2018 Christmas.

The five gummed stamps on a FDC.
The Christmas 2018 stamps go back to the roots of this annual celebration – the Nativity scene. The enchanting and enduring Nativity story encapsulates the meaning of Christmas for many.


Like many of the Christmas issues, 2018 as another complex issue of four adhesive stamps and five gummed stamps.

The Adhesive Stamps.
The set of four self-adhesive stamps.

$1.20 - The Virgin Mary (Self-adhesive). 
An angel appeared to Mary and told her she was to be the mother of Jesus through the divine intervention of the Holy Spirit.

$1.20 - The Baby Jesus (Self Adhesive).
Jesus was born in a stable Bethlehem because there were no rooms available in the town. Joseph and his wife-to-be Mary had travelled to Bethlehem to register for a census, and all the inns were full.

$2.40 - The Christmas Angel (Self Adhesive).
An angel appeared before poor shepherds and led them to the lowly stable in Bethlehem.

$3.00 - The Wise Men (Self Adhesive).
Far to the east, a group of wise men saw a new star in the sky. They followed the star to Bethlehem, taking with them gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The three self-adhesive booklets. Notice the lower value booklet of $1.20 has five of each stamp. 

The Gummed Stamps.
The set of five gummed stamps.

$1.20 - The Virgin Mary (Gummed). 
An angel appeared to Mary and told her she was to be the mother of Jesus through the divine intervention of the Holy Spirit.
$1.20 - The Baby Jesus (Gummed).
Jesus was born in a stable Bethlehem because there were no rooms available in the town. Joseph and his wife-to-be Mary had travelled to Bethlehem to register for a census, and all the inns were full.

$2.40 - The Christmas Angel (Gummed).
An angel appeared before poor shepherds and led them to the lowly stable in Bethlehem.

$3.00 - The Wise Men (Gummed).
Far to the east, a group of wise men saw a new star in the sky. They followed the star to Bethlehem, taking with them gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

$3.60 - The Humble Shepherd (Gummed).
The shepherds recounted that an angel had told them of the birth of Christ the Lord.

Other Collecter Items.
First Day Cover - 7th November 2018.
(Self-Adhesive stamps)

Miniature Sheet with five gummed stamps.

Miniature Sheet First Day Cover - 7th November 2018.

Gummed Stamps First Day Cover - 7th November 2018.

 
Set of Plate Blocks.                                                                               Set of Value Blocks.

Set of the gummed sheets.


Technical information.
Date of issue: 7 November 2018.
The number of stamps: Five gummed and four self-adhesive.
Denominations: $1.20 x2, $2.40, $3.00, $3.60.
Stamps designed by: Saint Andrew Matautia, New Zealand Post.
Printer: Southern Colour Print Ltd, Dunedin, New Zealand.
The number of colours: Gummed and self-adhesive: four process colours; 
Miniature sheet: four process colours and gold foiling.
Stamp size and format: Gummed: 30mm x 40mm (vertical); Self-adhesive: 25mm x 30mm (vertical).
Miniature sheet size: 115.02mm x 101.98.
Paper type: Gummed stamps: Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper; Self-adhesive stamps: Tullis Russell red phosphor PSA stamp paper; Self-adhesive booklets: Tullis Russell red phosphor PSA stamp paper; Self-adhesive dispenser box: Ritrama Semigloss 80 stamp paper one-sided AP969 WK85; Gummed miniature sheet: Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper
The number of stamps per sheet: 25.
Perforation gauge: Gummed: 14 x 14; Self-adhesive: die cut.
Special blocks: Plate/Imprint blocks may be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps from a sheet. Barcode blocks are available in A and B formats.
Period of sale: stamps will remain on sale until 6 November 2019. First day covers will remain on sale until 14 January 2019.