Society News

Tue, 09/01/2015 - 14:11
World Class Christmas Seal Blotter Collection

Many collectors under 60 may not know what an ink blotter is. They date back to an earlier time when people still filled their fountain from a bottle of ink. advancements of quick-drying inks and ballpoint pens in the 1950's made blotters obsolete. I have never seen more than about a half dozen different Christmas Seal blotters. They are listed in the front of the 1983 edition of Green’s part 2, US Local Christmas Seals, along with other “back of the book” national items, like Christmas Seal bonds, bookmarks, booth envelopes, menu labels, milk bottle caps & collars, napkins, package inserts, place mats and transit passes (to name a few). Some of these interesting categories listed in Green’s, like Christmas Seal Buttons have been made into entire catalogs on their own. Other categories, like bookmarks were re done in Seal News (back in the late 80’s I think). I had the opportunity to scan a wonderful collection of 125 different Christmas Seal blotters. The collection includes both National and local blotters and begins in 1913. Click on the pdf download below to view the entire collection
Christmas Seal Ink Blotter Collection8.pdf
Tue, 06/09/2015 - 14:30
Early CS&CSS History & Archives

Special thanks to Joseph Ward & Rod Stuart, and George Painter for help on this News item. Like many collector groups, the CS&CSS has an Archive. Today, this Archive consists of a complete Seal News reprint, as well as a collection of early articles pertaining to Christmas Seal collecting, and history. Formed in 1931, The CS&CSS's first official organ was Linn's Stamp News, and the "Christmas Seal and Charity Stamps" monthly department served as our official bulletin, and was edited by A. W. C. Brumfield. 1931-1934 issues are included in the Seal News section, available at this website with member login. Fifty cents covered annual dues which included a subscription to Linn's, double the normal Linn's subscription fee. Later, April 4th, 1934 thru February 5th, 1947, The Western Stamp Collector carried the official bulletin of CS&CSS, first called "Charity Review" thru February 1940 before changing it's name to "Official Bulletin of CS&CSS". The official society column published in the WSC was edited by Harold V.B. Voorhis thru 1938 when he was called to serve in WW2. Ben Morris edited the column thru 1945 and passed away while holding the position of editor. Dick Green took over as editor of the WSC column thru February 1947 before splitting off the Western Stamp Collector, and editing "Seal News", first issued on March 1947. I'm searching for a long run of the CS&CSS Western Stamp Collector bulletins, so they can be added to the Seal News section. For a time, The CS&CSS and The Poster Stamp Collectors of America used a combined journal, The Poster Seal Bulletin. The known issues are included in the Seal News section, which are May 1941 thru October 1941, and a part of a 1943, leading me to believe they were issued for several years. The heading or title page lists both organizations and their respective officers. They even had separate Editors. The CS&CSS was so decimated by the war that the planned Society Exhibition, May 6, 1942, in Philadelphia in conjunction with the Pennsylvania TB Society's 50th Anniversary, was in jeopardy. Attendance was expected to be low but some, notably Charles Lorenz anticipated it, and made the event a success. The exhibit that Lorenz put together with members material demonstrated that it was an exceptional event. A report on this May event was published in The Western Stamp Collector, CS&CSS bulletin, June 1942, and is included in the Seal News section. Joseph Ward also wrote a scholarly article on this event published in Spring 2005 Seal News. During the early years the CS&CSS was a very active group with chapters in New York, Chicago, and later adding Missouri, Wisconsin, and