Add nostalgic flair to your holiday letters with these vintage unused Contemporary Christmas "Child on Hobby Horse" 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 15-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 15-cent "Child on Hobby Horse" vintage postage stamps shown in the product listing photos.

COMPLEMENTARY VINTAGE CHRISTMAS STAMPS:

Season’s Greetings "Sledding" Postage Stamps | Contemporary Christmas Series | Unused USPS Postage 20c | Pack of 10

Season’s Greetings "Building a Snowman" Postage Stamps | Contemporary Christmas Series | Unused USPS Postage 20c | Pack of 10

Season’s Greetings "Ice Skating" Postage Stamps | Contemporary Christmas Series | Unused USPS Postage 20c | Pack of 10

Season’s Greetings "Decorating the Tree" Postage Stamps | Contemporary Christmas Series | Unused USPS Postage 20c | Pack of 10

"Season's Greetings" Set of 4 Postage Stamps | Contemporary Christmas Series | Unused USPS Postage 20c each stamp/80c total per set | Pack of 10 Sets

STAMP INFORMATION:

• Name: Child on Hobby Horse
• Series: Contemporary Christmas
• Year Issued: 1978
• Face Value: 15-cents (USD) per stamp
• Topic(s): Holidays, Rocking Horse, Christmas Tree, German Folk Art
• Color(s): Red, Green, Gold, Multicolored
• Printing Method: Photogravure
• Scott Number: 1769
• 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: The 1978 15¢ “Child on Hobby Horse” postage stamp was issued by the U.S. Postal Service on October 18, 1978, in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, as part of that year’s "Contemporary Christmas" series. Cheerful, nostalgic, and deeply evocative of early American holiday traditions, this stamp captures the simple joy of childhood during Christmastime through a folk-art depiction of a young child riding a wooden hobby horse.

The design was created by Stevan Dohanos, one of the most beloved American illustrators of the mid-20th century and a long-time designer for the Postal Service. Dohanos, who had already designed several earlier Christmas stamps—including the 1975 “Christmas Card”—was celebrated for his warm, realistic depictions of American life. For this issue, he based the design on an antique Pennsylvania German wood carving—a handmade figure of a child astride a hobby horse—originally crafted in the 19th century. The original carving was part of the collection of the Allentown Art Museum in Pennsylvania, which specializes in Pennsylvania German folk art.

The "Child on Hobby" Horse design fits within the broader theme of the American Folk Art series that the Postal Service embraced during the 1970s. These designs celebrated the nation’s handcrafted heritage and everyday artistry—objects made not for fame or commerce but from love, faith, and creativity. In this stamp, the hobby horse and the child’s bright red clothing evoke both the innocence of youth and the handmade beauty of a bygone Christmas, when gifts were carved, painted, and passed down through generations.

Released during a period of growing appreciation for folk culture and craft traditions in the U.S., the stamp also carried a sense of nostalgia and authenticity. It reminded Americans that the essence of Christmas—joy, imagination, and love—transcends time and technology. Today, the 1978 “Child on Hobby Horse” stamp is cherished by snail mailers and collectors for its warmth, craftsmanship, and distinctly American character. Blending holiday cheer with folk-art heritage, it stands as a miniature tribute to the creative spirit of the nation’s early artisans and to the timeless delight of childhood at Christmas.

STAMP MEANING & SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE: The “Child on Hobby Horse” stamp evokes the timeless innocence, imagination, and wonder that lie at the heart of Christmas—and, more broadly, the spiritual essence of childlike faith and joy. Though it depicts a simple folk carving of a child on a wooden toy, its imagery resonates on a much deeper level, reminding us that the divine often reveals itself through the purity and playfulness of the human spirit.

The child in the image represents more than youth; it embodies the inner light of innocence. The child’s joy, trust, and unselfconscious delight in the moment are spiritual virtues that transcend age. The stamp’s depiction of this simple, handcrafted toy is thus a reflection of spiritual simplicity—a return to the wonder, gratitude, and imagination that connect us to the divine.

The hobby horse, carved and painted by hand, symbolizes creativity born of love—the sacred act of making beauty from humble materials. It speaks to the spiritual truth that the most meaningful gifts are those fashioned from care and intention rather than wealth or grandeur. In this way, the carving itself becomes a prayer in wood—a tangible expression of devotion, joy, and the maker’s connection to both craft and spirit.

The folk-art style adds another dimension of meaning. Folk art, by its nature, arises from community, tradition, and faith—an art form that celebrates the spiritual in the ordinary. The "Child on Hobby Horse" thus becomes a symbol of enduring values: simplicity, handmade beauty, and the continuity of love passed down through generations.

In the stillness of its design—one small child, one small toy—the stamp invites reflection on the true gifts of Christmas: joy without pretense, imagination unspoiled by cynicism, and the belief that even the smallest things can carry infinite grace.

Spiritually, the 1978 “Child on Hobby Horse” stamp is a celebration of childlike wonder as a sacred state of being—a gentle reminder that faith, creativity, and love are the true treasures that never fade, and that within every heart still plays the joyful song of the divine child.

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).

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