Society News

Tue, 04/16/2019 - 13:57
Scott Specialized Updating Christmas Seal Section

Forty years ago, in 1979 Scott's Specialized Catalogue of US Postage Stamps decided to quit listing Christmas Seals. Their reason was stated in a paragraph at the end of the section; essentially, that there was no longer a single national issue. In 1979 a class of test seals began, known as design experiments, which have continued ever since. In 1980 a '79 design experiment was planned to be used, but due to a prior commitment, the Children's art images were instead used. Since 1981 the national US Christmas Seal was selected from a previous year design experiment, so from the beginning collectors could tell the difference from these tests and the national issue.
In 2013 James Kloetzel, the editor of Scott's Specialized Catalogue approached CS&CSS members John Denune Jr & Sr at the APS show in Milwaukee. From time to time, it pays to remind the philatelic community that the Christmas Seal hobby is alive and well. The CS&CSS had a society booth there, and were overjoyed when asked to help. The first thing we changed was the wording of that paragraph, stating that collectors familiar with these seals could easily recognize the national issues from the design experiments.
Jim suggested we add some tied ons, earliest known useages, and errors. With the help of George Painter, dad and I sent them a "Christmas list" of changes every year. At the top of everyone's list was bringing their Christmas Seal section up to date. In early 2019, George sent Scott's a letter making strong points for all the unused suggestions over the last 5 years, which included adding 1911 type 4, 1911 type 5, 1913 type 4 and of course, bringing their section up to date.
I'm overjoyed to report that Scott's Catalogue adopted each and every one of the suggestions, so even though Green's Catalog of US Christmas Seals remains the Bible of Christmas Seal collecting, this is the year to buy a copy of Scott's Specialized Catalogue of US Postage Stamps. Their 2020 edition increases the Christmas Seal section more than any past edition, including when Christmas Seals were first added in 1935.
Scotts/Green's Catalog Number Cross Reference 1980 to date:

Scotts greens cross reference of Numbers 1980-2018a.pdf
Tue, 03/19/2019 - 13:11
Unlisted 1968? Italian TB Seal

Most Italian TB seals are dated in Roman numerals. This is not. Any information on this seal would be appreciated. email your webmaster, john@christmasseals.net
I'm guessing this was issued between 1968 and 1974 because Italian TB seals used a bold red border in the margin those years. A fine red border was used from 1949 thru 1956. This seal is overprinted 100 Lira, up from 10 Lira. most overprints were done the next year. 10 Lira was used from 1949 thru 1967
Sun, 03/10/2019 - 21:20
1950's & 1960's Chinese Tuberculosis Posters

I came across these beautiful images of Chinese TB posters online. Many Communist governments, including China, put a halt to fundraising seals. However in China, it is clear that education and treatment continued.

The use of fundraising seals was a big factor in the early exponential growth of the war against TB in America. Small donations allowed everyone to be part of the "Crusade of the Double Barred Cross", the international symbol of the fight against TB. The DB Cross was the coat of arms of Godfrey of Bouillon, first Crusader King of Jerusalem. Note that in the last poster the man is holding a glowing DB Cross which is resisting the TB germs.

Today in America, It is disconcerting that fundraising seals are on the decline. Many old seal issuing societies are focusing on high dollar corporate donations and government grants. Some have discontinued their long running series of seals all together.
Thu, 03/07/2019 - 14:54
Seal News Table of Contents for Back Issues

This ongoing project of our Seal News Editor, David Teisler, is making our journal more useful. As new issues of Seal News are released, the project is expanding, and includes, issue, page, author, date, and title of scholarly articles.
Table of Contents for Back Issues 1-2019.pdf
Thu, 12/13/2018 - 14:28
Cartoonists lend talent to Christmas Seals

Cartoonists have lent their talents to Christmas Seals many times over the years. The most recent I know of is (Green's #2001-T12) Ray Billingsley's Kwanzaa issue of Southeast Florida, American Lung Association. This seal was used in 2001-2 and was the first and only (so far) instance of an ALA Kwanzza seal. Also, this is the only instance of a cartoonist's work being featured on a Christmas Seal. Four designs, self-adhesive, straight die cut. Featuring Billingsley’s comic strip character, “Curtis”. In 1955 The National Tuberculosis Association had Al Capp create a Li'l Abner Christmas Seal poster. In 1958 The National Tuberculosis Association had Bela P. Zaboly, aka Bill Zaboly create a Popeye Christmas Seal Advertisement. Illustrated here is an autographed proof.
1930's-40's Christmas Seal Comics.pdf
Wed, 12/05/2018 - 15:26
Smithsonian National Postal Museum Event a Huge Success

