These two exclusive 'Imperforate and Perforated' Reprints of the 1983 24c Nativity stamp were released in the 2007 Prestige booklet titled, 'Behind the Stamp', compiled and edited by the renowned philatelist, Richard Breckon. The objective of the booklet was to not only highlight milestone precedents in the postal service but also developing societal and marketing trends as they evolved through time.
In 1983, the post office invited Australia's primary school students to enter into a competition and submit designs for the forthcoming Christmas stamps based on the theme, 'What Christmas means to me'. Approximately 500,000 entries were received; an astonishingly successful result. Divided into three age groups, five year old, Holly Alvarez, became 'Australia's youngest stamp designer' when her entry, 'Nativity', was chosen for the 24c denomination stamp.
Of added philatelic significance, the stamps are Micro-print dated, 2007, with the Perforated stamp being gauge 14 x 14 3/4 in contrast to Perf 14 1/2 for the original-issue stamp.