Sacramento. The following are highlights of the CS&CSS Archive, as well as early Christmas Seal articles submitted by members. The first article is by Leigh Mitchell Hodges, The Philadelphia North American newspaperman who was instrumental in making the 1907 seal a success. The first Christmas Seal, conceived by Danish Postal worker, Einar Holboll, became a reality in 1904. Emily Bissell picked up his idea from an article she read to save a small TB sanatorium in the state of Delaware. The article, The Christmas Stamp, by Jacob Riis was published in this News section September 2014. Several articles mention the newly formed CS&CSS, while others contain fascinating back stories to events, such as President FDR receiving a Christmas Seal collection from The National Tuberculosis Association; an album put together by members of the CS&CSS. FDR mentioned a prized Christmas Seal item in his collection, a Danish West Indies TB Seal tied on cover. A publicity photo of this event can be seen in the September 2014 News. Many are written by or about early CS&CSS members collections or exhibits. In the June 1933 article, written by Emily Bissell; she responds to a discovery of some 1907 seals at the NTA office; "We regret that discovery of a quantity of these 1907 seals in cleaning up our office has brought us so much unfavorable publicity, causing people to think we are dickering in the seal trade." Bissell's office had offered 5,000 1907 seal for sale. Collectors correctly predicted the price drop from $5/ $7.50 (type 1 & 2) to .50/ .25 a year later. In 1938 the NTA allowed the CS&CSS to give advance notice of the limited edition Christmas Seal souvenir pane, or Deluxe Pane. With 25,000 printed, they were priced at .25.
12-5-07 WIlmington Morning News.pdf 12-9-17 Wilmington Morning News.pdf 12-12-07 Wilmington Morning News.pdf 12-13-07 Philadelphia North American.pdf 12-17-07 The Optimist.pdf 12-18-07 Philadelphia North American.pdf 12-19-07 Philadelphia North American.pdf 12-23-07 Philadelphia North American.pdf 1-3-08 Philadelphia North American.pdf 1908 The Christmas Stamp in America, The Outlook, Priscilla Leonard (Emily Bissell).pdf 12-16-11 Philadelphia Stamp News, The Am Red Cross Stamps by Percy McMann-1.pdf 1911 Charity Stamps that Collectors Seek.pdf The Christmas Seals, Jacobs Dec. 1912.pdf cs&css Dec 1929.pdf CS&CSS 10-10-31 Linns.pdf CS&CSS Dec 1931.pdf cs&css 1931 seal exhibits.pdf cs&css 1932 noted artists.pdf 1932 Christmas Seal Artists.pdf CS&CSS 1932 xmas seal story- radio broadcast.pdf cs&css Mar 1933.pdf cs&css june 1933 NTA discovery.pdf cs&css Dec 1933 FDR.pdf wheless, dorsey.pdf 1933, Dec 16, Stamps, Dorsey Wheless.pdf cs&css Nov 1934 Linns.pdf cs&css 1934.pdf cs&css Dec 1934.pdf article 1934 jacobs.pdf cs&css Dec 1935.pdf cs&css 1935 nat coin & hobby.pdf 11-27-36 story of xmas seal. cole-1.pdf cs&css Aug 1937 WSC.pdf cs&css un 1938 WSC.pdf csss Oct 1938 WSC.pdf article 12-40.pdf CS&CSS 1942 Story of Xmas Seal, Hodges.pdf c&cs Mar 1945 WSC.pdf 12-16-56 Lorenz.pdf article 12-53.pdf 12-1960 Dateline Delaware.pdf article 6-3-63.pdf NTA 8-65.pdf halls of india.pdf article berlin ontario 5-89.pdf article 2-95.pdf modern christmas seals 1995.pdf federated womens club article.pdf
Mon, 06/08/2015 - 14:44
Dick Green's Catalog Published as a Series

Green's Catalog of Tuberculosis Seals of the World was completed in 1930, and between 1935 and 1937 was published as a series in The Western Stamp Collector, a stamp collecting weekly. The same electrotype images, supplied by the National Tuberculosis Association, were used in 1935 to illustrate the "Christmas Seal" section of The Scott Specialized Catalogue. It was a simpler time. The NTA encouraged hobbyists, and knew that cataloging Christmas Seals was good publicity, and recognized that every collection was a testament to their important work.
Thu, 02/05/2015 - 13:34
Early Autographed Christmas Seal Sheets

