New Christmas stamp 'exemplifies family, charity'

DENVER (CNS) - Art lovers, stamp collectors and representatives of the U.S. Postal Service gathered at the Denver Art Museum Oct. 17 to witness the unveiling of the 2006 religious Christmas stamp.

The stamp, which depicts "Madonna and Child With Bird," is a replica of an oil-on-canvas painting by Ignacio Chacon which dates from 1765. The painting is part of the Engracia and Frank Barrows Freyer Collection of Peruvian colonial art at the Denver Art Museum and has been on display since 1972. Alan B. Catlin, postmaster for the city of Denver, acted as emcee for the event, thanking everyone for the work that went into the selection process. He said the people of Denver can be proud that a reproduction of a work from their city will be a part of millions of greeting cards this holiday season. Dozens of art lovers and stamp collectors lined up to be among the first to buy first-day issues. Katherine Tobin of the U.S Postal Service board of governors was on hand to help with the presentation of the new stamp to the public. She said before the unveiling. "Some of the nicest things that people will receive this year will come in an envelope which has this stamp on the outside." The selection of a stamp subject comes mainly from the public. Citizens submit proposals annually to the Postal Service Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, which evaluates all submissions and provides guidance on artwork and designs for stamp subjects. The first Madonna and Child stamp was issued in 1966 and, since 1978, the subject of Madonna and Child has been an annual holiday issue. The stamp went on sale nationwide Oct. 18. "We're printing 700 million copies of this image," Catlin said. "We encourage you to mail early and mail often." The "Madonna and Child With Bird" is one of several holiday stamps announced by the Postal Service. Earlier this month, it issued new Holiday Snowflakes contemporary stamps, and re-issued the Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Eid holiday stamps.

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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops