10-10-01 Holiday Virgin and Child
October 10, 2001
Santas And Renaissance Art Featured On This Year's Christmas Postage Stamps

PHILADELPHIA - The warmth and joy of the holiday season are captured on this year's Christmas and Holiday postage stamps, which depict Italian artist Lorenzo Costa's "Virgin and Child" on the Christmas stamp and charming images of Santa Claus on four Holiday stamps.

The U.S. Postal Service issued both stamps at separate ceremonies today. The stamp depicting Costa's "Virgin and Child" was issued at a ceremony at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The museum is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2001. The original painting, part of the John G. Johnson Collection, is on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The Santa stamps, which feature four images that represent the rich folklore of Santa Claus, were issued at a ceremony at the Holiday Theater at Holiday World, a theme park in Santa Claus, Ind.

"Our two Christmas stamps, Costa's 'Virgin and Child,' and the quaint 'Santas,' beautifully represent the season, offering a unique moment on the doorstep for our friends, families and customers, who eagerly look forward to the delivery of their holiday cards and letters," said S. David Fineman, Vice Chairman of the presidentially appointed Postal Service Board of Governors, who dedicated the Costa stamp.

The Christmas stamp features a detail of Costa's oil-on-panel "Virgin and Child," circa 1490. In this depiction, the Madonna is seated behind a waist-high, pearl gray parapet upon which she holds her standing Child. She wears a dark blue mantle over a white kerchief and red dress. Costa's work is well represented in major European galleries; this painting is a rare example of Costa's work appearing in an American museum.

Renaissance painter Lorenzo Costa (1460-1535) was born in the northern Italian town of Ferrara. In the 1480s he moved to Bologna, where he received the patronage of the ruling Bentivoglio family. Costa's work included altarpieces, frescoes, portraits and allegories, and his major commissions for Bolognese churches are considered among his best. In 1506 Costa succeeded Andrea Mantegna as the court painter to the ruling Gonzaga family in Mantua, where he remained until his death in 1535.

"We are delighted that the United States Postal Service has chosen to share this wonderful work of art with so many people this holiday season," said Anne d'Harnoncourt, Director and CEO of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. "This gesture comes at a particularly gratifying time, as we commemorate our 125th anniversary. For the past 125 years the Museum's mission has been to share artistic treasures with the world at large. We couldn't be more thrilled that millions of personal holiday messages worldwide will be stamped with an image of Lorenzo Costa's beautiful painting."

The Holiday stamps feature four chromolithograph Santa Claus images (circa 1880s and circa 1915-20). Chromolithography is a color printing process developed in the early 19th century and became more efficient and very popular as the century progressed.

The story of Santa Claus begins with St. Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop in Asia Minor. St. Nicholas was considered a generous gift giver and protector of children, and over time his reputation flourished throughout Europe. Eventually the legend of St. Nicolas became intertwined with the Christmas holiday.

The chromolithographs featured on these stamps portray the character that we know today as Santa Claus. In the block of four designs the Santas pictured upper left and lower right probably date from the 1880s. They may have been designed in England and printed in Germany. People may have purchased these images and placed them in keepsake scrapbooks.

The Santas pictured upper right and lower left were printed in Germany and probably date between 1915 and 1920. Santas such as these may have been used to decorate "lebkuchen," a traditional German cookie.

Both the Santas and Costa stamps were designed by Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, Ariz. The Postal Service will also issue 34-cent versions of the previously released Holiday Celebration Hanukkah stamp and the Holiday Celebration Kwanzaa stamp Oct. 21.

Since the issuance in 1966 of the five-cent stamp featuring the "Madonna and Child" by Hans Memling, Christmas stamps have had a devoted following.

The Postal Service has also produced stamped postal cards featuring the Santas stamps. Each card features one of the four Santas designs and includes 21 cents postage, which is the current stamped card rate.

To see an image of the "Virgin and Child" and Santas stamps, visit the Collector's Corner in the Postal Store at www.usps.com and click on "Stamp Release Schedule." To see previous releases, select "Index of Stamp Issues."

All current stamps and other philatelic products, as well as a free philatelic catalog, are available by calling toll free 1 800 STAMP-24. A selection of current stamps and gift items are also available online at the Postal Store.
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