1970 6c Nativity

U.S. #1414 6¢ Nativity
Traditional Christmas
Issue Date: November 5, 1970
City: Washington, DC
Quantity: 683,730,000
Printed By: Guilford Gravure, Inc
Printing Method: Photogravure
Perforations: 10 ½ x 11
Color: Multicolored

This stamp was issued in 1970 as part of the United States Post Office's annual tradition of releasing Christmas themed stamps each holiday season. The artwork featured on this stamp reproduces a painting of the Nativity scene by the Italian Renaissance artist Lorenzo Lotto, with the original work held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Using fine art from major museum collections became a common approach for Christmas stamps during this era, allowing the postal service to bring recognizable historical artwork into everyday mail.

The design depicts Mary and Joseph kneeling beside the infant Jesus, who lies in a manger at the center of the scene. A rustic stable structure appears in the background, along with a pair of angels shown in the sky above. The muted earth tones throughout the painting give the stamp a warm, traditional feel typical of religious artwork from this period.