Editing Christmas seal (section)

{{short description|Labels (not stamps) placed on mail during Christmas}}

{{multiple image
 | align=right
 | header_align=center
 | direction=vertical
 | total_width=225
 | header=Christmas Seals
 | image1=First Christmas Seal, Denmark, 1904.jpg
 | alt1=
 | caption1={{center|The world's first Christmas seal.<br>Issued in Denmark, 1904, features the [[Louise of Hesse-Kassel|Danish Queen Louise]]{{efn|"Julen" is Danish for 'Christmas'.}} }}
| image2=Christmas Seal, 1920.jpg
 | alt2=
 | caption2=First Christmas seal with red double-barred cross, symbol of the National Tuberculosis Association, 1920 issue
}}

<!--
[[File:First Christmas Seal, Denmark, 1904.jpg|thumb|The world's first Christmas seal, issued in Denmark, 1904, features the [[Louise of Hesse-Kassel|Danish Queen Louise]]{{efn|"Julen" is Danish for 'Christmas'.}} ]]
[[File:US Christmas Seal, 1955 issue.jpg|thumb|upright=1|Christmas seals with the double red cross symbol of the National Tuberculosis Association, 1955 issue]]
-->
'''Christmas seals''' are adhesive labels that are similar in appearance to postage stamps that are sold then affixed to [[mail]] during the [[Christmas]] season to raise funds and awareness for charitable programs. Christmas seals have become particularly associated with lung diseases such as [[tuberculosis]], and with child welfare in general. They were first issued in [[Denmark]] beginning in 1904, with [[Sweden]] and [[Iceland]] following with issues that same year.  Thereafter the use of Christmas seals proved to be popular and spread quickly around the world, with 130 countries producing their own issues.

Christmas Seals were sometimes mistaken for [[Christmas stamp]]s used for postage, prompting the [[US Post Office]] to adopt a policy requiring seals to be affixed on the reverse side of a postcard or envelope, but the policy was generally unfavorable and often ignored, ultimately resulting in its withdrawal. Christmas seals exist in several varieties, most notably those first issued by the [[Red Cross]] and later by the National Tuberculosis Association{{efn|Now known as the [[American Lung Association]]}} with its red double barred cross on the face of the seal. Other charitable seals have been issued by state governments, religions and social organizations worldwide. Various governments have issued [[semi-postal|semi-postal postage stamps]] to raise funds for the Red Cross or other charitable causes.{{efn|A [[semi-postal]] stamp bears two denominations, with one denomination paying postage and one going towards a charitable cause.}} From the onset Christmas seals received much public acclaim and were soon sought after by [[stamp collecting|collectors]] and [[postal history|postal historians]]. Today, as a collectable item, their monetary worth varies considerably.
{{TOC left}}
{{clear}}