Jolly Old Saint Nicholas Postage Stamps | Christmas Carols Issue | Contemporary Christmas Series | Santa Claus & Child | Unused USPS Forever Stamp

Add classic Santa Claus charm and nostalgic Christmas spirit to your letters with these unused Jolly Old Saint Nicholas postage stamps from the USPS Christmas Carols issue! Featuring Santa Claus with a child and imagery inspired by the traditional holiday song “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas,” this festive design brings together beloved Christmas music, childhood wonder, and one of the season’s most recognizable figures. Perfect for Christmas cards, holiday greetings, family correspondence, party invitations, gift enclosures, seasonal thank you notes, and other winter snail mail, these stamps add a warm and familiar finishing touch.

In pristine mint condition and valid for current postage use, each stamp is a USPS Forever stamp and remains valid for First-Class Mail postage at the current one-ounce letter rate. These authentic USPS postage stamps are suitable for current mailing when used with the total required postage based on the weight of your mailing.

STAMP INFORMATION:

• Stamp Name: Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
• Stamp Series: Contemporary Christmas - Christmas Carols
• Year Issued: 2017
• Face Value: Current Forever First-Class Mail Rate (USD) per stamp
• Topic(s): Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Child, Christmas Carols, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Holiday Music, Childhood, Gift Giving, Holiday Traditions, Steve McCracken, Christmas Stamps, USPS Holiday Stamps
• Color(s): Blue, Red, White, Brown, Black, Multicolored
• Mailing Occasions: Christmas Cards, Holiday Cards, Family Holiday Mail, Christmas Party Invitations, Holiday Party Invitations, Gift Enclosures, Seasonal Thank You Notes, Winter Greetings, Christmas Announcements, Holiday Correspondence
• Printing Method: Offset
• Scott Number: 5250
• Adhesion Type: Self-Adhesive
• Stamp Size: 23 x 30 mm / 0.91 × 1.19 in
• Condition: Genuine Unused USPS Postage Stamps, Ready to Use for USPS Mailings, Mint Condition

STAMP DESCRIPTION & HISTORY: The 2017 Jolly Old Saint Nicholas stamp was issued as one of four Forever stamps in the USPS Christmas Carols issue within the broader Contemporary Christmas category. Artist Steve McCracken created the original artwork, while Howard E. Paine served as art director, designer, and typographer. The design depicts Santa Claus with a child, visually interpreting the warm and familiar character of the traditional holiday song “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.” Familiar words from the carol appear as part of the composition, linking the illustration directly to its musical inspiration. The stamps were issued on October 5, 2017, in New York City and printed by Banknote Corporation of America using offset printing in self-adhesive double-sided booklets of 20.

STAMP MEANING & SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Jolly Old Saint Nicholas design can symbolize generosity, kindness, childhood wonder, anticipation, giving, joy, and the warmth of holiday traditions. The interaction between Santa Claus and a child evokes the excitement and innocence associated with Christmas Eve, while Saint Nicholas imagery recalls traditions of anonymous giving and care for others. For Christmas cards, family correspondence, and seasonal greetings, the stamp offers a warm visual expression of generosity, affection, and holiday cheer.

STAMP SERIES HISTORY: The USPS Christmas Carols issue was released in 2017 as four coordinated Forever stamps celebrating “Deck the Halls,” “Silent Night,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.” Part of the broader Contemporary Christmas tradition of secular and seasonal holiday issues, the set pairs original artwork by Steve McCracken with imagery illustrating a central theme from each carol. Howard E. Paine directed and designed the issue, and each double-sided booklet contained five examples of each of the four designs. USPS noted that shades of blue in the backgrounds help evoke the evening settings associated with the songs.

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.

ABOUT USPS FOREVER STAMPS: Forever postage is a category of First-Class Mail stamps issued by the United States Postal Service that retains its full mailing value indefinitely, regardless of future postage rate increases. First introduced in 2007, the Forever stamp was designed to simplify mailing by eliminating the need to purchase additional postage when rates change. A single Forever stamp is always valid for sending one standard, one-ounce First-Class letter within the United States, even if it was purchased years earlier at a lower price. In practical use, Forever stamps function exactly like traditional First-Class stamps but offer greater convenience and flexibility. They can be used on everyday correspondence, formal invitations, greeting cards, and business mail, and they may be combined with additional Forever or denominated stamps to meet higher weights or special mailing requirements. Because their value automatically adjusts with postal rates, Forever stamps are especially popular for personal stationery, weddings, and long-term stamp collecting.

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.

SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW QUANTITY BASED PRICING