Skip to main content

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. The natural history of the island is of great importance. Christmas Island National Park, which comprises 85 square kilometres of the total landmass of 135 square kilometres, was declared in 1980. Unique vegetation and wildlife includes land crab populations of world significance.

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

This year’s issue, illustrated by Andrew McIntosh, shows Santa taking a well-earned break from delivering presents, to enjoy the wonderful snorkelling opportunities afforded by the island’s warm waters. Snorkelling is a popular pastime in reefs around the island, including at Flying Fish Cove, Dolly Beach, Ethel Beach, West Beach and Winifred Beach. Santa is also taking the time to chat with some local fauna, who have been eagerly awaiting his arrival.

Technical specifications

Issue  date1 November 2021 *
Issue withdrawal date31 December 2022
Denominations65c x 1, $2.40 x 1
Stamp illustrationAndrew McIntosh
Product designSimone Sakinofsky, Australia Post Design Studio
Paper - gummedTullis Russell Red Phos.
Tullis Russell Red Phos.Arconvert Securpost
Paper: self-adhesive embellished sheetletRaflatac Cast KS90
PrinterRA
Printer: embellished sheetletRapid Labels
Printing processOffset lithography 
Printing processInkjet 1200 dpi
embellished sheetlet 
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 date30 November 2021

Stamps in this issue

CI_Christmas_Stamp_240_400

Snorkelling Santa

This festive season, equipped with fins and mask, Santa is enjoying Christmas Island’s warm tropical waters, joined by one of the Green Turtles that famously nests on the island and frequents the waters around it.

65c

CI_Christmas_Stamp_240_400

Greeting wildlife

The island’s distinctive, unique wildlife gather to greet their merry visitor. They include Red Crabs, Green Turtles, Red-tailed Tropicbirds, frigatebirds, a Whaleshark and assorted fish.

$2.40

Shop our stamp collectables

  • Set of Christmas Island Christmas 2021 Gummed Stamps

    This set of stamps contains the two stamps from the Christmas Island Christmas 2021 stamp issue.

  • Christmas Island Christmas 2021 Embellished Sheetlet Pack

    The Christmas Island Christmas 2021 sheetlet pack contains two sheetlets of 10 x 65c Snorkelling Santa stamps.

  • Christmas Island Christmas 2021 Minisheet

    The Christmas Island Christmas 2021 minisheet consists of the two stamps from the issue incorporated into a miniature stamp sheet.

  • Sheetlet of 10x 65c Snorkelling Santa Stamps

    This self-adhesive sheetlet of 10 x 65c Snorkelling Santa stamps from the Christmas Island Christmas 2021 stamp issue contains selective embellished elements.

Additional products:

  • Christmas Island Christmas 2021 Postal Numismatic Cover

  • Gutter Strip of 10x 65c Snorkelling Santa Stamps

  • Gutter Strip of 10x $2.40 Greeting Wildlife Stamps

  • Pictorial Envelope for the Christmas Island Christmas 2021 Stamp Issue

  • Sheetlet of 5x $2.40 Greeting Wildlife Stamps

  • Chequebook of 100x $2.40 Greeting Wildlife Stamps

  • First Day Christmas Island Christmas 2021 Gummed Stamps Cover

  • First Day Christmas Island Christmas 2021 Minisheet Cover

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

*The on-sale date for international-rate Christmas stamps was 1 October 2021. 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.

Related stamp issues

  • 30 October 2020

    Christmas Island Christmas 2020

  • 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

View all stamps