US Towns offer postmarks for Christmas

[kacyds]

This is copied from the Linns.com Newsletter December 5, 2013

The community of Santa Claus, Ind., is continuing its annual tradition of providing a special Christmas cancel. A pictorial cancellation has been available from Santa Claus each December since 1983.

The postmark this year was designed by Nolan Brinkman, a recent high school graduate. The illustration shows Santa holding a Christmas tree, along with the phrase “Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good night!”

Collectors should leave adequate space for the postmark, as it measures a large 4 inches by 2 inches. No date appears in the illustration shown here because an interchangeable date is used throughout the run of the postmark, Dec. 1-25.

To request this cancel, send covers to:

SANTA CLAUSStation, 45 N. Kringle Place, Santa Claus, IN 47579-9998, Dec. 1-25.

For postmark collectors and mailers, the Christmas seasonis also an opportunity to obtain postmarks from United States post offices that have names associated with the holiday.

Some of these post offices offer a pictorial cancel, but most do not. To obtain a holiday town postmark, send stamped, addressed envelopes or cards to the postmaster of the desired town. Include the“-9998” ZIP code extension that identifies it as mail to the postmaster.

Enclose a note requesting the post office’s four-bar handstamp and specifying the date of the postmark you would like. The postmaster might not be able to give you the date requested.

And as always, remember to mail early.

Angels Camp, CA 95222;

Antler, ND 58711; Antlers, OK 74523;

Bell, FL 32619; Bells,TN 38006; Bells, TX 75414;

Bell City, LA 70630; Bell City, MO63735;

Berry, AL 35546; Berry, KY 41003;

Bethlehem, CT 06751;Bethlehem, GA 30620; Bethlehem, IN 47104;

Bethlehem, KY 40007;Bethlehem, MD 21609; Bethlehem, NH 03574;

Bethlehem, PA 18016;New Bethlehem, PA 16242;

Blessing, TX 77419;

Brilliant, AL 35548; Brilliant, OH 43913;

Chestnut, IL 62518;

Christmas, FL 32709; Christmas Valley, OR 97641;

Conifer, CO 80433;

Evergreen,AL 36401; Evergreen, CO 80439; Evergreen, LA 71333; Evergreen, NC 28438; Evergreen, VA 23939;

Faith, NC 28041; Faith, SD 57626;

Frost, MN 56033; Frost, TX 76641;

Garland, ME 04939; Garland, NC 28441; Garland, NE 68360; Garland, PA 16416;

Garland, TX 75040; Garland, UT 84312; Garland City, AR 71839; Fort Garland, CO 81133;

Green, KS 67447; Green, OH 44232;

Holiday, FL 34690;Holliday, MO 65258; Holliday, TX 76366;

Holly, CO 81047; Holly, MI 48442;

Hope, AK 99605; Hope, AR 71801; Hope, ID 83836; Hope, IN 47246; Hope, KS 67451;

Hope, ME 04847; Hope, MI 48628; Hope, MN 56046; Hope, ND 58046; Hope, NJ 07844; Hope, NM 88250; Hope, RI 02831;

Ivy, VA 22945;

Joseph, OR 97846; Joseph City, AZ 86032;

Joy, IL 61260;

Lone Pine, CA 93545;

Miracle, KY 40856;

Mount Angel, OR 97362;

Nazareth, KY 40048; Nazareth, MI 49074; Nazareth, PA 18064; Nazareth, TX 79063;

New Hope, AL 35760;New Hope, KY 40052; New Hope, PA 18938; New Hope, VA 24469;

Noel, MO 64854;

North Pole, AK 99705; North Pole, CO 80809 (contract postal unit); North Pole, NY 12946;

North Star, OH 45350; North Star, MI 48862;

Notre Dame, IN 46556;

Orient, IA 50858; Orient, IL 62874; Orient, NY 11957; Orient, OH 43146; Orient, SD 57467; Orient, WA 99160;

Pacific City, OR 97135; Pacific Grove,CA 93950;

Partridge, KS 67566; Partridge, KY 40862;

Pax, WV 25904;

Peace Valley, MO 65788;

Pine, AZ 85544; Pine, CO 80470;

Rudolph, OH 43462; Rudolph, WI 54475;

St. Lucas, IA 52166;

Santa Claus, IN 47579; Santa, ID 83866;

Santa Maria, CA 93454; Santa Maria, TX 78592;

Santee, SC 29142; Santee, CA 92071;

Shepherd, MI 48883; Shepherd, MT 59079; Shepherd, TX 77371;

Snow, OK74567; Snow Camp, NC 27349; Snowflake, AZ 85937; Snow Hill, MD 21863;

Snow Hill, NC 28580; Snow Lake, AR 72379; Snow Shoe, PA16874; Snowshoe, WV 26209;

Spruce, MI 48762; Spruce Pine, AL 35585; Spruce Pine, NC 28777; White Pine, MI 49971; White Pine, TN 37890;

Star, ID 83669; Star, MS 39167; Star, NC 27356; Star, TX 76880; Star City, AR 71667; Star City, IN 46985; Starlight, PA 18461;

St. Joseph, IL 61873; St. Joseph, LA 71366; St. Joseph, MI 49085; St. Joseph, MN 56374; St. Joseph, MO 64501; St. Joseph, TN 38481;

St. Mary, KY 40063; St. Mary, MO 63673; St. Marys, AK 99658; St. Marys, GA 31558;

St. Marys, IA 50241; St. Marys, KS 66536; St. Marys, OH 45885; St. Marys, PA 15857; St. Marys,WV 26170; St. Marys City, MD 20686;

Tranquility, NJ 07879;

Virgin, UT 84779;

Virginville, PA 19564;

Winter, WI 54896; Winters, CA 95694; Winters, TX 79567;

Wiseman, AR 72587.

—Jay Bigalke, Linn's senior editor-digital media and Postmark Pursuit columnist

[Admin Bear]

very cool man.

[krash]

WOW I didn't see that in Linns? Is that in the recent issue?

[Craig]

Good info! Thanks.

[kacyds]

Dec 9, 2013 3:32:45 GMT -5 krash said:

WOW I didn't see that in Linns? Is that in the recent issue?

It was in the Dec.5 newsletter.

[Fire]

Thanks for sharing, would be nice to see the Santa Claus cancel here on Stamp Bears.