Contemporary Christmas "Christmas Stocking" Stamps (Presents, Teddy Bear, Holidays, Greetings) Unused USPS Postage 29c
Contemporary Christmas "Christmas Stocking" Stamps (Presents, Teddy Bear, Holidays, Greetings) Unused USPS Postage 29c
Add nostalgic flair to your holiday letters with these vintage unused Contemporary Christmas "Christmas Stocking" postage stamps! This nostalgic holiday design is perfect for adding a touch of class to your holiday cards and letters or winter save-the-dates and weddings. In pristine mint condition and valid for current postage use, each stamp holds a face value of 29-cents. These USPS postage stamps are suitable for current mailing when used with the total required postage based on the weight of your correspondence. Embrace the charm of winter with this enchanting postage stamp!
STAMP INFORMATION:
- Name: Christmas Stocking
- Series: Contemporary Christmas
- Year Issued: 1994
- Face Value: 29-cents (USD) per stamp
- Topic(s): Christmas Stocking, Presents, Teddy Bear, Holidays, Greetings
- Color(s): Multicolored
- Printing Method: Lithographed
- Scott Number: 2872
- Adhesion Type: Gummed
- Condition: Genuine Unused USPS Postage Stamps, Ready to Use for USPS Mailings, Mint Condition
STAMP HISTORY: The 1994 29-cent “Christmas Stocking” postage stamp was issued by the U.S. Postal Service on October 20, 1994, in Washington, D.C., as part of the "Contemporary Christmas" series. Cheerful and homey, it captures one of the most familiar and beloved symbols of the holiday season—the Christmas stocking—evoking the joy, anticipation, and generosity that define Christmas morning.
The stamp was designed and illustrated by Nancy Stahl, a New York–based artist known for her clean, modern aesthetic and painterly realism. Her Christmas Stocking design depicts a bright red stocking trimmed with white and hanging against a soft green background, stuffed with colorful holiday treats—a candy cane, a teddy bear, and wrapped presents peeking out from the top. The design’s simplicity and bold use of color made it instantly recognizable and appealing for holiday mail.
STAMP MEANING & SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE: The “Christmas Stocking” stamp reflects the sacred joy of giving, gratitude, and grace received in simple, unexpected ways. While its imagery is secular—a bright red stocking filled with toys and sweets—the deeper meaning reaches into the spiritual heart of Christmas: the miracle of generosity and the quiet faith that blessings will come, even when unseen.
The Christmas stocking itself, rooted in the legend of Saint Nicholas, carries profound spiritual symbolism. The story tells of the saint’s compassion for a poor family, to whom he secretly gave gold coins that fell into stockings hung by the fire. This act of anonymous generosity transformed the stocking from a humble household item into a vessel of divine providence—a reminder that love often arrives quietly, without recognition or expectation of reward. In this way, the stocking becomes a spiritual metaphor for open-hearted receptivity: we hang it empty in faith, trusting that goodness will fill it.
In the stillness of Christmas Eve, the hanging stocking is a gesture of childlike trust—a symbol of faith in the unseen and belief in the goodness of others. Spiritually, it reminds us that the true gifts of Christmas are not bought or earned but given freely, echoing the divine gift of love that the season commemorates. Thus, the “Christmas Stocking” stamp becomes more than a cheerful image—it is a meditation on expectancy, generosity, and grace. It celebrates the mystery of giving and receiving as sacred acts, showing that even in the smallest traditions—a simple stocking by the fire—the spirit of Christmas endures: love poured out, joy renewed, and the eternal promise that every open heart will be filled.
GUMMED STAMPS: These postage stamps have a traditional moisture-activated gum on the back. These stamps require licking or wetting to adhere to envelopes or other surfaces. To ensure good adhesion, apply vintage gummed stamps to your mailings with a glue stick (we recommend using Elmer's "Re-Stick" glue sticks).
GENUINE USPS POSTAGE: These unused vintage postage stamps are perfectly valid for use as current postage for mailing with USPS as long as you use the adequate amount of postage to achieve standard postage rates according to the weight of your mailing. Check current postage rates at USPS.com.
