SYD KRONISH | Stamps Holiday issues available Oct. 23

Christmas comes in October for the U.S. Postal Service.
That's when the USPS will release its annual Christmas stamp and four colorful nonreligious holiday stamps. These will be issued on Oct. 23 at the "Postage Stamp Mega-Event" in New York City. All have a 37-cent denomination.
The Christmas stamp again will feature Jan Gossaert's "Madonna and Child," which was first issued last year. It depicts a detail of Gossaert's oil-on-panel painting from the Charles H. and Mary F.S. Worcester Collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Gossaert (circa 1478-1532) was a Netherlands artist credited with being one of the first to bring the innovations of the Italian Renaissance to Northern Europe. He introduced a greater awareness of anatomy and architecture rarely seen in Dutch paintings.
Although the design of the 2003 stamp is the same as the 2002 issue, the new release has a different format -- a double-sided booklet of 20 stamps in 20-stamp panes.
The 2003 holiday stamps are titled "Holiday Music Makers." They portray two whimsical Santas and two carefree reindeer playing horns, panpipes and a drum. The Postal Service says these merry music-makers are reminders of the joys of the season.
Officials of the USPS report that the religious Christmas stamps and the delightful holiday issues have a devoted following and are in great demand, especially by collectors.
Two other year-end holiday issues repeated in 2003 by the Postal Service are the 37-cent Hanukkah and Kwanzaa stamps.
Snowy egret
Also on Oct. 23, the U.S. Postal Service will release at the Mega-Event a new 37-cent definitive displaying the snowy egret.
Admired for its graceful plumage, the snowy egret is considered one of the most beautiful American birds. It has black legs, bright yellow feet and a black bill. When flying or searching for food, it can curve its long neck into a compact "S" shape.
In the breeding season the adult has long, lacy plumes on its head, neck and back. These graceful plumes were once used as decorations for ladies' hats. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, the snowy egret was hunted -- almost to extinction.
The National Audubon Society was founded to save the egrets and other bird species. These conservation efforts were successful, and today the snowy egret population is flourishing again.
The new 37-cent stamp design features a rendering of a snowy egret by Nancy Stahl. The art is based on photos which show the head and upper body of the bird against a blue background.
Previous projects for the Postal Service were her designs for the 2000 Library Lion, the 2001 Art Deco Eagle and the 2003 Wisdom stamps.
The above stamps, as well as a comprehensive free catalog, are available toll-free by calling (800) STAMP-24 after Oct. 23. A selection of stamps and other philatelic items can be obtained from the online Postal Store at www.usps.com/shop.