Updated December 3rd: The following Scott catalogue numbers have been assigned:

5144 (47¢) Nativity
5144a (47¢) Nativity #5144 CB/20

Updated November 9th: The USPS corrected the price of its Nativity notecards, from $15.95 to $17.95. The correct price is reflected in the Technical Specifications below.

Updated October 3rd:
On November 3, 2016, in Washington DC, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Nativity stamp (Forever priced at 47 cents), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps (Item 681200).

The stamp will go on sale nationwide November 3, 2016.

The Postal Service celebrates Christmas with a new stamp featuring a traditional Nativity scene. The stamp art depicts a peaceful yet powerful image of the Holy Family silhouetted against a dawn sky. The baby Jesus lies in a straw-filled manger in the center of the picture with Mary kneeling to the right and Joseph standing to the left, holding a lantern. A bright star shines over the scene. The Gospel of Luke relates how Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to register for the census decreed by the Roman emperor. The Gospel says: “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp with original art by Nancy Stahl.

Stamp Fulfillment Services will not make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store website at http:⁄⁄www.usps.com⁄shop, or by calling 800-782-6724. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

Nativity Stamp
Stamp Fulfillment Services
Cancellation Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Pillar 210
Kansas City, MO 64144-9998

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by January 3, 2017.

There are seven philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 681206 Press Sheet with Die-cut, $75.20.
• 681210 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $11.95.
• 681216 First-Day Cover, $0.91.
• 681221 Digital Color Postmark, $1.62.
• 681224 Framed Art, $19.95.
• 681230 Ceremony Program, $6.95.
• 681266 Notecards (set of 10), $17.95.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Nativity Stamp
Item Number: 681200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: Holiday Celebrations
Issue Date & City: November 3, 2016, Washington DC 20066
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Typographer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Artist: Nancy Stahl, New York, NY
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printed at: Williamsville, NY
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 400,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag applied
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, PMS 8520 Gold
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in.⁄19.56 x 26.67 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in.⁄23.11x 30.23 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 5.76 x 2.38 in.⁄146.30 x 60.45 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 23.29 x 4.76 in.⁄591.57 x 120.90 mm
Plate Size: 880 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header. “Nativity” • Twenty First-Class Forever Stamps • Barcode “015645 68120” • Plate numbers in peel strip area • © 2015 • USPS in peel strip area • Promotional Text in peel strip area

Updated October 1st: Here is the DCP for this issue: This postmark measures 3″ x 1.5″.

Updated September 22nd: Here is the updated first-day and ceremony information from the USPS:

Nativity
12:15 p.m., Thurs. Nov. 3, 2016
St. John’s Church
Lafayette Square
1525 H Street NW
Washington DC 20005

Reservations are not necessary to attend this ceremony.

Updated February 25th, from the USPS:
This stamp will be issued Thursday, October 6th, in New York at the American Stamp Dealers Association Fall Postage Stamp Show 2016.

From the USPS:
FDOI: Information to come. (4th Quarter – October?)
Format: Pane of 20

The stamp art depicts a peaceful yet powerful image of the Holy Family silhouetted against a dawn sky. The baby Jesus lies in a straw-filled manger in the center of the picture with Mary kneeling to the right and Joseph standing to the left, holding a lantern. A bright star shines over the scene.

The Gospel of Luke relates how Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to register for the census decreed by the Roman emperor. The Gospel says: “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Art Director: Greg Breeding
Illustrator: Nancy Stahl