2016 marks the 50th year of special Christmas stamps. They feature secular images of some of the key traditions of a UK Christmas - decorating the Christmas tree, making a snowman, hanging up a stocking, eating a Christmas pudding and lighting a Christmas lantern. Also included is a robin redbreast, strongly associated with sending and receiving Christmas cards and messages since Victorian times. As in past years, the 1st and 2nd class stamps are issued in two versions for standard and large letters, the other values being £1.05, £1.33, £1.52 and £2.25.
The Christmas Miniature Sheet features a block of all eight stamps set against a snowflake background. The sheet is gummed unlike the other stamps in this issue.
This cover carries the banner 'Seasons Greetings' and bears a Starcross Road, Birmingham lantern handstamp.
