Add nostalgic flair to your holiday letters with these vintage unused Contemporary Christmas "Reindeer" 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 wedding invitations. In pristine mint condition and valid for current postage use, each stamp holds a face value of 33-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!

ORDERING NOTES: there are four (4) different background colors in this series and you will receive an assortment of each color/design. Purchase includes a total of TWENTY (20) mint condition 33-cent "Reindeer" vintage postage stamps shown in the product listing photos.

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STAMP INFORMATION:

• Name: Reindeer — Wide Frame Design
• Series: Contemporary Christmas
• Face Value: 33-cents (USD) per stamp
• Year Issued: 1999
• Topic(s): Christmas, Holidays, Reindeer, Jumping Deer, Antlers, Greetings
• Color(s): Gold and red, blue, purple, or green
• Printing Method: Lithographed
• Scott Numbers: 3360, 3361, 3362, 3363
• Adhesion Type: Self Adhesive
• Condition: Genuine Unused USPS Postage Stamps, Ready to Use for USPS Mailings, Mint Condition

STAMP HISTORY: The 1999 33¢ “Reindeer” postage stamp was issued by the U.S. Postal Service on October 20, 1999, in Rudolph, Wisconsin—a fitting first-day location chosen for both its festive name and its connection to the beloved Christmas reindeer theme. This stamp is part of the "Contemporary Christmas" series, which each year presented a secular, family-friendly holiday image alongside a companion religious issue.

The "Reindeer" design was created by artist and illustrator Rudolph Stanley “Rudy” Favretti, with art direction by Ethel Kessler, one of the Postal Service’s most influential designers. The image depicts a majestic reindeer leaping. The word “Greetings” appears in along the bottom, continuing the Postal Service’s tradition of including an inclusive seasonal message suitable for all holiday correspondents.

The reindeer as a subject carried universal appeal. It evoked not only the magic of Santa’s sleigh and the wonder of childhood imagination but also the natural beauty and mystery of the northern wilderness. The leaping figure symbolized freedom, movement, and the transcendence of spirit—qualities that resonated deeply with the themes of the season: hope, giving, and light in darkness. The choice to issue the stamp in Rudolph, Wisconsin added a layer of playful symbolism, connecting the modern legend of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer with the broader, timeless imagery of holiday wonder.

The “Reindeer” stamp is remembered as one of the defining holiday designs of its era. It perfectly balanced modern design with traditional spirit, embodying the joy and imagination of Christmas while symbolizing the timeless human longing to rise, to give, and to believe in something beyond the ordinary—a message that continues to soar long after the season ends.

STAMP MEANING & SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE: The “Reindeer” postage stamp captures the luminous essence of faith, wonder, and transcendence—the eternal yearning of the soul to rise above darkness and move toward light. Though secular in imagery, depicting a reindeer leaping, its symbolism speaks deeply to the spiritual dimension of Christmas: the blending of earthly beauty, generosity of spirit, and the mystery of hope renewed.

The reindeer, in this context, becomes more than Santa’s companion—it represents the spirit in motion, a messenger bridging heaven and earth. Its leap through the night embodies faith itself: the courage to move forward even when the path ahead is unseen. In ancient and indigenous traditions, the reindeer was revered as a creature of migration and endurance, a symbol of strength and guidance through harsh winters. Spiritually, it reminds us that perseverance, guided by intuition and trust, leads us toward light and renewal—much like the human spirit navigating through life’s seasons of darkness toward divine illumination.

The word “Greetings,” printed in bold below, functions as a spiritual affirmation. Beyond its social meaning, it reflects the ancient gesture of recognition—of one soul acknowledging another with goodwill. In this sense, every envelope bearing the Reindeer stamp became a small vehicle of blessing, carrying not only human words but the energy of connection, kindness, and joy.

The 1999 “Reindeer” stamp is a meditation on faith in motion—the belief that even in the coldest and darkest seasons, love continues to travel, light continues to shine, and the human spirit continues to soar. It invites us to see the sacred not only in the manger or the miracle, but also in the simple act of rising, carrying light, and sharing warmth with others along the way.

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: 1.22 in.
Height: 0.01 in.
Width: 0.94 in.
Weight: 0.01 lbs.