The Postal Service and Israel Post will jointly issue a Hanukkah stamp Tuesday, Oct. 16.
The stamp artwork features a menorah created using the techniques of papercutting, a traditional Jewish folk art.
Tamar Fishman, the artist, made a pencil sketch of the design, then used a fine blade to cut the two-dimensional image on white paper. She chose blue-purple and green papers for the background to highlight the central design. Behind the menorah is a shape reminiscent of an ancient oil jug that is central to the Hanukkah story.
The design also includes dreidels — spinning tops used to play a children’s game during the holiday — and a pomegranate plant with fruit and flowers.
Hanukkah begins at sundown Sunday, Dec. 2.
The Hanukkah stamp, which will be available at Post Offices and usps.com, is one of several new holiday releases from USPS this year.
Other offerings include Global: Poinsettia, Kwanzaa, Madonna and Child by Bachiacca and Sparkling Holidays.
Also available this year, while supplies last: Diwali and Eid Greetings, as well as Nativity, Christmas Carols, Florentine Madonna and Child and previous Hanukkah and Kwanzaa releases.