The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-12-12
There's an Interesting Story
Back of the Christmas Seal

The Christmas Seal, the biggest
little thing of its kind in the world
had it's inception in Copenhagen,
Denmark. A Danish postmaster by
the name of Einar Holboeli conceiv-
ed the idea as he handled the Christ
mas mail bearing greetings of the
/ season. He thought, if each letter
which would not only say, Merry
Christmas, but would be the means
of starting fund for some great hu-
manitarian purpose. This postmas-
ter was particularly interested in
the little children who were crippled
through tuberculosis. and as he
thought OF them. and handled the
Christmas greetings, the idea of the
Christmas Seal was born.
The next step was to present the
idea to the King and Queen of De
mark, who graciously gave their con-
sent to the printing of pos aee
stamp which should bear Christ
mas greeting. A small fraction of
the amount paid for the stamp wSs
to be put aside for building a sana-
torium for crippled children.
One day, Jacob Riis. our own pit
lanthropist, received letter bearing
the little Christmas stamp. Immedi-
ately interested. he wrote to Den
mark to inquire intothe history OF
the stamp. Upon receiving it, he
wrote the story of the Christmas
Stamp in the Outlook.
In our own country there was a
woman, Miss Emily Russell, deeply
interested just 9s the Danish post
master was in building a sanatorium
for little crippled children. She read
the story of the Christmas stamp
and adopted it forthwith for her own
purpose. Using her own money and
securing donations from her friends,
she got Christmas Seal printed,
and sold $3,00O.O0 worth the first
Christmas-1904. Delighted with
the returns, she persuaded the Red
Cross Commission to print the seal
the next year.
The National tuberculosis associa-
ton founded in 1904 after President
Theodore Roosevelt had called the
Congressaga inst Tu
berculosis, was organizing and for
it's campaign against tuber-
Therefore the Red Gross
suggested that they print the Christ
mas Seal and turn IL over to the Ma
.ional Tuberculosis association to
,ell. They stipulated thta the Tu-
association should act as
'ole agent. sell the seals. and use
he proceeds to finance the campaign
Igainst tuberculosis. That partne~-
hip existed in 1918, when the Red
,ross was widely organized for war
ervice. 1t then decided to turn over,
With it's blessing, the seal entirely to
he National tuberculosis associa
ion. Since 1918 the Christmas seal
as borne the double-barred gross
he emblem of the world wide fight
gainst tuberculosis.
In the past II years the sale in
he United States has amounted to
early ,000.00O.0o. In 1923 over
4, 900, 100000 worth were sold. 1t
J the sole support Of the campaign
gainst tuberculosis. Through its
the death rate from
lberculosis has been cut more than
/ half.
At the annual meeting OF the Ma
onal Tuberculosis association in
tlanta,, Georgia, last year, the Dan
h postmaster was the guest of the
ational association. A great giant
man who stood head and shoul-
srs above the other men, with snow
hite hair, cheeks like red apples.
I'd blue, blue eyes. He was over
whelmed by the honor paid him by
e vast assemblage, and the story
what his little Christmas stamp
ID accomplished in our own Ameri-
AS sequel, the King and Queen
Denmark, in appreciation of the
ception accorded their subject.
we asked the Danish minister to
nfer Danish titles upon DR.. Linely
illiams, managing director of the
Itional Tuberculosis association.
d on DR.. Philip Jacobs, publicity
'ector.