This 1964 Art Craft First Day Cover features the U.S. Christmas issue of four different 5¢ stamps postmarked on the first day of issue, November 9, 1964, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The colorful block of stamps depicts traditional holiday symbols: holly, mistletoe, poinsettia, and a pine bough with cone.
By 1964 the modern U.S. Christmas stamp program was only in its third year, yet these festive designs quickly became collector favorites. Issued in time for the holiday mailing season, the quartet captured the spirit of mid-century American Christmas celebrations and helped popularize seasonal postage.
The Art Craft cachet shows three children admiring a decorated tree, with the inscription “Season’s Greetings Christmas 1964.” The Bethlehem, PA, postmark is especially appropriate for a Christmas issue, linking the city’s name to the holiday theme.
A clean, well-centered example with a crisp black postmark, this cover makes an attractive addition to any Christmas topical or modern U.S. FDC collection.
