1988 25c Traditional Christmas: Madonna and Child

# 2399 - 1988 25c Traditional Christmas: Madonna and Child

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U.S. #2399
1988 25¢ Madonna and Child
Traditional Christmas

  • Pictures Madonna and Child by Botticelli
  • Issued 50% larger than previous two years’ Christmas stamps due to customer complaints 

Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Set: 
Traditional Christmas
Value: 
25¢, first-class rate
First Day of Issue: 
October 20, 1988
First Day City: 
Washington, DC
Quantity Issued: 
821,285,000
Printed by: 
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: 
Lithographed and engraved
Format: 
Panes of 50 in sheets of 300
Perforations:  11.5

 

Why the stamp was issued:  Responding to complaints over the definitive-sized Christmas stamps issued in 1986 and 1987, the USPS issued the 1988 Christmas stamps in a new size, approximately 50% larger than the previous issues.

 

About the stamp design:  Bradbury Thompson designed this stamp, using a painting of the Madonna and Child by Botticelli from the National Gallery of Art Collection.

 

First Day City:  The First Day ceremony for this stamp was held in the Main Auditorium of the National Gallery of Art’s Easy Building in Washington, DC.

 

Unusual fact about this stamp:  Error stamps have been found with the gold offset ink omitted.

 

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:  Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) was born in Florence, Italy.  He learned to paint as an apprentice to Fra Filippo Lippi, famous for creating the most beautiful Madonnas in Florence.  Botticelli opened his own workshop in 1470.  Soon, many of Florence’s most prestigious families were turning to him for portraits and religious paintings.  In 1481, the renowned Florence painter was invited by Pope Sixtus IV to fresco the walls of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, Italy.

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U.S. #2399
1988 25¢ Madonna and Child
Traditional Christmas

  • Pictures Madonna and Child by Botticelli
  • Issued 50% larger than previous two years’ Christmas stamps due to customer complaints 

Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Set: 
Traditional Christmas
Value: 
25¢, first-class rate
First Day of Issue: 
October 20, 1988
First Day City: 
Washington, DC
Quantity Issued: 
821,285,000
Printed by: 
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: 
Lithographed and engraved
Format: 
Panes of 50 in sheets of 300
Perforations:  11.5

 

Why the stamp was issued:  Responding to complaints over the definitive-sized Christmas stamps issued in 1986 and 1987, the USPS issued the 1988 Christmas stamps in a new size, approximately 50% larger than the previous issues.

 

About the stamp design:  Bradbury Thompson designed this stamp, using a painting of the Madonna and Child by Botticelli from the National Gallery of Art Collection.

 

First Day City:  The First Day ceremony for this stamp was held in the Main Auditorium of the National Gallery of Art’s Easy Building in Washington, DC.

 

Unusual fact about this stamp:  Error stamps have been found with the gold offset ink omitted.

 

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:  Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) was born in Florence, Italy.  He learned to paint as an apprentice to Fra Filippo Lippi, famous for creating the most beautiful Madonnas in Florence.  Botticelli opened his own workshop in 1470.  Soon, many of Florence’s most prestigious families were turning to him for portraits and religious paintings.  In 1481, the renowned Florence painter was invited by Pope Sixtus IV to fresco the walls of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, Italy.