This 1971 First Day Cover features the 8¢ Christmas stamp reproducing Giorgione’s “The Adoration of the Shepherds,” issued November 10, 1971, in Washington, DC. The Art Craft cachet presents a striking blue-toned rendering of the Nativity scene alongside the colorful stamp and official first-day cancel.
Issued during the early years of the modern U.S. Christmas stamp program, the issue highlights Renaissance art from the National Gallery of Art collection. Giorgione’s circa 1505–1510 painting captures the quiet reverence of the shepherds at the manger, bringing fine-art imagery to the holiday mails.
A notable detail is the cachet’s monochromatic treatment of the same composition, signed by Art Craft, one of the most respected cachet makers of the era. The stamp inscription identifies both the artist’s lifespan and the gallery, adding educational value for collectors.
A handsome addition to any Christmas or art-on-stamps topical collection, this cover remains in fresh condition with a crisp Washington, DC postmark and well-centered stamp.
