It's that time again when postal services around the world issue their new Christmas Stamps. This year we decided to cover three different countries a week in our newsletter until Christmas. This week we visit Canada, Iceland and Sweden. Each of their 2006 Christmas stamp issues and specification are listed below.

Canada issued one stamp named "Madonna and Child" and a three stamp set named "Christmas Cards". Madonna and Child was designed by Pierre Fontaine, and the Christmas Cards were designed by Peter Steiner. Both were issued on 1st November 2006.

Madonna and Child is a 51 Cents stamp and depicts a famous painting by Antoine-Sebastien Falardeau (1822-1889). The painting represents Madonna as the Virgin Mary holding the infant child Jesus. It has a kiss cut perforation and is 24mm x 24mm in size. It is being printed by Lowe-Martin using the Lithography printing process with Tullis Russell Coated paper and pressure sensitive gum. The stamp can be purchased in booklet of 12 stamps. A quantity of 35 million are being printed.

Christmas Cards stamps depict Christmas cards and have postage values of 51c, 89c and $1.49. The size of each stamp is 30mm x 35mm with a kiss cut perforation. They will be printed by Canadian Bank Note using the Lithography printing process. The 51 cents stamp can be purchased in booklets of 12. The 89 cents and $1.49 stamps can be purchased in booklets of 6. The quantity printed of each is:

• 51 Cents, 30 million
• 89 Cents, 6.9 million
• $1.49, 6.8 million

Iceland issued a two stamp Christmas set designed by Orn Smari-Gislason and named "Christmas 2006". The stamps depict multiple images of angels and hearts with postage values of 55 and 75 ISK. The stamps were issued on November 2nd 2006. The size of each stamp is 27.00mm x 33.35mm. They were printed by Joh. Enschede using the Offset printing process. A special overprinted silk screen phosphorus is added during the printing process which makes the stamps glow in the dark. Each stamp can be purchase in sheets of 10, and the 55 ISK can be purchased in a booklet of 10. An FDC is also available with both stamps.

Sweden issued 4 new booklet stamps and one coil stamp named "Christmas 2006". They were issued on the 9th of November 2006. The stamps depict windows of Swedish apartments, Houses, businesses and stores during the Christmas season. Postage value for the four booklet stamps is 50 SEK each and the postage value of the coil stamp is 5 SEK. Booklet and Coil stamp size is 28.87mm x 28.85mm. Both will be printed using the 4 color Offset printing process. The stamps can be purchase as a booklet of 10, Single coil stamp, Collector's sheet or FDC.