Add nostalgic flair to your holiday letters with these vintage unused Contemporary Christmas "American Holly" 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 32-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 TEN (10) mint condition 32-cent "American Holly" vintage postage stamps shown in the product listing photos.

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STAMP INFORMATION:

• Name: American Holly
• Series: Contemporary Christmas
• Year Issued: 1997
• Face Value: 32-cents (USD) per stamp
• Topic(s): Holly, Red Berries, Christmas, Holidays, Winter, Evergreen, Botanical
• Color(s): Green, Red
• Printing Method: Offset Press
• Scott Number: 3177
• Adhesion Type: Self Adhesive
• 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 1997 32-cent “American Holly” stamp is part of the “Contemporary Christmas” series. It was first issued on October 30, 1997 in New York, NY, timed to coincide with the Postal Service’s “Mega-Event” alongside the American Stamp Dealers Association and the American Philatelic Society. Artist Ned Seidler created the design, which features a sprig of American Holly (Ilex opaca) with its glossy evergreen leaves and bright red berries — a traditional seasonal decoration. Though initially planned for use in ATM stamp dispensers, postal officials decided the image was too pretty and meaningful to confine to that format, so they made it a general issue. The holly branches used as Christmas decor have a long cultural history, with festive associations going back to Roman and early Christian traditions, and symbolic ties to protection, endurance, and life in winter. The stamp thus blends aesthetic, cultural, and seasonal significance in a design meant for everyday holiday use.

STAMP MEANING & SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE: The 1997 32-cent “American Holly” postage stamp carries a timeless spiritual significance rooted in the symbolism of renewal, endurance, and the eternal light of life that shines even in winter’s deepest stillness. Depicting a simple yet striking sprig of American holly — glossy green leaves and bright red berries set against a pale background — the stamp embodies the beauty of resilience amid adversity and the sacred cycle of death and rebirth that underlies all of nature’s rhythms.

The holly plant has long been a symbol of everlasting life and protection. In ancient traditions, it was revered as a sacred evergreen — a tree that remained green when all others had fallen bare, representing the triumph of life over darkness. Celtic druids believed holly guarded against evil and offered shelter to the spirits of nature through the cold season. Later, early Christians adopted holly as a symbol of the eternal life promised by faith: its sharp, pointed leaves representing the crown of thorns, and its red berries symbolizing sacrifice and the life-giving power of divine love. In both traditions, holly stands as a messenger of hope in hardship, reminding us that even when the world seems dormant, the spark of renewal endures unseen.

The holly’s winter bloom carries a message of quiet faith and spiritual endurance. Just as the holly tree keeps its leaves through snow and ice, so too can the human spirit remain steadfast and alive through seasons of difficulty or isolation. It encourages reflection, patience, and the cultivation of inner stillness — the kind of grounded peace that allows light to take root within the soul.

By choosing holly for the 1997 Christmas issue, the U.S. Postal Service honored not only a plant of beauty and tradition, but also a symbol of spiritual constancy and grace. Each envelope that carried this stamp became, in a sense, a small offering of blessing — a message of life, light, and enduring love sent through the cold expanse of winter. The “American Holly” stamp thus stands as a spiritual emblem of hope and protection, reminding us that beneath the frost of time, the divine heart of nature — and of humanity — remains evergreen.

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: 0.91 in.
Height: 0.01 in.
Width: 1.02 in.
Weight: 0.01 lbs.