue one Traditional Christmas stamp and one Contemporary Christmas stamp. Their decision proved popular and they’ve continued to issue both Traditional and Contemporary Christmas stamps ever since.
History the stamp represents: The United States Postal Service has a long history of picturing Virgin and Child paintings on holiday stamps. In 2022, they pictured a piece by a 16th-century artist from Florence, Italy, known as the Master of the Scandicci Lamentation. Today, the original painting is housed in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
In painting his Virgin and Child, the Master of the Scandicci Lamentation followed a number of traditions popular with such works at the time. Like other artists who painted religious themes, he gave the young Mary a red dress and blue mantle. These colors represented her high status as the mother of Christ as well as her purity, virginity, and royalty. In the 16th century, blue paint was usually made from lapis lazuli, a stone imported from Afghanistan. The color was reserved for only the most important figures in paintings.
This particular Virgin and Child painting was owned by a number of famous individuals including the Tempi family. They sold it to Italian painter and art dealer Emilio Costantini in 1906. Then it was sold a number of other times before being left to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in the will of Mrs. Robert Dawson Evans. It is a relic of history and example of the fine skill of many Italian Renaissance painters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How it works?
A Forever® stamp is for sending domestic mail weighing up to 1 oz via First-Class Mail®.
Purpose: Send letters and cards up to 1 oz (approximately 4 sheets of regular, 8-1/2" x 11" paper in a rectangular envelope)
within the U.S., including U.S. territories and military bases overseas.
Value: Always valid for the First-Class Mail 1 oz rate, even if postage rates increase. Visit First-Class Mail and Postage to view
current rates.
Other Uses: Pair this stamp’s value with other postage to meet mailing costs when additional postage is required.
Use the Retail Postage Calculator to determine the exact cost of your mail.
Why is "FOREVER" crossed out in the image?
So the lines in your picture:
- It does not mean that the stamp has expired;
- It does not mean that you cannot continue to use it;
- Nor a postmark;
- It's just an artificial anti-copying line added to the display image.
Note: If the physical stamp you receive actually has this crossed line printed on it, be cautious. It may be a display sample, a replica or a fake stamp, rather than a normal usable stamp.
What are the common types of stamps, and how do they differ?
- Forever Stamp: Valid for standard domestic letters within the U.S. These stamps typically do not bear a fixed face value; they remain valid for mailing a standard one-ounce letter at the current rate, even if postage prices increase in the future.
- Global Forever Stamp: Primarily used for standard international letters or postcards sent from the U.S. to other countries. The main difference between this and a standard Forever Stamp lies in its scope of use and postage value.
- Postcard Stamp: Designed specifically for domestic postcards that meet USPS size standards; the postage rate is typically lower than that for standard letters.
- Additional Ounce Stamp: Used to cover the cost of weight exceeding the first ounce; these are usually used in conjunction with a Forever Stamp or other stamps.
- Two-Ounce and Three-Ounce Stamps: Suitable for heavier letters, greeting cards, wedding invitations, or multi-page documents, eliminating the need to combine multiple stamps to cover the required postage.
- Fixed-Value Stamps: These stamps display a specific monetary value (e.g., 1¢, 5¢, or other amounts) and are primarily used to make up postage differences or in combination with other stamps.
- Commemorative and Thematic Stamps: Typically issued to mark historical events, cultural or artistic themes, holidays, notable figures, animals, or natural landscapes. While suitable for regular mail, these stamps are also popular among collectors due to their unique designs and limited release periods.
It is important to note that a stamp's theme and its postage class can overlap; for example, a holiday-themed stamp might also be a Forever Stamp. When purchasing, check for markings such as FOREVER, GLOBAL, POSTCARD, ADDITIONAL OUNCE, or a specific face value to confirm the stamp's intended use.
Why choose StampResale.com?
- At StampResale, you will find a diverse range of U.S. stamps—including classic Forever Stamps, holiday-themed issues, commemorative stamps, and specialty collections—catering to needs ranging from everyday mailing and gift-giving to serious collecting.
We also frequently offer limited-time discounts, bundle deals, and exclusive promotions, providing you with a wider selection and greater value while guaranteeing the authenticity and quality of our stamps.
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