Each year, we release Christmas stamps that celebrate the Christmas holiday as we know it in Australia today, spanning both traditional and secular themes.
The traditional Christmas stamps for 2018 are based on paintings by Ursula Betka, which were created using age-old medieval techniques. The glowing-jewel like colours are achieved through the use of egg tempera, a mixture made from a blend of natural pigments and egg yolk. The exquisite gold brocade effect was achieved with burnished 23-karat gold leaf and the traditional medieval method of scraffito, where the decoration is delineated with a fine, sharp metal point. The Madonna and Child and the Musical Angels are depicted within a mystical landscape. Heaven is brought to earth and the created world is transfigured by the divine presence, uplifting the soul.
For those who prefer a more secular Christmas, the three typographical stamps, illustrated by Luke Lucas, mark the festive season as a time to gather with family and friends in a spirit of peace, understanding and goodwill. Festive words, taken from popular Christmas carols “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”, “Jingle Bells” and “The First Noël” are presented in a ribbon-like fashion, as a nod to the popular act of gift-giving.
All of these designs are available as Personalised Stamps.™
Products released in this issue
- Stamp pack
- Minisheet (traditional)
- First day cover (blank, gummed, minisheet)
- Maxicards
- Postal numismatic cover
- Sheetlet of 5 x $2 and $2.30
- Sheetlets of 10 x 65c, embellished
- Embellished sheetlet pack
- Booklets of 20 x 65c (traditional and secular)
Technical specifications
- Issue date
- 1 November 2018
- Issue withdrawal date
- 31 December 2019
- Denominations
- 3 x 65c, 1 x $2, 1 x $2.30
- Stamp design - secular
- Luke Lucas
- Stamp design - traditional
- Ursula Betka
- Product design
- Jason Watts, Australia Post Design Studio
- Printer - traditional
- RA Printing
- Printer - secular
- Egotrade
- Printer - self-adhesive
- RA Printing
- Paper - gummed
- Tullis Russell
- Paper - self-adhesive
- Securepost CPrint100
- Printing process
- Offset lithography
- Stamp size
- 26mm x 37.5mm
- Minisheet size
- 105mm x 80mm
- Perforations
- 14.6 x 13.86
- Sheet layout
- Module of 50
- FDI postmark
- Merrylands NSW 2160
- FDI withdrawal date
- 30 November 2018
This content was produced at the time of the stamp issue release date and will not be updated.
