Announced by the USPS on May 3rd:
This Christmas stamp features Virgin and Child, an oil-on-panel painting from the first half of the 16th century by a Florentine artist known as the Master of the Scandicci Lamentation.
Depicting the tenderness of a mother and child, interpretations of the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child take innumerable forms in the Christian art of the Italian Renaissance. Imbued with a sense of dignity and grace, this stamp offers a traditional touch for cards and letters in a season of celebration, reflection and family. This painting is in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp.
Additional information will be posted below the line, with the most recent info near the top.
Updated December 1st:
The Scott Catalog number for this issue is 5721 (5721a for the convertible booklet pane of 20)
Updated August 23rd:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
‘Virgin and Child’ Painting Adorns New Forever Stamp
What: The U.S. Postal Service is dedicating a new Christmas stamp featuring “Virgin and Child,” an oil-on-panel painting from the first half of the 16th century by an unidentified Florentine artist known as “the Master of Scandicci Lamentation.”
The first-day-of-issue event for the Forever stamp is free and open to the public for those who have RSVP’d. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag#VirginAndChildStamp.
Who: Jenny Utterback, the Postal Service’s vice president for organizational development and dedicating official
When: Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, at 11 a.m. ET.
Where: Museum of Fine Arts Boston
465 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
RSVP: Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at:usps.com/virginandchild
Background: The painting depicts the Virgin Mary gazing downward at the infant Christ, one of her arms holding him protectively at his waist, the other tenderly touching his arm, while the Christ child turns his head to look out of the frame to the left.
The 16th-century painting “Virgin and Child” is part of the Robert Dawson Evans Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp.
Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide.
Updated August 15th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:
The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.66″ x 1.23″
The B&W pictorial postmark also measures 2.66″ x 1.23″
From the Postal Bulletin:
On September 22, 2022, in Boston, MA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Virgin and Child stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), double-sided booklet (Item 684100). This stamp will go on sale nationwide September 22, 2022, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
This Christmas stamp features Virgin and Child, a 16th-century painting by a Florentine artist known as the Master of the Scandicci Lamentation. Part of the Robert Dawson Evans Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the painting depicts the Virgin Mary gazing downward at the infant Christ, one of her arms holding him protectively at his waist, the other tenderly touching his arm, while the Christ Child turns his head to look out of the frame to the left. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp.
