Vatican City Christmas Stamps Stamps






Presentation Prepared by the Vatican Philatelic Society Website Team


Vatican City Christmas Stamps



According to Everleigh Foster's book on Christmas Stamps of the World the first Christmas stamp was issued by Canada in 1898. The first Christmas stamp issued by Vatican City was in 1959 and the design was based on a painting by Raphael. There have been many years since 1959 when the Vatican City Post Office has not issued a Christmas stamp. However, since 1886 the Vatican Post Office has issued a Christmas stamp every year, Over the years, the Vatican Post Office has issued some very interesting Christmas stamps. They have also provided some unique postmarks.

       

Vatican City - Christmas 1959


Date Issued: 12/14/1959
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1959
                                 Nativity by Raphael
Perforation: 13
Printer: The Italian State Printers


   
1959 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 1960


Date Issued: 12/06/1960
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1960
                                 Holy Family
                                 by van Honthorst
Perforation: 14
Printer: The Italian State Printing Works


   
1960 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 1960


   
Christmas 1960

Vatican City - Christmas 1961


Date Issued: 11/25/1961
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1961
                                 The Adoration
                                 by Lucas Chen
Perforation: 14
Printer: The Italian State Printing Works


   
1961 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 1962


Date Issued: 12/04/1962
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1962
                                 Nativity Scene in India
                                 by Marcus Topno
Perforation: 14
Printer: The Italian State Printing Works


   
1962 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 1963


Date Issued: 11/22/1963
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1963
                                 African Nativity Scene; Terr Cotta
                                 by Andre Bukuru
Perforation:
Printer: The Italian State Printing Works


   
1963 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 1964


Date Issued: 11/16/1964
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1964
                                 Japanese Nativity Scene
                                 by Therese Kimiko Koseki
Perforation: 14
Printer: The Italian State Printing Works


   
1964 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 1965


Date Issued: 11/25/1965
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1965
                                 Peruvian Nativity Scene
                                 by Mario Colombati
Perforation: 13.5x14
Printer: The Italian State Printing Works


   
1965 Christmas First Day Cover (postmark same design as 1964)

Vatican City - Christmas 1966


Date Issued: 11/24/1966
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1966
                                 Nativity Sculpture
                                 by Raffaello Scorzlli
Perforation: 14
Printer: The Italian State Printing Works


   
1966 Christmas First Day Cover (postmark same design as 1964)

Vatican City - Christmas 1967


Date Issued: 11/28/1967
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1967
                                 Oriental Nativity
                                 9th Century Painting on Wood
Perforation: 13.5x14
Printer: The Italian State Printing Works


   
1967 Christmas First Day Cover (postmark same design as 1964)

Vatican City - Christmas 1968


Date Issued: 11/28/1968
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1968
                                 Infant of Prague Engraving
                                 by Mario Colombati
Perforation: 13.5x14
Printer: The Italian State Printing Works


   
1968 Christmas First Day Cover (postmark same design as 1964)

Vatican City - Christmas 1979



From 1969 until 1982 Vatican City did not issue a Christmas stamp. Cover designers had to do
the best they could. In this 1979 example, the cover designer used a stamp from the 50th Anniversary issue.

Vatican City - Christmas 1982


Date Issued: 11/23/1982
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1982
                                 Nativity
                                 by Enrico Manfrini
Perforation: 14
Printer: Austrian State Printing Office in Vienna


   
1982 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 1988


Vatican City - Christmas 1990


Date Issued: 11/27/1990
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1990
                                 Painting Details
                                 by Sebastiano Mainardi
Perforation: 13
Printer: Imprimie Francaise (France)



Vatican City - Christmas 1990


   

1990 Christmas First Day Covers

Vatican City - Christmas 1992


Date Issued: 11/24/1992
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1992
                                 Mosaics from St. Maggiore: Rome
Perforation: 11.75
Printer: Helio Courvoisier SA (Switzerland)

Vatican City - Christmas 1992


   

1992 Christmas First Day Covers

Vatican City - Christmas 1994


Date Issued: 11/18/1994
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1994
                                 The Nativity
                                 by Tintoretto
Perforation: 11.25x11.75
Printer: Helio Courvoisier SA (Switzerland)



1994 Christmas Mini Sheet

Vatican City - Christmas 1994


   

