First published anonymously in 1823, ‘A Visit from St Nicholas’ had a distinct impact on the contemporary, western, conception of Santa Claus. Influencing elements like his appearance, when he visits, his sleigh and reindeer, and the fact that he brings toys for children. Prior to the publishing of this poem in the Troy Sentinel, the American understanding of St. Nicholas and other Christmastime visitors was much more varied.
The poem, better known my many as ‘The Night Before Christmas’ and ‘'Twas the Night Before Christmas’ is disputed in its authorship. Fifteen years after it’s original publication it was attributed to Clement Clarke Moore in the New York Books of Poetry; but the family of Major Henry Livingston, Jr. (1748–1828) publicly argued that Livingston had first composed the poem circa 1807.
In the original poem, the last two reindeer are named Dunder and Blixem, and iterations over the years saw the names develop to Donner and Blitzen, the most widely used versions today.
The Christmas classic has been called "arguably the best-known verses ever written by an American"; its impact on popular culture is undisputed, even influencing some of the latest films and Christmas media. Beloved by many, an original handwritten copy of the poem even sold for $280,000 to a Manhattan CEO in 2006!
Jersey Stamps produced a set of 8 stamps and a miniature sheet, illustrated by Jersey artist Nanette Regan. The stamps illustrate the narrative of the poem, whilst the accompanying miniature sheet shows a child being read the poem before going to sleep on Christmas Eve. In the bottom left of the miniature sheet is a reference to NSPCC Jersey, a children’s charity with a poignant link to the subject matter of the miniature sheet and which Jersey Post supported with this Christmas stamp issue.
