Add nostalgic flair to your holiday letters with these vintage unused Contemporary Christmas "Partridge in a Pear Tree" postage stamps! This nostalgic holiday design is perfect for adding a touch of class to your holiday cards and letters or winter save-the-dates and weddings. In pristine mint condition and valid for current postage use, each stamp holds a face value of 8-cents. These USPS postage stamps are suitable for current mailing when used with the total required postage based on the weight of your correspondence. Embrace the charm of winter with this enchanting postage stamp!

Purchase includes a total of TWENTY (20) mint condition 8-cent "Partridge in a Pear Tree" vintage postage stamps shown in the product listing photos.

COMPLEMENTARY WINTER HOLIDAY STAMPS:

"Cardinal" Postage Stamps | Christmas Holidays | Wildlife Conservation Series | Unused USPS Postage 8c | Pack of 10

"Christmas Angel" Postage Stamps | Christmas Issue | Unused USPS Postage 5c | Pack of 20

Set of 4 “Christmas Issue Se-Tenant” Stamps | Contemporary Christmas Series | Vintage Unused USPS Postage 5c | Pack of 10 Sets | 40 Individual Stamps

STAMP INFORMATION:

• Name: Partridge in a Pear Tree
• Series: Contemporary Christmas
• Year Issued: 1971
• Face Value: 8-cents (USD) per stamp
• Topic(s): Christmas songs, Christmas carols, Holidays, Birds, Fruit, Partridge in a Pear Tree, The 12 Days of Christmas, on the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me, music
• Color(s): Green and Red, Multicolored
• Printing Method: Photogravure
• Scott Number: 1445
• Adhesion Type: Gummed (see adhesion instructions below)
• Condition: Genuine Unused USPS Postage Stamps, Ready to Use for USPS Mailings, Mint Condition

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 an adequate amount of additional postage to achieve standard postage rates according to the weight of your mailing. Check current postage rates on the USPS website.

STAMP HISTORY: This stamp was issued on November 10, 1971 in Washington, D.C., as part of the "Contemporary Christmas" series. This particular design draws from the well-known English Christmas carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” specifically the first verse: “On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me: a partridge in a pear tree.” The artwork was painted by Jamie Wyeth, the son of noted American realist painter Andrew Wyeth. Wyeth’s interpretation features a partridge perched in a pear tree branch, rendered in rich, natural tones typical of his style. Because of its familiar imagery and its artistic provenance, it has proved popular among both holiday mailers and stamp collectors. Over time, the “Partridge in a Pear Tree” stamp has become a classic in the tradition of U.S. Christmas stamps, bridging the worlds of art, musical tradition, and seasonal celebration.

STAMP MEANING & SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE: The 1971 8-cent “Partridge in a Pear Tree” postage stamp carries a rich and layered spiritual significance, woven from both its artistic inspiration and its connection to one of the most enduring symbols of Christmas — the first gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Though it depicts a simple scene — a partridge perched gracefully among the branches of a pear tree — the image speaks deeply to themes of love, renewal, divine generosity, and spiritual awakening.

The partridge itself has long been a symbol of nurturing and sacrifice. In ancient and Christian symbolism, the bird represents selfless love and divine protection. The female partridge, known for feigning injury to lure predators away from her young, became an emblem of Christ’s compassion and self-giving nature — the soul’s willingness to endure hardship for the sake of others. In this light, the partridge perched calmly in the pear tree becomes a visual meditation on the protective and redemptive love of the divine, a love that shelters, guides, and renews.

The pear tree, rich with fruit even in the cold season, symbolizes fertility, growth, and spiritual sustenance. Its deep roots and nourishing fruit connect it to ancient tree-of-life imagery — a living bridge between heaven and earth. Spiritually, the pear tree represents the abundance of divine grace, a reminder that even in the heart of winter, life continues to bear fruit. Together, the bird and the tree form a union of spirit and matter, heaven and earth — a symbol of the divine presence embodied within creation.

Ultimately, the spiritual meaning of the “Partridge in a Pear Tree” stamp lies in its celebration of love as the first gift — the foundation upon which all other blessings rest. It calls us to recognize that divine love, like the tree in winter, is ever-living, bearing fruit even in times of scarcity. It invites us to open our hearts to generosity, to embody compassion, and to remember that every small act of giving — even a postage stamp carrying words of goodwill — can become a vessel of sacred connection and grace.

GUMMED STAMPS: These postage stamps have a traditional moisture-activated gum on the back. These stamps require licking or wetting to adhere to envelopes or other surfaces. To ensure good adhesion, apply vintage gummed stamps to your mailings with a glue stick (we recommend using Elmer's "Re-Stick" glue sticks).

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 an adequate amount of additional postage to achieve standard postage rates according to the weight of your mailing. Check current postage rates on the USPS website.

PROCESSING & SHIPPING: Orders are typically processed and shipped within 1-3 business days of placing your order. All orders are shipped from California — please allow additional time for transit.

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…

VISIT MY MINTED STORE: https://www.minted.com/store/heritageposthouse

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.


Product Specifications

Length: 0.98 in.
Height: 0.01 in.
Width: 1.57 in.
Weight: 0.01 lbs.