Society News

  1. Smithsonian National Postal Museum Event a Huge Success

    John Hotchner at Smithsonian National Postal Museum 1934 stage 4 tieds Matthew A. White, PhD, Director of Education and Visitor Services Smithsonian National Postal Museum (Washington DC) receiving Christmas Seal Collection from CS&CSS member Lloyd Thrower John Denune, Sr. & Lloyd Thrower

    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.

  2. Early Poster Stamp Journals

    Poster Stamps, Aurora, IL. Poster Stamps, Texas National Poster Stamp Society Radio & Music Poster Stamps Dick Green US Christmas Seal List Published in 1925 10-1925 Early Dick Green Listing of US Christmas Seals, page 2 1933 Italian Air Race Poster Stamp Set Poster Stamps, Maine #1-8 Poster Stamps, Maine #9-16 Poster Stamps, Maine #17-24

    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/

    PDF icon 1915 Poster Stamp Bulletin.pdf PDF icon German Posterstamp Journal 10-25.pdf PDF icon Boy's Companion Magazine, Poster Stamp Bulletin.pdf
  3. CS&CSS invited to Smithsonian Postal Museum Event December 1st-2nd, 2018

    Smithsonian Postal Museum

    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.

  4. Christmas Seal Original Artwork

    1937 Christmas Seal Original Art 1937 Christmas Seal Original Poster Art 1949 Christmas Seal Original Art 1956 Original Christmas Seal Art Australian Christmas Seal Original Art 1965 Japanese Christmas Seal Original Art 1967 Japanese Christmas Seal Original Art 1969 Japanese Christmas Seal Original Art 1970 Japanese Christmas Seal Original Art 1919 Christmas Seal Original Art - Essay 1927 Christmas Seal Original Art - Essay 1928 Christmas Seal Original Art - Essay 1930 Christmas Seal Original Art - Essay 1931 Christmas Seal Original Art - Essay 1931 Christmas Seal Original Art - Essay 1932 Christmas Seal Original Art - Essay 1933 Christmas Seal Original Art - Essay 1933 Christmas Seal Original Art - Essay 1934 Christmas Seal Original Art - Essay 1936 Christmas Seal Original Art - Essay

    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.

  5. ALA Flat Packs

    American Lung Association Flat Pack 2002 ALA Special Occasion Sheets Christmas Seal Calendars ALA Spring Issue Calendars ALA Holiday Gift Pack Booklets 2003 Holiday Gift Pack Sheets 2008 ALA Picture Frame 2008 ALA ornament punch out sheet, and sticker 2008 ALA Postcard Sheet 2004 ALA Baby Animal Pendant

    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.

  6. Upcoming Bi-Annual Gathering of CS&CSS - APS StampShow 2018

    APS StampShow 2018 Cinderella Columbus Ohio Convention Center Philatelic Exhibition Exhibits The Village of Granville The Christmas Seal & Charity Stamp Society Awards 2018 Christmas Seal & Charity Stamp Society Souvenir Cards

    The next bi-annual gathering of the Christmas Seal & Charity Stamp Society will be at APS StampShow this Summer, August 9-12 in Columbus Ohio. The event will be held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 North High Street, Exhibit Hall B.

    APS Website with links to hotel information. https://stamps.org/STAMPSHOW-SS

    Our society booth, #109 (go left at the entrance, and we are very near the front left corner of the hall) will display some of the fascinating material we collect, as well as a full array of society literature. It is important to remind the philatelic community that we are alive and well, and we will be offering free seals to new members, as well as all interested individuals. The show opens to the public everyday at 10 am, however If you signed up to work the society booth, you can pick up your society badge at the preregistration desk. This will allow you to gain entrance early: Wednesday from 2-7 pm, Thursday 8 am, Friday and Saturday at 8:30 am, and Sunday at 9 am.

    Our meeting is Saturday 10:30 am in room B 234. Member Bob Blum will speak “Images of Christmas Seal rarities, essays, proofs, & Local TB, from the collection of J.L. Cooprider”. That evening, 7 pm picnic at the Denune's (234 E. Broadway, Granville 43055), just 45 minutes away.

    CS&CSS Emily Bissell, and Exhibit Awards will be up for grabs in Columbus, and presented at the show. Go to the Homepage to read about the criteria.

    A set of 2 different intaglio engraved souvenir cards were issued by the CS&CSS for StampShow 2018. Only 50 sets were produced from original Mike Bean prints. This, and other CS&CSS souvenirs are offered at the bottom of the Literature page, on the top menu at this website.

