The superbly illustrated Presentation Pack includes all seven of the Royal Mail Christmas 2013 stamps.
Presented inside, Rowena Loverance talks about Madonna and Child depictions throughout art history, with particular reference to the first four images which were painted from the 15th century onwards.
Meanwhile, Jim Davis and Fadi Mikhail explain in captivating detail how the specially-commissioned Neo-Coptic image was created for the final stamp in this magnificent Special issue.
- First Class Stamp (Artwork by Francesco Granacci)
In Madonna and Child (c.1520), painted in the High Renaissance style, Francesco Granacci depicts the Virgin in her traditional garments of red and blue, earthly and divine, while the bird in Christ’s hand alludes to the coming Passion.
- Second Class Stamp(Artwork by Antoniazzo Romano)
In Antoniazzo Romano’s Virgin and Child with the young St John the Baptist (c.1460–80), in the Early Renaissance style, Mary holds Jesus on her left arm and points towards him with her right, indicating that he is the way to salvation.
- 88p Stamp (Artwork by Jacques-Louis David)
Jacques-Louis David’s St Roch Praying to the Virgin for an End to the Plague (1780), which is painted in the neoclassical style, is a deeply Catholic painting, depicting the Virgin Mary in her role as protector and intercessor.
This Christmas 2013 Presentation Pack by Royal Mail is a must have for any ardent collector. The Christmas 2013 Stamp Cards can be found here.
Children's Christmas Stamps 2013
The Christmas 2013 Children's Design Competition Presentation Pack features the creative talent of two school children who used their artistic flair to emerge victorious with a first class Father Christmas stamp and a second class stamp illustrating three singing angels.
The first class stamp shows Father Christmas drawn by seven-year-old Molly Robson, a pupil at Leechpool Primary School in Horsham, West Sussex, while the second class stamp features three singing angels, designed by 10-year-old Rosie Hargreaves, who attends Ermington Primary School in Ivybridge, Devon. The two winning designs were unveiled at a ceremony in Clarence House attended by the Prince of Wales who led the judging panel.
Spread some Christmas cheer with this wonderful Christmas Stamps Presentation Pack which is the first Christmas stamp design competition for 30 years by Royal Mail and would make the perfect novelty gift idea for friends or family this Yuletide.
This distinctive Christmas 2013 Children's Design Competition Presentation Pack complements the range of postage stamps and special stamps available for next day delivery from the Post Office Shop.