Everyone had a great time at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum Holiday event, and it looks as though we be invited back next year. Hot cocoa and cookies were served to the public. A Smithsonian booth passed out free Christmas Postage stamps. The Christmas Philatelic Club was also in attendance. Next year the Smithsonian plans to expand into other Christmas related hobbies, maybe Christmas postcards, maybe Santa Claus could be there or children could write letters to Santa.
The Postal Museum education department graciously accepted our gift of a complete* Christmas Seal collection, which was put together by friends and members of the CS&CSS. We are shooting for the stars; news releases were sent to UPI, API, and The Washington Post. Keep your fingers crossed. Not since 1933 has the CS&CSS given a collection like this to such an imminent reciepant, then President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
The CS&CSS filled nine 16 page frames with rare varieties of Christmas Seals from the collections of John Hotchner, and Lloyd Thrower, who were there to share them with the public. Our booth displayed literature, information from our website and passed out free Christmas Seals, as well as CS&CSS pamphlets. After lunch we were discussing rare tied ons. I (John Denune, Jr.) shared that I knew a collector who is searching for a 1933 long coat variety tied on, but the odds of finding that are like finding a 1934 stage 4 tied on. To my utter surprise, John Hotchner produced two 1934 stage 4 tied ons. John's collection of 1933, 1934 and 1935 tied ons contains hundreds of pieces.
To top it off, Lloyd and his lovely wife invited us to their restored mid century modern home, decorated in the period for dinner.
Wed, 11/07/2018 - 12:50
Early Poster Stamp Journals

Poster Stamps became popular in the US around 1912, and appeared earlier in Europe. Most were issued for advertising products, and promoting events. Attached is the first US poster stamp journal, the Poster Stamp Bulletin's first five issues, July through November, 1915. At the time the only exclusive poster stamp publication in America. This club of collectors was promoted in Boy's Companion Magazine, which reported in January 1916 that the Poster Stamp Bulletin had been discontinued. Pioneer Christmas Seal dealer, A. W. Dunning was the vice president of this club.
The October 1925 German poster stamp journal, Die Gelegenheitsmarke, published Dick Green's US Christmas Seal listings (pages 29-30). It is clear that Green is just getting started in his knowledge of Christmas Seals, as he lists a 1908 type 2 coil in error; this seal was from a booklet pane. The high price of 1907 was before a quantity was discovered in 1933. In this same German journal, don't miss the article in English on pages 5-6.
From May 1941 through October 1941, the Christmas Seal & Charity Stamp Society shared a news letter with the Poster Stamp Collectors of America. For more about Poster Stamps see, News 10-30-2017
Check out The Poster Stamp Collectors Club, http://www.posterstampcc.org/
1915 Poster Stamp Bulletin.pdf German Posterstamp Journal 10-25.pdf Boy's Companion Magazine, Poster Stamp Bulletin.pdf
Wed, 10/03/2018 - 13:24
CS&CSS invited to Smithsonian Postal Museum Event December 1st-2nd, 2018

Last week The Board of the CS&CSS received an email from the Smithsonian Postal Museum, inviting us to participate in a holiday themed event. We were overjoyed. The Christmas Season puts our hobby in the spotlight. Two CS&CSS members (John Hotchner, and Lloyd Thrower) volunteered to attend, along with our President, John Denune, Jr. The Museum is providing two frames for display, and a table, where we plan to display even more Christmas Seals, literature, etc. We will bring some of our collections, and were asked to speak on our hobby.
In 2016 the CS&CSS came up with an idea to get publicity; a Christmas Seal Collection for a Dignitary. This event seems like a great opportunity to donate this collection to a Museum official, or the Smithsonian Postal Museum itself. Not since 1933 has the CS&CSS put together a collection like this. Then, a gift for one of the most famous stamp collectors of the time, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
We collect year round, but the media is always hungry for stories about Christmas at Christmas time. I hope this gets picked up by the Associated Press. Call me a dreamer, but if I shoot for the stars, maybe I'll hit the moon. Our goal is to increase awareness of our hobby and the important work of the American Lung Association. With the help of CS&CSS members and non members, notably Laura Bell-Rivera who provided the foundation, this collection contains 1907 to date, singles, pairs, blocks and sheets, as required, and was mounted into a new album.
A separate collection of full sheets of Christmas Seals from 1931 to date has also been included, as well as the flag ship of CS&CSS literature, Green's Catalog, part 1, US National Christmas Seals, the Bible of US Christmas Seal collecting; a printed copy as well as the computer CD edition.
Sat, 08/11/2018 - 23:06
Christmas Seal Original Artwork

The beginning of Christmas Seal production, most lost to time. The Christmas Seals That Could Have Been, Some Unpublished Essays, by John Denune, Jr., contains of over 100 pages of original art of US Christmas seal designs beginning in 1917. Unfortunately, by the time Denune discovered them in 1982, they existed only as black and white photographs of original art.
Wed, 06/27/2018 - 14:01
ALA Flat Packs

Beginning about 1998 The American Lung Association started mailing their Christmas and Spring issue Seals in large colorful flat packs, and shifted almost exclusively to self adhesive, away from re-moist (lick and stick) gum. Though self adhesive gum had been used by them since the late 80's, it had become the preferable means to affix a Christmas Seal.
These flat packs contained a variety of bonus items. Of greatest interest to collectors were the Christmas and Spring issue Seals, and the Special Occasion Sheets. A Special Occasion sheet consists of free form (die cut) stickers (which have elements of Seal designs) as well an attached calendar or personalized return address labels.
Also included in packets were Gift Tag only sheets, Holiday Gift Packs (containing note paper as well as "to and from" gift tag and free form sticker sheets), calendars, punch out ornaments, a self adhesive picture frame, a pendant, certificates of appreciation, fundraising letters, note paper booklets, return envelopes, etc.
Betsy & Chuck Berry began work on these modern "Back of the Book" ALA issues, listing items deemed to be outside the scope of Green's Catalog (Calendars, Ornaments, postcards etc.). Their work is included in a separate chapter in Green's Part 1, US Christmas Seals, CD only.

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