Figure 1. Four different sprayed-on postmarks are being used during the month of December at mail-processing plants nationwide. The postmarks show a snowman, a Santa, a tree and a storefront.

Figure 2. The United States Postal Service provided this colorized version of the postmark designs. Also shown are the four Snow Globes forever stamps issued Sept. 19, whose designs inspired the new postmarks.

The United States Postal Service deployed seasonal postmarks nationwide in early December, which has been a tradition for a number of years now.

This year, four different sprayed-on postmarks, shown in Figure 1, are being used. Their designs mostly correspond with the Snow Globes forever stamps (Scott 5816-5819) issued Sept. 19. Those stamps show a snowman, Santa Claus, a deer and a tree.

The new postmarks show a snow globe design with the “2023” date below on a placard and one of four items inside the globe: a snowman, a Santa, a tree and a row of three buildings.

Postowner asked the Postal Service about the substitution of the buildings for the deer.

“For the fourth [postmark], instead of the deer we opted for a residential or storefront scene,” said U.S. Postal Service spokesman Jonathan Castillo.

Figure 2 shows a colorized image provided by the Postal Service of the design part of each of the four new postmarks. The block of four Snow Globes forever stamps is also shown for reference.

What’s impressive about the new postmarks is that in a very clean example, the complex dot pattern gives the globe a three-dimensional effect. I think the tree design shows this the best.

Collectors looking for a challenge can not only seek out examples of the Snow Globes stamps postmarked with these designs, but also try to find examples where the stamp and postmark match. I know I will be watching my mail for those instances.