Identifying mysterious North Pole postage souvenir sheets

U.S. Stamp Notes by John M. Hotchner

The three miniature souvenir sheets titled “Honoring the Spirit of Christmas,” shown above, were added to my collection in 2004. Since then, I’ve seen other examples in dealer boxes, but I’ve found no hint of who created and sold them.

The sheets are dated 1961, 1962 and 1963, and each spoofs then-current U.S. postage stamps. The 1961 sheet spoofs the Kansas Statehood (Scott 1183), Horace Greely (1177), American Credo (1139-44) and Champion of Liberty Simon Bolivar (1110-11) issues. The 1962 sheet mimics the Naismith Basketball (1189), World Forestry Congress (1156), Nursing (1190) and Olympic Winter Games (1146) issues. Finally, the 1963 sheet parodies the Science (1237), Champion of Liberty Ernst Reuter (1136) and Homestead Act Centenary (1198) issues.

The 1961 sheet is red, the 1962 example is green, and the 1963 item is orange red.

I’m hoping a reader will be able to provide information about the origin of these “San T. Claus” sheets or be able to report if there are other examples in the series.

If so, please contact me, John Hotchner, by email at jmhstamp@verizon.net, or at Box 1125, Falls Church, VA 22041-0125.

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