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Christmas 2016

Issue date: 31 October 2016

Overview

Australia has issued Christmas stamps annually since 1957 and was the first country in the world to commence an annual program. The current Christmas stamp program represents the Christmas holiday as we know it in Australia today, spanning both religious and secular themes.

The three religious designs from the Christmas 2016 stamp issue have been executed using the intricate art of paper-cut. The artist, Stuart McLachlan, has hand-cut delicate paper shapes before layering them to create a scene and then lighting, photographing and colouring them to produce the stamp images. The stamps each depict a different scene from the biblical story of the birth of Christ.

The two secular-themed stamps were designed by Stacey Zass and showcase the universal themes of goodwill (represented by a star) and joy (represented by a gift).

The Christmas 2016 stamps are available as Personalised Stamps™, which allow you to place a photo in the tabs next to the stamps, which are then printed into a sheetlet. You can then place the tab and stamp directly onto your card, for a special finishing touch.

Designers

Stacey Zass (secular), Stuart McLachlan (religious)

Products released in this issue

First day cover
Stamp pack
Minisheet
Set of maxicards
Postal numismatic cover (Three Wise Men stamp)
Two x sheetlet of 5 (Angel and Three Wise Men stamps)
Self-adhesive booklet of 20 (Goodwill and Joy stamps)
Self-adhesive booklet of 20 (Virgin and Child stamp)
Two x embellished sheetlet of 10 (Goodwill and Joy stamps)
Embellished sheetlet pack (Goodwill and Joy stamps)

Technical specifications

Issue date	31 October 2016
Issue withdrawal date	30 April 2017
Denominations	3 x 65c, 1 x $1.70, 1 x $2.55
Stamp design - secular stamps	Stacey Zass
Stamp design - religious stamps	Stuart McLachlan
Product design	Jo Mure
Printer	McKellar Renown (religious), EgoTrade Pty Ltd (secular)
Paper - gummed	Tullis Russell Red Phos
Paper self-adhesive	Secure Post Cprint 100, WLK6B100, Domain
Printing process	Offset lithography
Stamp size	26mm x 37.5mm
Perforations	14 x 14.4
Minisheet size	130mm x 80mm
Sheetlet size	120mm x 193mm
Sheet layout	Module of 50
FDI postmark	Merrylands NSW 2160
FDI withdrawal date	28 November 2016