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Overview

Located some 2,600 kilometres north-west of Perth, in the Indian Ocean, Christmas Island was named by Captain William Mynors, who sailed past it on Christmas Day 1643.

Australia Post has produced stamps for Christmas Island since 1993. This light-hearted Christmas stamp series features Santa Claus interacting with various personified island fauna.

This year, Sonia Kretschmar has created a whimsical scene set under a fig tree in the Christmas Island Dales. Santa is conducting a carol-singing choir of island birds, renowned for their distinctive calls, while Rudolph leads a band of local percussionists. In the broader minisheet scene is a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, with a Christmas Island Emerald Dove perched on top, and endemic butterflies are dancing overhead.

*The on-sale date for international-rate Christmas stamps was 1 October 2020. This is to help ensure that our customers’ international Christmas mail reaches its intended destination on time, in light of the impacts of COVID-19 on worldwide mail delivery.

Technical specifications

Issue  date30-October-2020*
Issue withdrawal date31-December-2021
Denominations65c x 1, $2.20 x 1
Stamp  designSonia Kretshmar
Product designSonia Young, Australia Post Design Studio
Paper - gummedTullis Russell
Paper: self-adhesive (sheetlet of 5)Arconvert Securpost
Paper: self-adhesive (sheetlet of 10)Raflatac Cast SP34
PrinterRA Printing
Printing processOffset lithography (Sheetlet - Inkjet with cold foil)
Printer (sheetlet)Rapid Labels
Stamp size37.5 x 26
Minisheet size135 x 80
Sheetlet size (mm)192 x 120
Perforations13.86 x 14.6
Sheet layoutModule of 50
FDI postmarkChristmas Island WA 6798
FDI withdrawal date31-January-2021

Stamps in this issue

Santa conducts the choir

This stamp shows Santa conducting a festive carol-singing choir of island birds. In the soprano line is a Hawk Owl duet, a Christmas Island Goshawk, a Christmas Island Thrush and a White-tailed Tropicbird, who has flown out front to perform a solo. A Christmas Island Frigatebird and some Red-footed Boobies and Common Noddies are joyfully singing the bass line.

65c

Rudolph leads the band

Accompanying the carol-singing choir is an enthusiastic band of percussionists, led by Rudolph playing his Malaysian kompang. Some Red Crabs and Giant Geckos are bashing their cymbals and gongs, which they also enjoy playing during the island’s Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations.

$2.20

Shop our stamp collectables

  • Set of Christmas Island Christmas 2020 gummed stamps

    This set of stamps contains the two gummed stamps from the Christmas Island Christmas 2020 stamp issue.

  • Christmas Island Christmas 2020 Embellished sheetlet pack

    The Christmas Island Christmas 2020 embellished sheetlet pack contains two foiled highlight sheetlets of 10 x 65c stamps from the stamp issue presented in high quality folder.

  • Christmas Island Christmas 2020 minisheet

    The Christmas Island Christmas 2020 minisheet consists of the two stamps from the issue incorporated into a special Christmas themed miniature stamp sheet.

  • Embellished sheetlet of 10 Christmas Island Christmas 2020 stamps

    The self-adhesive sheetlet contains 10 x 65c embellished Santa stamps from the Christmas Island Christmas 2020 stamp issue.

Additional products:

  • Gutter strip of 10 x 65c Santa stamps

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  • Gutter strip of 10 x $2.20 Rudolph International Christmas rate stamps

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  • Pictorial envelope for the Christmas Island Christmas 2020 stamp issue

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  • First day Christmas Island Christmas 2020 gummed stamps cover

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  • First day Christmas Island Christmas 2020 minisheet cover

This content was produced at the time of the stamp issue release date and will not be updated.

Related stamp issues

  • Issue date: 01 November 2019

    Christmas Island Christmas 2019

  • Issue date: 01 November 2018

    Christmas Island Christmas 2018

  • Issue date: 01 November 2017

    Christmas Island Christmas 2017

  • Issue date: 31 October 2016

    Christmas Island Christmas 2016