1994 Christmas First Day Covers

Vatican City - Christmas 1996


Date Issued: 11/20/1996
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1996
                                 Nativity by Murillo
Perforation: 13
Printer: Ashton-Potter (Canada)


   
1996 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 1997


Date Issued: 11/11/1997
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1997
                                 The Nativity by Gozzoli
Perforation: 14
Printer: Instito Poligrafico e Zecca dello Strata Italiano


   
1997 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 1998


Date Issued: 12/01/1998
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1998
                                 Croatian Nativity
Perforation: 13.25x13.75
Printer: Joh Enschede (Netherlands)


   
1998 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 1998


Date Issued: 12/01/1998
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1998
                                 Croatian Nativity
Perforation: 13.25x13.75
Printer: Joh Enschede (Netherlands)


   
1998 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 1999


Date Issued: 11/24/1999
Descriptive Name: Christmas 1999
                                 Entire Nativity Painting
Perforation: 13
Printer: Ashton-Potter (Canada)

Vatican City - Christmas 1999


   

1999 Christmas First Day Covers

Vatican City - Christmas 2000


Date Issued: 11/07/2000
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2000
                                 Frescos from Basilica of
                                 St. Francis, Assisi
Perforation: 12.5x11.75
Printer: Helio Courvoisier SA (Switzerland)

Vatican City - Christmas 2000


   

2000 Christmas First Day Covers

Vatican City - Christmas 2001


Date Issued: 11/22/2001
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2001
                                 Artwork
                                 by Egino G Weinert
Perforation: 13x13
Printer: Cartor (France)

  

2001 Christmas Booklet Cover
        
2001 Christmas Booklet Stamps

Vatican City - Christmas 2001


   

2001 Christmas First Day Covers

Vatican City - Christmas 2002


Date Issued: 11/21/2002
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2002
                                 Nativity
                                 by Pseudo Ambroglio di Baldese
Perforation: 13
Printer: ITVF (France)


   
2002 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 2003


Date Issued: 11/18/2003
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2003
                                 Nativity
                                 by Aldo Carpi
Perforation: 13
Printer: ITVF (France)


   
2003 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 2004


Date Issued: 11/18/2004
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2004
                                 Engraving of a Nativity Scene
                                 From a 4th Century Sarcophagus
Perforation: 13
Printer: Cartor (France)


   
2004 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 2005


Date Issued: 11/22/2005
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2005
                                 Scenes From Various Artist
Perforation: 13
Printer: Cartor (France)

       


2005 Christmas First Day Cover
    
2005 Christmas
Booklet Cover
 
2005 Christmas
Booklet Stamps

Vatican City - Christmas 2006


Date Issued: 10/22/2006
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2006
                                 Stained Glass From Apostolic Palace
Perforation: 13
Printer: Cartor (France)


   
2006 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 2006

  

2006 Christmas Booklet Cover
        
2006 Christmas Booklet Stamps

Vatican City - Christmas 2007


Date Issued: 11/20/2007
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2007
                                 Details of Painting
                                 by Giuseppe Cali
Perforation: 14.25
Printer: Printex (Malta)

Vatican City - Christmas 2007


   

2007 Christmas First Day Covers

Vatican City - Christmas 2008


Date Issued: 11/13/2008
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2008
                                 'Birth of Christ' by AlbrechtDurer
Perforation: 13 x 13.25
Printer: Cartor (France)



Adoration of the Magi' by Raffael - Booklet Sheet

Vatican City - Christmas 2008

  

2006 Christmas Booklet Cover
        
2006 Christmas Booklet Stamps

   
2008 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 2008


   
2008 Christmas Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 2009


Date Issued: 11/04/2009
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2009
                                 Paintings by Francisco Melanzio
Perforation: 12.57x12.57
Printer: Sweden Post (Sweden)


   
2009 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 2009

  

2009 Christmas Booklet Cover
        
2009 Christmas Booklet Stamps

Vatican City - Christmas 2010


Date Issued: 11/15/2010
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2010
                                 Mary & Baby Jesus by Romanian Gheorghe Tattarasco (Bklet Stamp)
Perforation: 13x13
Printer: Cartor (France)


   
2010 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 2011

  

