# WX5 - 1909 American Red Cross Christmas Seal
Festive Christmas Seals are a Great Addition to Your Collection!
Christmas Seals were issued by the American Red Cross (1907-1919), the National Tuberculosis Association (1920-1967), the National Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease Association (1968-1972) and the American Lung Association (1973 and forward). The Seals have been a way for charities to raise money, and patrons to add Christmas cheer to their letters and packages.
First Christmas SealsÂ
In the early 1900s, tuberculosis was a major health concern in many areas of the world. In 1904, Danish postal clerk Einar Holbøll conceived the idea of adding an extra stamp to holiday mail to raise money to help sick children with tuberculosis. The idea was approved and Denmark issued the worldâs first Christmas Seal that year, picturing Danish Queen Louise of Hesse-Hassel.
The Red Cross continued to oversee the Christmas Seals program until 1920, when the National Tuberculosis Association took over. The NTA transformed Christmas Seals into the largest nonprofit direct mail campaign in the U.S. As tuberculosis became a more treatable disease, the program evolved, becoming the National Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease Association from 1968-1972, and the American Lung Association from 1973 forward. Today, there are over 100 different lung associations around the world that issue Christmas Seals.
Click here for more Christmas Seals.
Click here to visit the Christmas Seals website.
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Festive Christmas Seals are a Great Addition to Your Collection!
Christmas Seals were issued by the American Red Cross (1907-1919), the National Tuberculosis Association (1920-1967), the National Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease Association (1968-1972) and the American Lung Association (1973 and forward). The Seals have been a way for charities to raise money, and patrons to add Christmas cheer to their letters and packages.
First Christmas SealsÂ
In the early 1900s, tuberculosis was a major health concern in many areas of the world. In 1904, Danish postal clerk Einar Holbøll conceived the idea of adding an extra stamp to holiday mail to raise money to help sick children with tuberculosis. The idea was approved and Denmark issued the worldâs first Christmas Seal that year, picturing Danish Queen Louise of Hesse-Hassel.
The Red Cross continued to oversee the Christmas Seals program until 1920, when the National Tuberculosis Association took over. The NTA transformed Christmas Seals into the largest nonprofit direct mail campaign in the U.S. As tuberculosis became a more treatable disease, the program evolved, becoming the National Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease Association from 1968-1972, and the American Lung Association from 1973 forward. Today, there are over 100 different lung associations around the world that issue Christmas Seals.
Click here for more Christmas Seals.
Click here to visit the Christmas Seals website.
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