  7. Who Modeled for Christmas Seals?

    1931 Vanderbilts in Carriage 1932 Christmas Seal Models 1935 Christmas Seal Model, Virginia McMullin 1938 Christmas Seal Models 1940 Christmas Seal Models with President FDR 1940 Christmas Seal Models on Poster Gretchen Johnson 1943 Christmas Seal Model Joan (Cahall) Turner Joan Cahall 1943 model article Gretchen Johnson 1943 Christmas Seal Model, showing caption Gretchen Johnson 1943 Christmas Seal Model, article Henry Martin Freyer with his team of oxen, Dick and Dime 1931 Christmas Seal featuring Vanderbilt Carriage Christmas Seals which Used Models

    The models on the 1932 Christmas Seal, Carol and George Volkman, were children of the artist, and the 1935 Christmas Seal model was Virginia McMullin. However, In addition to 1932 and 1935, I located original National Tuberculosis Association publicity photos of 1938 and 1940 Christmas Seal models. It is clear that more than one set of models were used in 1940. The children who modeled for the 1940 Minnesota poster are older than the ones who met President FDR, who may or may not have modeled for the artist who created the 1940 seal. It is likely that the artists who created Christmas Seals, and the publicity departments that created all the related material, such as posters, employed many live models. Some years, which illustrated more life like characters are more likely to have used them in the creation of seals. Also illustrated are some seals we know had models, or were likely to have.

    The models used in 1931 and 1947 are somewhat different because they were actual people.  The Vanderbilt carriage, and family was featured on the 1931 Christmas Seal years before Gloria, then 5,  became an international fashion designer. Henry Martin Freyer with his team of oxen, Dick and Dime are featured on the 1947 Christmas Seal; see article below. The only other specific people to appear on US Christmas Seals were pioneers in the Crusade against Tuberculosis, and they did not model.

    More Christmas Seal Models Reported by our Readers:

    1) Margaret (Peggy) Sewell was the model at the Olympic Hotel in Seattle Washington in 1935 and was 3 1/2 years old at the time. I am hoping someone has some pictures, or newspaper clippings of this.

    2) Joan (Cahall) Turner, model for the 1943 Christmas Seal, passed away in 2006. Joan and her sister Shirley spent over 6 months as tuberculosis contact patients at Sunnybrook Cottage at Brandywine Sanatorium, in the State of Delaware. In the history of Christmas Seals Brandywine is famous because Emily Bissell created the first US Christmas Seal, in large part to raise the needed funds to keep their doors open.

    3) Gretchen Johnson was a model for a 1943 Christmas Seal  poster used in Minnesota. She had recovered from TB at the Glen Lake Sanatorium, as stated in the Blooming Prairie Times, Blooming Prairie, MN.

    4) Robert Browning Nicodemus,1/5/34 – 10/27/97was a 1940 Christmas Seal model. Here’s a link to a newspaper article that mentions this.  The article mistakenly names him Robert D. Nicodemus, when his name was actually Robert B. Nicodemus – Reported by his son, Burton Nicodemus.

    http://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073966/1940-12-05/ed-1/seq-7/

    5) Henry Martin Freyer with his team of oxen, Dick and Dime, pictured on the 1947 Christmas Seal. Reported by great hrandson Tim Gallaher.

    https://www.timeswithtim.com/great 

    If anyone has any information on Christmas Seal models, please email your webmaster, john@christmasseals.net. Any information gathered will be reported on this "News" page.

    PDF icon 1947 Great Grandad and the Christmas Seal.pdf PDF icon 1940 Christmas Seal models newspaper.pdf
  8. Holy Childhood Catholic Christmas Seals & Unlisted 1943 Poster

    Holy Childhood #1 1915 Catholic Christmas Seal Holy Childhood #1 1915 Catholic Christmas Seal Tied On 1916 Holy Childhood Christmas Seal Tied on 1917 Holy Childhood Christmas Seal Tied on, LATE USAGE? 1943 Holy Childhood Christmas Seal Poster Holy Childhood Christmas Seals 1918-27 1928-40 Holy Childhood Christmas Seals 1941-54 Holy Childhood Christmas Seals Holy Childhood Christmas Seals 1955-69

    Holy Childhood is a Catholic Fund that has issued Christmas Seals since 1915, making it one of the earliest and longest running Christmas Seal series. Their last seal was issued in 2004 and they are now selling greeting cards to raise funds for their cause. These seals were not issued to fight tuberculosis, and Holy Childhood's numerous early references to their issues as "Christmas Seals" predate by decades, the 1987 trademark held by the American Lung Association. Their first issue was used for two or three years beginning in 1915 and is a rare item indeed. The 1918 HC Christmas Seal is known tied on in 1917 and could have been used for two years. HC is listed in Mosbaugh's US All Fund Catalog, Catholic section 3, #248. The 1943 HC poster is unlisted, and measures 13 x 20 inches.

  9. Many Charities Removed From 1st Ed. All Fund Catalog

    Juanita Burns Solo Flight Tacoma Citizens Emergency Unemployment Bureau National Hospital Day Fire Prevention Seals Covered Bridge Poster Stamps Filling Station Union Day Nursery, Scranton, PA. Tied On

    Ray Mosbaugh's US All Fund Catalog lists US fundraising seals issued for causes other than Red Cross or TB. The first edition, 1961-3, was divided into 4 sections. 1) Domestic Funds, 2) Catholic, 3) Foreign, and 4) Jewish.