1930 was not the first year that the National Tuberculosis Association called upon dignitaries to create sought after collectibles, but it may have been the largest list of celebrities ever used in a single year. *thirteen of the twenty different illustrated here, are from the collection of John Denune, Sr. The Babe Ruth was discovered 10-28-2022 stuck in the middle of some imperforate 1930 sheets. The seal collector cared more for the printer's mark block, which has been removed.
*Claudette Colbert
* Andrew Mellon, Secretary of State
*Gloria Swanson
* Ronald Colman, Movie Actor
* Gene Tunney, World Heavyweight Boxer
* William "Bill" Tilden, Tennis Champion
Franklin D. Roosevelt, then Governor of New York
Amos an' Andy, Radio Celebrities
Bobby Jones, Golf Champion
Admiral Richard Byrd, Antarctic Explorer
*Babe Ruth, Baseball Legend
* Guilio Gatte-Casazza, Impresario
Helen Wills Moody, Tennis Champion
* Mary Pickford, Movie Actress
* Jane Cowl, Stage and Movie Actress
*Jimmy Walker, Mayor NYC
* Harold McCormick, Businessman
Al Smith, 4 time Governor of New York
* Will Rogers, Political Humorist
Maurice Chevalier, Singer, Stage and Movie Actor
Wed, 01/28/2015 - 15:09
The First Christmas Seal Listing in Scott's Specialized Catalogue

Scott's Specialized is the Bible of US Postage Stamp collecting. In 1935, with the help of CS&CSS members including, Dorsey F. Wheless, and W. L. Kinkead, first president of our club, Christmas Seal were added to The Scott Specialized Catalogue of US Postage Stamps. Check Lists of US National Christmas Seals first appeared in Scott's Monthly Journal, May, 1928.
Scott Specialized 1935 Christmas Seal Section.pdf
Wed, 12/24/2014 - 18:15
FREE Christmas Seal Album Downloads

Advanced Beginner Christmas Seal Album
43 pages, provides spaces, as required, for singles, pairs, blocks, slogan and portrait blocks, booklet panes of 1918, 1930, 1931, 1939, the 1938 deluxe pane, and full sheets from 1907 through 2012. Spaces for both types of 1907 seals are provided.
Comprehensive Christmas Seal Album
170 page specialized album providing spaces for type and perf varieties for singles, pairs, blocks and sheets (as required) 1907 through 2009. Also included are spaces for slogan blocks, portrait blocks, booklet panes, specimen overprints, some perforated proofs and essays, local overprints, US lookalikes from Canada, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Ryukyu, Nicaragua, modern Spanish text, silver foil, etc.
Progressive Color Proofs & Imperforates Christmas Seal Album
177+ pages, provides spaces, as required, for PCP's from 1927 thru 1994 (last year issued). PCP's usually contain 7 stages and show colors separately and in combination, leading up to the complete design. This album also provides spaces for imperforate pairs, blocks, and sheets, as required, from 1917 thru 1995
Canadian National Tuberculosis Seal Album
51 pages, 1927 thru 2001, provides spaces, as required, for singles, pairs, blocks, and sheets, as well as French and English text, slogan blocks, and booklet panes.
Other Free Christmas Seal Albums were created by Joe Ward, and published in Seal News, as follows: January 2000 US Local TB Louisiana, Summer 2003 Sister Kenny, October 2003 US Local TB Federated Women's Club, Summer 2004 US Local TB Butler County, Summer 2005 Boystown. Join the CS&CSS and access every issue of Seal News at this website.
full.sheet_.pages_.pdf Blank 'Christmas Seals' Album Page.pdf new album 2018 (3).pdf Advanced Beginner Album, part 2.pdf comprehensive christmas seal album 2014.pdf full.sheet_.pages_.pdf PCP cover and full sheet pages.pdf pcp album.pdf imperf album.pdf Canadian Album.pdf Canadian full sheet album pages.pdf
Mon, 10/06/2014 - 12:08
2015 Scott Specialized Catalogue Updates Christmas Seal Section

