The Royal Mail Christmas stamps have presented the Christmas story to the nation since 1966.
2020 Nativity scenes from stained-glass windows in churches across England. The baby Jesus being cradled by the Virgin Mary appears on all of the stamps. This one is from St Columba’s Church, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire.
2019 Designed by paper-cut artists Hari & Deepti using paper-art and special light boxes.
2017 Traditional Madonna images. This one is The Sleep of the Infant Jesus (detail) by Giovanni Battista Sassoferrato, Musée du Louvre, Paris, France.
2015 David Homes created a series with a colour concept based on different skies and silhouette characters.
2013 Madonna & child images that reflect the range of artists reorientations of the Virgin Mary and infant Jesus since the 15th centuary,. This one is Madonna and child by Franesco Granacci.
2011 Stamps are inspired by verses from the Gospels of Mathew and Luke and recognise that 2011 is the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. Here the verse is Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
2009 Arts and Crafts stained glass windows. This one is Madonna and Child by Henry Holiday, Ormesby St Michael, Ormesby, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
2007 A series based on the Charles Wesley hymn Hark the Herald Angel Sing, with traditional Italianate representations of angels.
Which do you think convey the Christmas story best? The traditional or modern images?
Remember the Church of Scotland Used Stamp Appeal, see here for more information.