This 1976 Christmas First Day Cover features the 13¢ stamp reproducing John Singleton Copley’s “The Nativity,” issued October 27, 1976, in Boston, Massachusetts. The ArtCraft cachet presents a red-brown detail of the same painting alongside the full-color stamp, with “Seasons Greetings” script and the official first-day cancel from Boston’s 02109 ZIP Code.
Issued during the American bicentennial year, the stamp honors Copley, America’s foremost colonial portraitist, and highlights the Boston Museum of Fine Arts’ important holdings. Christmas stamps of the 1970s were among the most popular U.S. issues, reflecting both religious observance and the growing collector interest in seasonal topicals.
A notable detail is the cachet’s use of a cropped detail from the painting while the stamp shows the complete work, giving collectors both interpretations on one cover. The ArtCraft branding and “OFFICIAL First Day of Issue” inscription confirm its status as a recognized cachet-maker product of the period.
A fine addition to any Christmas, religious art, or bicentennial-era collection, this cover remains in fresh condition with a clear Boston postmark and attractive dual artwork presentation.