QUESTIONS? We love hearing from our customers and replies to inquires are usually answered the same day. Need more of this stamp? Looking for a particular stamp not found on our website? Want a curated postage set for your special event? Contact us with questions about vintage postage stamps and our services…
TELL YOUR STORY IN STAMPS: We’ve worked with hundreds of couples and their stationers to custom design highly stylized personalized postage sets based on our customer’s life stories. We can help you curate personalized vintage postage sets to commemorate your save-the-date, wedding, shower, announcement, and other special occasions in a truly unique fashion. Drawing on our encyclopedic knowledge of every stamp ever issued by the USPS, and sourcing from our extensive inventory of collectable unused vintage stamps, we’ll help you tell your unique story in stamps!
ABOUT HERITAGE POST HOUSE: Jennifer Kramer is the founder of Heritage Post House, a boutique vintage postage house located in Northern California. Jennifer sources the most beautiful unused vintage postage stamps ever issued by USPS and artfully arranges them into curated postage sets that are sure to add a special touch to your invitations, announcements, and special mailings. In addition to creating pre-arranged postage sets, Jennifer also works with couples (and their stationers) to create one-of-a-kind custom postage arrangements for wedding invitations, save the dates, and other special occasions.
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Product features
Product features
- Unused/uncanceled stamps
- Mint condition
- Limited circulation, collectable
- Postage value is face value printed on stamps
- USPS genuine and authentic postage
- Ready to use for mailing today
Handling and care
Handling and care
- Vintage stamps should be handled with care
- Do not expose to moisture
- Store unused stamps in provided glassine envelopes
- Store in a cool dark place
- Avoid long exposure to UV light
- Handle with clean/dry hands, cotton gloves, or tweezers
Application and use
Application and use
- Carefully weigh and measure each mail piece to determine required postage
- Check current postage rates at USPS.com
- Multiple stamps may be necessary to meet required postage for mailing
- Extra postage may be required for envelopes with a wax seal, ribbon, thicker than 1/4-inch, doesn't bend, square shaped, or irregular size
- Your local post office will confirm how much postage is required for your particular mailing
- Gummed stamps should always be applied to your mailing with a glue stick (we recommend Elmer's "Re-Stick" glue sticks)
FREE shipping available
FREE shipping available
- FREE shipping available for all orders over $49 — eligibility calculated after coupons and discounts are applied during checkout
- Expedited shipping and rush order processing available when selected before finalizing your order; consult our Shipping Policy for more details
Shop with confidence
Shop with confidence
- 15 day return window for most stamps (excludes special orders and custom curated stamp sets); consult our Refund Policy for return requirements and details
- USPS package tracking on all orders
- All orders are insured by USPS for up to $100 of loss or damage
- Additional shipping insurance available for purchase for higher value orders
- Visit our FAQ for answers to frequently asked questions
Tell your story in stamps
Tell your story in stamps
- We’ve worked with hundreds of couples and their stationers to custom-design highly stylized personalized postage sets based on our customer’s life stories.
- We can help you curate personalized vintage postage sets that will commemorate your save-the-date, wedding, shower, announcement, and other special occasions in a truly unique fashion.
- Drawing on our encyclopedic knowledge of every stamp ever issued by the USPS, and sourcing from our extensive inventory of collectable unused vintage postage stamps, we’ll help you tell your unique story in stamps!
- Engage our custom curation services today and we’ll do the work for you…
Have questions?
Have questions?
- Questions about this or other stamps? We love hearing from our customers and replies to inquires are usually answered the same day. Contact us with questions about vintage stamps and our services.
- Need more of this stamp? We usually have access to more quantity than is shown here on our website. If you need more of any stamp, please contact us with the stamp name and quantity desired. We’ll email you with a price quote based on the quantity desired and an estimated delivery timeline.
- Looking for another stamp? We have ready access to virtually every USPS postage stamp ever issued. If you are looking for a particular stamp, please contact us with the stamp name and quantity desired. We’ll email you with a price quote based on the quantity desired and an estimated delivery timeline.
- Need a custom curated postage set? When you engage our custom curation services we do all the work for you. We have helped hundreds of customers by designing custom-curated postage for save-the-dates, wedding invitations, bridal shower invitations, birth announcements, reunion invitations, and more! We’d be delighted to help you tell your story in stamps…
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