Denmark #1 1904                 US 1907 type 2

The first Tuberculosis Christmas Seal was issued in Denmark in 1904, conceived by Danish postal worker, Einar Holboll who combined the ideas of issuing a fundraising seal to fight TB at Christmas time during the season of giving. Sweden and Iceland issued Christmas Seals the same year.

America was not far behind. Emily Bissell, a social worker and Red Cross volunteer, designed, and with the help of Philadelphia newspaperman Leigh Mitchell Hodges, promoted the first US National Christmas Seal. Bissell's inspiration came from a need to raise $300 to save a small TB hospital in the state of Delaware.

USA 1912                            USA 1914

Many collectors begin with one seal a year. Since the biggest part of your investment is the first 10 years, it doesn't cost a lot more to collect the later years in se-tenant multiples, as required. For example, it takes a pair of seals to complete the 1936 design, a block of 4 in 1954, and full sheets in 1970, 1975-80, 1995, 1996, and 1998.

USA 1916                         USA 1918 type 3

Most Christmas Seals include the red double barred "Lorraine" cross adopted by many countries as the international symbol of the crusade against TB. This cross was added to our national Christmas Seals in 1919 and has been used ever since.

The double barred cross was originally the coat of arms of a crusader, Godfrey of Bouillon, Duke of lower Lorraine, a leader of the 1st Crusade, and elected ruler of Jerusalem after its capture.

     

US Local Christmas Seals: Federated Women's Club, New Hampshire, and Kensington

The Bible of US Christmas Seal collecting is Green's Catalog of Tuberculosis Seals of the World. It has been published since the 1930's in 3 sections, part 1, US National Christmas Seals, part 2, US Local Christmas Seals, and part 3, Foreign Christmas Seals. This, as well as other seal collecting literature, is published by the Christmas Seal and Charity Stamp Society, American Philatelic Society Affiliate #101

Well centered never hinged Christmas Seals Always command a premium price. Many collectors collect Christmas Seals in full sheets. A collection of full sheets of US seals from 1927 to date is still less than $100.

Many Collecting Areas

Beginning in 1979 the American Lung Association, our national Christmas Seal issuing society, began issuing Design Experiments which differed in design from the national issues. Since then, the following year national issue has been selected from a previous year design experiment, with the date being one notable difference.

The modern series of Silver and Gold Foil Christmas Seals began in 1985. Foil had been used on some essays in the 1930's, as well as some foreign Christmas Seals, but these 1985 issues were intended for large donors.. Gold foil was discontinued after the 1st year, and by 1991 silver ink was added. A dull silver ink background may have been less expensive to print and nearly replaced foil, eventually used on some Spanish text and design experiment sheets. Silver ink was used on the National Christmas Seal issues in 1994 and 1995. In 2002 a new type of silver foil came into use. As shiny as ever, this new, perhaps thinner foil, did not effect the thickness of the paper, and has been used extensivly ever since.

Spring Issue Christmas Seals began in 1987 and have been issued ever since. Collectors speculated that the 1991 Stylized flower issue (Green's #91-S6), a modern rarity, was withdrawn because it looked too much like some of the flowers used on Easter Seals.

Most US Lookalike Christmas Seals were printed in the US for distribution in foriegn countries and commonwealths, such as Bermuda, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Ryukyu Islands. US designs when officially borrowed, were used the same year. When unofficially borrowed by foriegn or local TB societies, they were not used the same year, and do not look as much like the original design they copy.

Beginning in 1982 Spanish text Christmas Seals have been used in all Spanish speaking parts of the US

Imperforate Christmas Seals are not provided with any means of separation, and therefore have to be cut apart with scissors. They should always be collected in pairs or larger multiples, as required, to eliminate any concern that they were mot originally perforated  seals with the perforations trimmed off.

Christmas Seal Progressive Color Proofs are trial impressions of one or more of the separate plates used in color printing. There are usually issued in sets of 7, and show colors separately and in combination leading up to the complete design.

Christmas Seal Essays are trial designs different from those accepted and regularly issued.

Christmas Seal Freaks include mis perforated seals, colors printed out of register, offset ink on the gum side, and printer's waste. Even though seals have some things in common with postage stamps, they were not printed with th equality control used by security printers of postage stamps, so many Christmas Seal freak printings exist and most have not been cataloged.

Christmas Seal Errors include horizontal and vertical pairs imperforate between, missing or inverted colors, etc. These are listed in Green's Catalog.

Christmas Seals, along with postage stamps, tied on cover by postmark, are known as tTied Ons. To be properly tied, the postmark ties the seal on and matches the date of the seal.  Due to the early popularity of postcards, most early Christmas Seal Tied Ons are on postcards.

Local Christmas Seals have been issued by various state and county societies for particular local needs, and are highly collectible, but are not affiliated with our National Christmas Seal issuing society, The American Lung Association.

Worldwide Christmas Seals have been issued from all parts of the globe, and are collected by country, topically, and as #1 Christmas Seals of the world.

Many Christmas Seals, US and worldwide, have been issued in booklet panes, which usually have interesting information, advertizments, and images on the covers. Italy's 2nd National Christmas Seal was issued in 1932 in booklet form and had a cigarette ad. Even in 1932, amny people must have known that smoking was not compatible with fighting lung disease.

There are many related Christmas Seal items created to aide in the fundraising drives. These items often illustrate the current years seal and include buttons, milk bottle caps and collars, fundraising letters, bonds, package inserts, posters, window labels, Christmas cards, placemats, scarfs, mugs, etc.

The hobby of Christmas Seal collecting is alive and well. The Christmas Seal and Charity Stamp Society, APS affiliate #101, issues a quarterly journal, Seal News. A non profit organization founded in 1931, the CS&CSS has a mission to make seal collecting information available to the public. Check out their website, www.christmasseal.org