The Scott Specialized Catalogue is the Bible of US postage stamp collecting, and through the help of CS&CSS member Dorsey Wheless, Christmas Seals were added in 1935. I'm happy to report that John Denune Sr, and Jr are listed in the 2015 edition as individuals who have assisted in preparing the information for the Christmas Seal section.
Current Scott Catalogue Editor, James E. Kloetzel met the Denune's at the CS&CSS booth at APS StampShow 2013 in Milwaukee. The Denune's had contacted Scott's Catalogue about proposed changes to the Christmas Seal Section in 1982 without result so, 31 years later, this came as quite a surprize. The Editor wanted to include some earliest known useages, early errors, and to make sense out of the 1918 booklet pane varieties. Earliest known useages (EKU) of seals tied on cover (or postcard) are included thru 1935. George Painter, editor of the Tied On section of Green's Catalog provided the EKU's and is in charge of the CS&CSS ongoing census of Tied On Christmas Seals. His name should be in Scotts Catalogue too.
The Denune's wanted to correct the false statement at the end of the section, Beginning in 1979 there was no longer a single National issue..., which now reads,
"Beginning in 1979 there was more than one Christmas Seal issued each year. However collectors familar with these seals easily recognized the national issues from the design experiments. These test seals were used regionally or in targeted markets. With few exceptions, a previous year design experiment has been selected for the following year's national issue with one notable difference being the date. Starting in 1983 Spanish text Christmas Seals have been used in Spanish speaking parts of the US. In 1988 Christmas Seals branched out into Easter or Spring issues, Chanukah issues in 1997, and Kwanzaa issues in 2001."
The Denune's plan to continue to work with the Editor, correcting and adding EKU's, and hope to add errors, tied ons, 1908-1A/ 1B varieties, 1911 type 4 & 5, 1913 type 2A/ 2B varieties, 1913 type 4, and wish to see the section expand someday to include Christmas Seals issued since 1979.
Fri, 09/19/2014 - 13:26
The Article That Inspired Emily Bissell

This article, The Christmas Stamp, was published in the 6 July 1907 issue of The Outlook. It was written by Danish born muckraker journalist and social worker, whom President Teddy Roosevelt called a great American, Jacob A. Riis. Right after reading this article, Emily P. Bissell was inspired to create the first US Christmas Seal. Riis had six brothers die of tuberculosis, and suggests a Christmas time penny TB seal campaign, similar to what was so successful in Denmark since 1904, be used in the US for education and prevention of the disease.
Fri, 09/19/2014 - 13:10
Some Old Christmas Seal Publicity Photos

1) Publicity photo of Einar Holboll, the father of The Christmas Seal.
2) 1915 Red Cross Christmas Seal Campaign.
3) 1931 publicity photo of Vanderbilt coach used on Christmas Seal.
4) 1933 publicity photo of Christmas Seal Album being presented to the President. Dr. Wm Charles White, Pres DC TB Assn, FDR, Dorsey Wheless, CS&CSS member who put the collection together, unknown woman, Dr. Kendall Emerson, Director of the NTA.
5) 1933 Publicity photo of Emily P. Bissell at her desk.
6) 1935 Christmas Seal artist Ernest Hamlin Baker with model for Christmas Seal Virginia McMullen.
7) 1936 publicity photo of Leigh Mitchell Hodges, and Emily P. Bissell.
8) 1939 Publicity photo of Kendall Emerson and Emily P. Bissell.
9) 1940 publicity photo of President FDR meeting child models of the Christmas Seal.
10) December 25th 1940 Special staff meeting of the National Tuberculosis Association Merry Christmas to all Sate and Local TB Associations.
11) November 1946 Miss Bissell's nurse, Emily P. Bissell, Leigh Mitchell Hodges, and Charles L. Newcomb.
12) 1949 publicity photo of actor Charles Coburn and Leigh Mitchell Hodges.
Mon, 07/07/2014 - 17:14
CS&CSS Website Has a New Look

Member logon for Seal News coming soon. Does anyone know the location of the 1911 type 5 vertical coil? This poor quality illustration was taken from the 1973 edition of Green's Catalog.

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