It's that time again when postal services around the world issue their new Christmas Stamps. This year because there are so many Christmas Stamps Issues, we decided to cover three different countries a week in our newsletter until Christmas. Each country Christmas stamps and specification are listed below.

Canada issued one set of three stamps named "Christmas-Creches" and a single stamp named "Christmas Snowman". Christmas-Creches was designed by Israel Charney, and the Christmas-Snowman was designed by Helene L'Heureux. Both were issued on 2nd November 2004.

Christmas-Creches stamps depict various nativity scenes and come in three different sizes. They are:

• 50 Cent is 24mm x 37mm
• 85 Cent is 31mm x 39mm
• $1.45 Cent is 27mm x 40mm

They have a kiss cut perforation and will be printed by Lowe-Martin using the Lithography printing process with Tullis Russell Coated paper and pressure sensitive gum. The 50 Cents stamp can be purchased in book of 12 and the 85 Cent and $1.45 stamps can be purchase in books of 6.

Christmas Snowman stamp is a 50 cents stamp that depicts a snowman with glistening snowflakes created through the use of clear holographic hot stamping technique. The size of the stamp is 24mm x 24mm and has a kiss cut perforation. It will be printed by Lowe-Martin using the Lithography printing process with a special holographic stamping of the snowflakes to create a glistening effect. The stamps can be purchased in booklets of 12.

Ireland issued a new three stamp Christmas set designed by Pamela Leonard and named "Christmas 2005". Each stamp depicts a Nativity scene and has postage values of 48, 60 and 65 Cents. The stamps were issued on November 10th 2005. The size of each stamp is 29.8mm x 40.64mm with a perforation size of 14 x 15. They were printed by Irish Security Stamp Printing LTD using the Lithography printing process. The stamp can be purchase as a single set, sheets of 16, or FDC.

Finland's Mauri Kunnas designed a two stamp Christmas set named "Christmas 2005". They were issued on the 28th of October 2005. The stamps depict Mauri Kunnas famous Finland children book characters. On the 0.50 Euro stamp Santa Claus is reading wishlist letters sent to him; and on the 1st Class stamp Santa Claus is shown dancing with Mrs Christmas in her Finnish national dress. The 0,50 Euro stamp size is 24.5mm x 34.5mm and the 1st class stamp size is 34.5 x 24.5mm. Both will be printed by Joh. Enschede Stamps, Netherlands using the Gravure printing process with self adhesive stamp paper. Quantity printed of each will be:

• 47 million of the 0.50 Euro
• 8 million of the 1st Class