2011 Christmas Booklet Cover
        
2011 Christmas Booklet Stamps



Date Issued: 11/18/2011
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2011
                                 Oil Paintings on a Wood Panel
                                 by a Cretan Artist
Perforation: 13x13
Printer: Cartor (France)

Vatican City - Christmas 2012


Date Issued: 11/06/2012
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2012
                                 Stained Glass Window
                                  by Janos Hajnal
Perforation: 13.65x13.77
Printer: Printex (Malta)

  

2012 Christmas Booklet Cover
        
2012 Christmas Booklet Stamps

Vatican City - Christmas 2013


Date Issued: 11/07/2013
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2013
                                 Paintings
                                 by Bernardino di Betto
Perforation: 13-1/4 x 13-3/4
Printer: Joh Enschede (Netherlands)


2013 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - Christmas 2013 Mini Sheets

  

        


Vatican City - Christmas2014


Date Issued: 11/21/2014
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2014
                                 Nativity
                                 by Raul Soldi
Perforation: 13.25x15.5
Printer: Cartor (France)

Vatican City - Christmas 2015


Date Issued: 11/19/2015
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2015
                                 Detail Illustration of Nativity
                                 from Codices Urbinates Latini 239
Perforation: 12.1x11.6
Printer: PWPW (Poland)


Postmarks On First Day Of Issue

Vatican City - 2015 Christmas Stamp Booklet


2015 Christmas Booklet Cover (Front right side, Back left side)

Left - Detail Illustration of Nativity from Codices Urbinates Latini 239; Right - stamps

Vatican City - Christmas 2016


Date Issued: 11/17/2016
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2016
                                 Baby Jesus; a Multi Colored Enameled Terracotta
                                 Work by della Robbia
Perforation: 13.65 x 13.77
Printer: Printex (Malta)


2016 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - 2016 Christmas Stamp Booklet


2016 Christmas Booklet Cover

2016 Christmas Booklet Stamps

Vatican City - Christmas 2017


Date Issued: 11/23/2017
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2017
                                 Madonna & Child
Perforation: 13x13
Printer: Phil @Poste (France)


2017 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - 2017 Christmas Stamp Booklet


2017 Christmas Booklet Cover

2017 Christmas Booklet Stamps

Vatican City - Christmas 2018


Date Issued: 11/09/2018
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2018
                                 Madonna and Child
Perforation: 13.65 x 13.77
Printer: Printex (Malta)


2018 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - 2018 Christmas Stamp Booklet


2018 Christmas Booklet Cover

2018 Christmas Booklet Stamps

Vatican City - Christmas 2019


Date Issued: 11/04/2019
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2019
                                 Nativity Mosaic By Pietro Cavallini
Perforation: 13.66x13.77
Printer: Printex (Malta)


2019 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - 2019 Christmas Stamp Booklet


2019 Christmas Booklet Cover

2019 Christmas Booklet Stamps

Vatican City - Christmas 2020


Date Issued: 11/10/2020
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2020
                                 Baby Jesus Over the Star of Bethlehem
Perforation: N/A
Printer: Joh Enschede (Holland)


   
2019 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - 2020 Christmas Souvenir Sheet / Stamp Booklet


2020 Christmas Souvenir Sheet
  

2020 Christmas Booklet Cover
        
2006 Christmas Booklet Stamps

Vatican City - Christmas 2021


Date Issued: 11/09/2021
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2021
                                 The Holy Family
Perforation: 13.66x13.77
Printer: Printex (Malta)


2021 Christmas First Day Cover

Vatican City - 2021 Christmas Stamp Booklet


2021 Christmas Booklet Cover

2021 Christmas Booklet Stamps

Vatican City - Christmas 2022


Date Issued: 11/16/2022
Descriptive Name: Christmas 2022
                                 Adoration by the Shephard Boy
                                 Painting by Francesco Canale, a Painter born without Limbs.
Perforation: 13.7x13.7
Printer: Printex (Malta)


Christmas 2022 Booklet Cover 		   
Christmas 2022 Stamp Sheet

Visit the VPS website - https://varicanstamps.org

Seach Vatican Notes for more information on Vatican City Christmas stamps!

