World's First Christmas Stamp

Jonathan Dean writes on Great Britain's Lethbridge Herald website, "In 1898 Canada became the first country to issue a postage stamp which had a connection to Christmas. Originally, it was not meant to be a Christmas stamp, but the Postmaster-General of the time, William Mulock, was caught in a dilemma. He had presented the design of a stamp, which displayed a map of the British Empire, to Queen Victoria for her approval. The stamp was to be issued for the inauguration of the Imperial Penny Postage rate."

He goes on to say, "Mulock proposed to issue the stamp to “honour the Prince” (meaning the Prince of Wales) but when Queen Victoria asked him in a displeased manner “what Prince?,” he had to think quickly. “Why, the Prince of Peace, Ma’am,” Mulock replied. Mulock then had the inscription “XMAS 1898″ printed on the bottom of the stamp which has since come to be considered as the world’s first (unofficial) Christmas stamp."

To read the entire article, click here.