    In later editions, the original Section 1, Domestic Funds was divided into 9 new sections; 1) Patriotic & Veteran, 2) Fraternal & Civic, 4) Lutheran, 6) Religious & Philosophical, 6a) American Bible Society, 8) Pets, Plants & Wildlife, 9) Medical, 9a) Easter, and 10) Miscellaneous.

    The original Catholic, Section 2 became Section 3; The original Foreign Section 3, became Ethnic Section 7, and the original Jewish Section 4, became Section 5.

    Many societies were removed from the original Section 1, Domestic Funds. Mosbaugh may have decided their purpose was not purely fundraising. Regardless of the use of these seals, they include many that are very interesting. It is my hope that a collector will take an interest in this and create a new catalog, something like; Forgotten Seals; Funds ? removed from 1st Ed. All Fund.

    Some Societies Removed from Old All Fund, Domestic Section
    page 12 America Friends Service Committee
    page 24 Aqualante
    page 25 Associated Charities
    page 25 Associated Councils for Social Engineering
    page 30 Billy Graham Crusades
    page 31 Bishops Guild
    page 37 Business Recovery Association
    page 38 California Pet Owners League
    page 46 Chiropractic Seals
    page 46-47 Citizens Service Commission
    page 49 Covered Bridge Stamps
    page 51 Demolay
    page 53 Detroit Society for Genealogical Research
    page 58 Esperanto Association of North America
    page 60 Farmer Labor Party
    page 60 Father Divine
    page 61 Filling Station Employees Union
    page 62 First Victory Campaign Fund
    page 63 General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. Library Fund
    page 64 Girard College
    page 67 Green Cross
    page 68 Henry George School of Social Science
    page 68 Hiram College
    page 68 Honor Stamp for Distinguished Service
    page 68 Hospital Seals Incorporated
    page 70 Illinois State Board of Health
    page 70 Illinois Motor Safety Association
    page 72 Industrial Workers of the World
    page 75 Int. Printing Pressmens and Assistants Union of N.A.
    page 76 Juanita Burns Solo Flight Around the World
    page 78 Manatee County Underprivileged Child Fund
    page 79-80 Ku Klux Klan
    page 80 Labor Center
    page 80 La Jolla Merchants Association
    page 80 Lamar Memorial
    page 82 Liberty Seal Distributors
    page 86 Little Wanders Aid Society
    page 86 Los Angeles Safety First Association
    page 92 Maccabees
    page 92 March on Washington Movement, African American
    page 92 Marine Rule in Nicaragua
    page 93 McDonald Territory
    page 94 Men and Religion
    page 94 Mexico (MO) High School PTA
    page 94 Miami Police Benevolent Association
    page 94 Michigan Junior OUMA
    page 95 Missions Publishing Fund
    page 101-103 National Bureau of Fire Underwriters
    page 106-107 National Fire Protection Association
    page 107 National Fire Seals Fund Raising Company
    page 108-109 National Hospital Day
    page 109-110 National One Cent Letter Postage Association
    page 111 National Rifle Association
    page 111 National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
    page 117 National Wholesale Liquor Dealers Association
    page 133 Scranton Pennsylvania Day Nursery
    page 139 Tacoma Citizens Emergency Unemployment Bureau

    PDF icon old all fund section 1, domestic funds-1.pdf
  10. PBS History Detectives, Scottsboro Boys Seal

    1932 International Labor Defense Scottsboro Boys Fundraising Seal 1934 International Labor Defense Scottsboro Boys Fundraising Seal 1932 International Labor Defense Scottsboro Boys Fundraising Seal Tied on Cover International Labor Defense Scottsboro Boys Fundraising Letter

    PBS History Detectives Season 7, episode 11, with air date of September 7, 2009 included a story about the origin of the Scottsboro Boys fundraising seal. Issued in 1932 for the defense of 9 innocent black youth falsely accused of rape. At the time, it was the case of the century; a decades long ordeal for the accused. This seal is listed in the Miscellaneous section (10) of Mosbaugh's All Fund Catalog #850.01. The catalog states that this seal, with a 1 cent denomination, was issued by the International Labor Defense, 800 E. 11th St., NY, NY. and that 2 million were printed. History Detectives goes into a lot of detail about this Communist/ anti Fascist organization, but I wanted to include a few things they left out.

    The ILD issued a second scarcer Scottsboro Boy seal with a 5 cent denomination, #850.02 in 1934, with 500,000 printed, as well as many other fundraising seal issues for other causes, also listed in section 10 #850. In January 2009 CS&CSS member John Denune Sr. was contacted by the show, and the producer asked for information. Denune loaned them a full sheet of 850.01x which is pictured briefly (at 31 min, 52 sec.) in the show. Included here, is an ILD Scottsboro Boys fundraising letter, as well as a seal tied on cover, both from the collection of John Denune, Sr.

    Watch the entire episode here: http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/video/1242407331/

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