Christmas seal

Lore & Background

At the beginning of the 1900s, tuberculosis was a greatly feared disease, especially devastating to children. In 1904, Einar Holbøll, a Danish postal clerk, developed the idea of adding an extra charitable stamp on mailed holiday greetings during Christmas, with proceeds to help children sick with tuberculosis. The plan was approved by the Postmaster and King Christian IX of Denmark. The world's first Christmas seal was issued that year, bearing the likeness of Queen Louise, consort of King Christian IX, and the word 'Julen'. Over 4 million were sold in the first year, raising more than 18,000 Danish kroner. Funds raised over six years built the Christmas Seal Sanatorium in Kolding, which opened in 1911 and was later transferred to the Danish National Association to Combat Tuberculosis.

In the United States, a tuberculosis outbreak of epidemic proportions led to the need for funding sanatoriums. Inspired by the success in Europe and an editorial by Danish-born Jacob Riis, Emily Bissell organized the production and sale of Christmas seals in America in 1907. The first U.S. Christmas seal was sold in Wilmington, Delaware by the Delaware Chapter of the American Red Cross. Sales grew from $3,000 in the first year to $250,000 by 1909. The Red Cross partnered with the National Tuberculosis Association until 1920, after which the NTA assumed full operation. By 1955, annual sales reached $26 million.

Reader's Guide

Christmas seals represent a significant innovation in charitable fundraising, combining holiday tradition with public health campaigns. Originating in Denmark in 1904 through the efforts of postal clerk Einar Holbøll, they quickly became a global phenomenon, with 130 countries issuing their own seals. Their primary association with tuberculosis—a leading cause of death at the time—helped fund sanatoriums and convalescent homes for children, notably the Christmas Seal Sanatorium in Kolding, Denmark. In the United States, Emily Bissell's adaptation of the idea in 1907 raised critical funds for a Delaware sanatorium and grew into a national program administered by the Red Cross and later the National Tuberculosis Association. The seals also became collectible items, with variations in printing, printer's marks, and local issues. Despite occasional controversies, such as the 1958 Danish dispute over Santa Claus imagery, Christmas seals maintained public acclaim and continue to be issued by organizations like the American Lung Association. Their legacy lies in demonstrating how a simple adhesive label could mobilize widespread support for public health and child welfare.

Did You Know?

• The first Christmas seal was issued in Denmark in 1904, bearing the likeness of Queen Louise, consort of King Christian IX, and the word 'Julen'.
• Over 4 million Christmas seals were sold in Denmark in the first year, raising more than 18,000 Danish kroner.
• In the United States, the first Christmas seal was sold in 1907 in Wilmington, Delaware, at a penny each.
• The 1918 U.S. Christmas seals were sold to the public as well as to American Red Cross members during World War I.