{"product_id":"forever-stamps-2014-christmas-magi-holiday-celebration-first-class-postage","title":"Christmas Magi 2014 Forever Stamps — Holiday Celebrations Series","description":"\u003ch2\u003eIssue facts\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e66¢ Christmas Magi, issued at the first-class mail rate\u003cbr\u003eIssue Date: November 19, 2014\u003cbr\u003eCity: Washington, D.C.\u003cbr\u003ePrinted by: Banknote Corporation of America for Sennett Security Products\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe story\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly one of the four gospels mentions the Magi, and it is among the best-known passages in the Bible. Matthew describes visitors \"from the east\" following a rising star in search of a child prophesied to be the son of God. They find him in Bethlehem and present gold, frankincense and myrrh.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe three gifts\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll three were genuinely valuable at the time. Gold was wealth and status outright. Frankincense was a perfume with medicinal uses, including relief for arthritis. Myrrh served as anointing oil and as embalming fluid, and worked as a salve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach also carries a reading: gold for Jesus' divinity and kingship on earth, frankincense for his holiness, myrrh for the suffering and death ahead of him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat episode is where Western Christianity's tradition of Christmas gift-giving originates — a custom now observed by millions every December.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe stamp\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCreated by Nancy Stahl, who also designed the 2012 Holy Family stamp. The Postal Service issued its first Christmas stamp in 1962 and added a traditional design alongside a contemporary one in 1966; both have been annual fixtures since.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Forever Stamp Center","offers":[{"title":"100 Stamps (5 Books)","offer_id":47100625158343,"sku":"ST14-A5-5","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"300 Stamps (15 Books)","offer_id":47100625191111,"sku":"ST14-A5-15","price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"500 Stamps (25 Books)","offer_id":47100625223879,"sku":"ST14-A5-25","price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1000 Stamps (50 Books)","offer_id":47100625256647,"sku":"ST14-A5-50","price":149.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"5000 Stamps (250 Books)","offer_id":47100625289415,"sku":"ST14-A5-250","price":699.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0770\/6250\/4647\/files\/s-l1600_30fdff9c-4159-44e0-a380-33388e77f170.jpg?v=1788604666","url":"https:\/\/www.foreverstampcenter.com\/products\/forever-stamps-2014-christmas-magi-holiday-celebration-first-class-postage","provider":"center","version":"1.0","type":"link"}