Christmas and New Year

Illuminated manuscripts

The illuminated manuscripts from the Low Countries enjoy an international reputation. Their quality reached in the 14th and 15th century is of an unprecedented height. Important European sovereigns had their manuscripts illustrated on our parts at that time. One of the most renowned examples of this is undoubtedly the breviary that the Brothers of Limburg illuminated for the French duke of Berry is about 1413, namely "les Trés Riches Heures du doc de Berry".

Jacques Doppée painted the Christmas and New Year issue

In this great tradition, Jacques Doppée painted the Christmas and New Year issue at the beginning of the 21st century. For what is a miniature better suited than for the artistic discipline of the extremely little: postage stamp design? It's style and its often religious content wonderfully suit with the birth scene on the stamp.
It is a splendid crib with all the traditional characters in a typical, Arcadian landscape. The twinkling star-spangled sky, abundant with gold, provides the whole with an unreal aura that will undoubtedly seduce even today's internet surfers.

Stamps in detail

Date of issue: 12 November 2001.
Denomination: 15fr.
Design: Jacques Doppée.
Sizes: 40.20 x 27.66mm (stamps), 200 x 166mm (sheet).
The stamp is sold in sheets containing twenty stamps.