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 The Christmas Seals That Could Have Been, Some Unpublished Essays, by John Denune, Jr., contains of over 100 pages of original art of US Christmas seal designs beginning in 1917.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.
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.
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.
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.
1947 Great Grandad and the Christmas Seal.pdf 1940 Christmas Seal models newspaper.pdf
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.
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
old all fund section 1, domestic funds-1.pdf
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/
Several years back, 12-24-2014, on this "News" page, I posted five different free Christmas Seal Albums in ten downloadable files. Today, the
Advanced Beginner Christmas Seal Album has been updated through Christmas 2017
44 pages, provides spaces for singles, pairs, blocks, and full sheets, as required, as well as slogan and portrait blocks, booklet panes of 1918, 1930, 1931, 1939, the 1938 deluxe pane.
new album 2018.pdf Advanced Beginner Album, part 2.pdf
Stony Wold US Local TB seals are listed in Green’s Catalog, and were issued in 1912 (#3003) as a booklet pane of 6, 1913 (#3004) as booklet pane of 20, and a window label (#3005), and in 1948 (#3006) as a sheet of 50. Their use of the Double Barred Cross, the international symbol of the fight against Tuberculosis predates our National Christmas Seal by seven years. In January, 2018, while sorting an old stock, John Denune, Sr discovered unlisted booklet panes of 3 of the 1912 issue.
Located in the Adirondacks at Lake Kushaqua, NY, the hospital was founded in 1901 by Mrs. James Edward Newcomb, with the support of her husband Dr. James Newcomb, a member of the medical staff of Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. Before his death in 1912, he and his wife conferred with Dr. Edward L. Trudeau, founder of Trudeau Sanatarium in Saranac Lake, NY. Dr. Trudeau suggested there was a great need for a separate institution serving tubercular girls and women.
Herself, a victim of TB, Mrs. Newcomb recovered at a Working Girls Vacation Society Camp in Santa Clara, NY, where in the late 1800’s she became interested in the welfare of undernourished girls in the city. Stony Wold was a non sectarian hospital for girls and women in the beginning stages of TB, and at the time of Mrs. Newcomb’s death in 1938, the hospital had treated approximately 4,500 patients.
From 1912 to 1915 their receipts were nearly a half a million dollars. With this, they erected a complex of buildings to care for and house over 100 patients (on average in 1915). Like the Trudeau Sanatorium, Stony Wold did not offer it's services free of charge, but there were many ways the costs were carried, including fundraising. Physicians did a complete X-Ray series for $10. The cost for residential treatment was $24.50 a week, excluding laundry.
There were four levels of Membership to support the Stony Wold Sanatorium:
1) Member $10
2) Patron $25
3) Donor $50
4) Founder $100
1920's silent film about Stony Wold Sanatorium
https://archive.org/details/6079_Healing_of_the_Hills_The_Happy_Home-Lik...
Join the CS&CSS for their next gathering where we will have an educational society booth, fee seals, CS&CSS literature, a display, and much much more.
StampShow 2018, co-hosted with the American Topical Association, in Columbus, Ohio marks the 132nd annual convention of the American Philatelic Society. Each year, stamp collectors, exhibitors, historians and members of the general public gather to socialize, increase philatelic knowledge, and exchange stamps. The 2018 show will feature 100+ dealers, societies, live auctions, literature and philatelic exhibits, more than 100 meetings and seminars, and first-day-of-issue ceremonies for new stamps. The show is FREE and open to the public. Join us!
Send your exhibitor applications for StampShow 2018. This show often gets oversubscribed and they have to turn down exhibits. The sooner you send them in, the better. The application and prospectus is already posted on the APS website, https://stamps.org/STAMPSHOW-SS
