Rudolph: 'He'll Go Down in Hi-stor-y!'

L to R: National Postal Museum Director Allen Kane, USPS Chief Marketing and Sales Officer Nagisa Manabe, Washington DC Principal Rebecca Crouch, Washington DC school student Caroline Williams, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, and Washington DC Postmaster Gerald Roane.

The Postal Service is marking the 50th anniversary of the “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” television special with a new set of holiday stamps.

The four stamps depict Rudolph, Santa Claus and other beloved characters from the holiday classic, which debuted in 1964. PMG Pat Donahoe dedicated the stamps during a news conference in Washington, DC, where he also announced the Postal Service’s plans to deliver packages on Sundays during the holiday season.

“There are a lot of similarities between the Postal Service and Rudolph in helping to deliver the holidays,” Donahoe said. “We both shine bright this time of year, and we expect these stamps will be a hot commodity for holiday greeting cards.”
The “Rudolph” special is remembered for its distinctive stop-motion animation and classic songs, including “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “The Most Wonderful Day of the Year” and “We’re a Couple of Misfits.” This year, CBS is scheduled to air the special Tuesday, December 9.