Title :Vatican's Christmas Stamps Designed with Mouth and Heart
Author: Danilo Bogoni (Translated by Gregorio MIgliavacca)
Topic: Francesco Canale - Designer
Volume: 71 Year: 2023 Issue: 396 Page: 52-53

Title :1953 Vatican City - Christmas Greeting
Author: Greg Pirozzi
Topic: Christmas Greeting
Volume: 70 Year: 2022 Issue: 394 Page: 60

Title :Christmas Greetings to Burkina Faso
Author: Greg Pirozzi
Topic: November 2018 Christmas postcard to Burkina Faso (Upper Volta)
Volume: 67 Year: 2019 Issue: 382 Page: 60

Title :Natale: The First Ten Years of Vatican City Christmas Stamps: 1959-1968
Author: Lamothe, Michael
Topic: Christmas Stamps (Natale), the first decade, 1959-1968
Volume: 64 Year: 2016 Issue: 370 Page: 12-21

Title: Christmas & Holy Year Greetings (Pius XII)
Author: Pirozzi, Greg
Topic: Christmas & Holy Year Greetings (Pius XII)
Volume: 63 Year: 2015 Issue: 366 Page: 44

Title: Christmas & New Year Benediction from Pope St. John XXIII
Author: Pirozzi, Greg
Topic: John XXIII, Pope St., Christmas & New Year Benediction
Volume: 63 Year: 2015 Issue: 363 Page: 44

Title: Notable Postcard: Easter & Christmas Messages
Author: Hamilton, James C.
Topic: Easter and Christmas Greetings, NPC
Volume: 61 Year: 2013 Issue: 60AV Page: 24

Title: Notable Postcard: Christmas & Easter Greetings
Author: Pirozzi, Greg
Topic: Christmas and Easter Greetings, NPC
Volume: 61 Year: 2013 Issue: 60AV Page: 56

Title: Papal Christmas Greeting to East Germany
Author: Pirozzi, Greg
Topic: Papal Christmas Greeting, East Germany
Volume: 61 Year: 2013 Issue: 358 Page: 40

Title: Vatican Christmas Stamp: Early Unused Essay
Author: Pirozzi, Greg
Topic: Christmas Stamp, 1959
Volume: 58 Year: 2010 Issue: 346 Page: 27

Title: Vatican Christmas Greetings
Author: Pirozzi, Greg
Topic: Christmas Cover, 1939
Volume: 58 Year: 2010 Issue: 346 Page: 32

Title: More real-stamp Christmas cards (Letters Received)
Author: Antonellis, Albert
Volume: 56 Year: 2008 Issue: 4 Page: 4

Title: Merry Christmas!
Author: Piazza, Daniel A.
Volume: 56 Year: 2007 Issue: 3 Page: 24

Title: Christmas and New Year Greetings
Author: Anonymous
Volume: 55 Year: 2007 Issue: 4 Page: 24

Title: Christmas 2003
Author: Crimando, Thomas
Volume: 52 Year: 2004 Issue: 5 Page: 8

Title: 1999 Christmas Issue

Author: Crimando, Thomas I.
Volume: 48 Year: 2000 Issue: 4 Page: 1

Title :Christmas Issues Of Vatican City 1988-1998, The
Author: Crimando, Thomas I
Volume: 48 Year: 1999 Issue: 3 Page: 1 & 4

Title :1998 CHRISTMAS STAMP
Author: Crimando, Thomas
Volume: 47 Year: 1999 Issue: 4 Page: 6

Title :New Issue: 1997 Christmas Stamp
Author: Crimando, Thomas I.
Volume: 46 Year: 1998 Issue: 4 Page: 6

Title :1996 Christmas Stamp
Author: Crimando, Thomas I.
Volume: 45 Year: 1997 Issue: 5 Page: 3

Title :Christmas Issues Of Vatican City, The
Author: Crimando, Thomas I.
Volume: 35 Year: 1986 Issue: 3 Page: 4-6

Title :Christmas
Author: Anonymous
Volume: 31 Year: 1983 Issue: 4 Page: 8

Title :Lost City Of The Incas - Christmas Stamps 1965 (#420-422)
Author: Anonymous
Volume: 18 Year: 1970 Issue: 6 Page: 3

Title :Vatican Christmas Issue Of 1968, The
Author: Phinney, Rev. H. A.
Volume: 17 Year: 1969 Issue: 4 Page: 6

Title :Christmas Issue 1965
Author: Phinney, Rev. H. A.
Volume: 14 Year: 1966 Issue: 5 Page: 7