Christmas Stamps Issued by Postal Service 1973

Needlepoint Tree by Dolli Tingle and Madonna by Raphael Share Honors

Apr 12, 2009

Needlepoint artist Dolli Tingle and Italian painter Raphael were honored by having their work chosen for 1973 Christmas commemorative stamps.

As is their custom, the Advisory Committee of the United States Postal Service selected the work of two very different artists to appear on the annual Christmas commemorative stamps in 1973.

Needlepoint Artist Dolli Tingle Designed a Christmas Tree

Dolli Tingle studied at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and became a painter as well as a needle worker. She was the daughter of an artist and the wife of artist Ward Brackett, who designed Girl Scout, Law and Order and Suffrage stamps for the U.S.P.S. Her depiction of a Christmas tree decorated with traditional holiday ornaments drew upon her memories of childhood in Chicago and took her only ten days to complete. It was the first of several needlepoint creations to become the basis of an American postage stamp.

Dolli Tingle Brackett died in 1993 at the age of 82 in Norwalk, Connecticut. Her obituary in the New York Times states that she was awarded Woman of the Year by the American Needlepoint Guild for her 1973 design, and that she went on to design seven more Christmas stamps.

Italian Renaissance Painter Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio)

Raphael is widely acknowledged as one of three great Renaissance painters. He painted the Cowper Madonna works during his brief stays in Florence between 1504-1508. The painting measures approximately 17” by 23” and was painted in oil on wood. It was in the Widener collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. at the time it was chosen to adorn the 1973 Christmas stamp.

Raphael died in 1520 at the age of thirty-eight. He produced at least two dozen more Madonna paintings and his works now hang in museums all over the world.

Collecting Christmas Stamps as a Hobby

The United States Postal Service first issued commemorative Christmas stamps in 1962 and has been issuing new and different Christmas stamps every year since then. Beginning in 1965 and every year (with 3 exceptions) since then the USPS has issued a Christmas stamp with a religious theme (predominately the "Madonna & Child"). They also issue at least one traditional, non-religious stamp to mark each holiday season.

The stamps chosen by the Postal Service for 1973 are just one example of the quality and beauty available to collectors. A collection of Christmas stamps, displayed in an artistic manner, is an instant conversation-starter in any holiday home. Madonna paintings, Santa-themed stamps, those with ornaments or toys or even a collection of wreaths, trees and garlands would add a lovely touch to your holiday décor.

The copyright of the article Christmas Stamps Issued by Postal Service 1973 in Collecting Stamps/Coins is owned by Marie Brannon. Permission to republish Christmas Stamps Issued by Postal Service 1973 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.