Christmas Seals

IN THE 19th and early 20th centuries, tuberculosis was a widespread disease with a high mortality rate, particularly among the poor. Before the use of streptomycin in the 1940s, there was no medical cure for this lung disease, but there were treatments that involved protracted stays at sanatoriums. These institutions were expensive to build and operate, and funding was often insufficient.

In 1903 Einar Holbøll (1865–1927), a future postmaster of Denmark, came up with the idea of using the volume of Christmas mail as a way of raising money for tuberculosis treatment. Holbøll, who was also a member of the precursor to the Danish Lung Association, was familiar with the effects of tuberculosis, particularly in children. Holbøll proposed that the Danish post office sell the Christmas Seals and that the proceeds go toward supporting institutions that would treat tubercular patients.

The first Christmas Seal was sold in Denmark in 1904, and received the support of King Christian IX and his wife Louise, who was featured on the first Christmas Seal. The money generated from the sale of the first Christmas Seal was used to build the Julemærkesanatoriet (Christmas Seal Sanatorium) in Jutland. The original Danish Christmas Seal Foundation continues to own and operate a number of these homes, albeit for children who suffer from diseases related to obesity.

In the United States, Christmas Seals were introduced in 1907 through the work of Emily Bissell (1861–1948), a humanitarian with a broad range of causes, including the Red Cross, which gave permission to use its emblem on the first American seal. As in Denmark, monies raised were used to build fresh-air sanatoria, but the U.S. Post Office was not directly involved in the sale of the seals. Today, Christmas Seals are a registered trademark of the American Lung Association, and the monies raised through their sale are used to fund the fight against lung diseases such as asthma and emphysema.

Since their inception in 1904, Christmas Seals have been sold in over 130 countries worldwide. Generally, in Christian countries, Christmas Seals in support of tuberculosis are recognizable by the double-barred cross of Lorraine, whereas in Muslim countries they are distinguished by a red crescent. In many developing countries, the proceeds from the sale of Christmas Seals or their equivalent continue to be used locally for community-based programs aimed at preventing and treating tuberculosis.

Interestingly, there is an avid community of philatelic societies specializing in the collection of Christmas and tuberculosis charity seals. Established in 1920, the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (the Union) works with 325 other organizations to prevent and treat tuberculosis around the world. At its annual conference on lung health, the union holds a Christmas Seal contest and chooses the best design among the submissions.

Each year over eight million people develop active tuberculosis, and almost two million die from this disease, almost all of them in the developing world. Worldwide, the prevalence of tuberculosis has declined 20 percent since 1990. The exceptions to this are sub-Saharan Africa, where tuberculosis, linked to HIV, is rising at a rate of three to four percent annually, and countries of the former Soviet Union. China and India together account for approximately one-third of global tuberculosis cases.

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