<P> A Christmas stamp is a postage stamp with a Christmas theme, intended for use on seasonal mail such as Christmas cards . Many countries of the world issue such stamps, which are regular postage stamps (in contrast to Christmas seals) and are usually valid for postage year - round (in some countries they have a discounted value and are for use exclusively on Christmas cards). They usually go on sale some time between early October and early December, and are printed in considerable quantities . </P> <P> It is a matter of some debate as to which is the first Christmas stamp . The Canadian map stamp of 1898 bears an inscription "XMAS 1898", but it was actually issued to mark the inauguration of the Imperial Penny Postage rate . The Christmas connection has long been reported to have been the result of quick thinking; William Mulock was proposing that it be issued on 9 November, to "honor the Prince" (meaning the Prince of Wales), but when Queen Victoria asked "what Prince?" in a displeased manner, Mulock realized the danger, and answered "Why, madam, the Prince of Peace ." </P> <P> In 1935, British Forces troops stationed in Egypt were issued with a Christmas stamp for their mail home . For many years these were not included in the Stanley Gibbons catalogues, as they classified them as a "seal" rather than a postage stamp, but they have been properly included since the mid-1960s as they prepaid postage and so, despite the inscription "Letter stamp", are normal stamps, and should therefore be counted as the first stamp issued expressly to mark Christmas . Like the slightly earlier Silver Jubilee overprints on the "sphinx" stamp, the Christmas stamps were issued in booklet form in panes of 20 . </P> <P> In 1937, Austria issued two "Christmas greeting stamps" featuring a rose and zodiac signs . In 1939, Brazil issued four semi-postal stamps with designs featuring the three kings and a star, an angel and child, the Southern Cross and a child, and a mother and child . In 1941 Hungary also issued a semi-postal whose additional fees were to pay for "soldiers' Christmas". The first stamps to depict the Nativity were the Hungary issue of 1943 . These were all one - time issues, more like commemorative stamps than regular issues . </P>

What country was the first to have a commemorative christmas stamp
find me the text answering this question