Editing Christmas seal (section)

== Danish origin ==
[[File:Einar Holbøll by Juncker-Jensen.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|left|Einar Holbøll, c. 1900]]
[[File:Christmas seal, 1938 issue, Hoboll.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|In 1938 Holbøll was featured on a U.S. Christmas seal]]
At the beginning of the 1900s [[tuberculosis]] was a greatly feared disease, and its harmful effects on children seemed particularly devastating.
In 1904, Einar Holbøll, a [[Denmark|Danish]] postal clerk, developed the idea of adding an extra charitable stamp on mailed holiday greetings during Christmas.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Loytved|first=G.|title=[Christmas seals]|journal=Pneumologie (Stuttgart, Germany)|year=2006|volume=60|issue=11|pages=701–710|doi=10.1055/s-2006-944325|issn=0934-8387|pmid=17109268|doi-access=free}}</ref> The money raised would be used to help children sick with tuberculosis.<ref name="nyt"/> The plan was approved by the Postmaster and the King of Denmark ([[Christian IX of Denmark|Christian IX]]).<ref>[[#krythe1954|krythe1954]], pp. 138-139</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Tower|first=Samuel A.|date=1979-11-25|title=STAMPS|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/11/25/archives/stamps-childrens-art-on-christmas-seals.html|access-date=2021-05-20|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Prior to his death in 1927 Holboell was knighted by the king of Denmark for his contributions in the effort to fight tuberculosis and for associating Christmas with the need to help those afflicted with the disease. He was also honored by a number of other countries, including the United States, for his efforts.<ref>[[#collins2003|Collins, 2003]], p. 68</ref>

In 1904, the world's first Christmas seal was issued in Denmark, bearing the likeness of the Danish Queen ([[Louise of Hesse-Kassel]]) and the word ''Julen'' ([[Christmas]]). Over 4 million were sold in the first year at [[Danish krone|DKK]] 0.02 per seal, raising more than $18,000, which in 1904 was a considerable sum of money. The following year the sale of Christmas Seals brought even more money to the fight against tuberculosis.<ref>[[#redcross|American red Cross]]</ref><ref>[[#collins2003|Collins & Ace, 2003]], p. 63</ref>

During the first six years, enough funds were raised to build the Christmas Seal Sanatorium in [[Kolding]], which was opened in 1911. The same year the sanatorium was transferred to the administration of the Danish National Association to Combat Tuberculosis as it was considered a waste of resources to have two organizations working towards the same purpose. Fundraising would successfully continue via Christmas Seals for years to come.<ref>[[#collins2003|Collins, 2003]], pp. 51-53</ref>

The Danish Christmas Seal Committee, today known as Julemærkefonden (the Christmas Seal Fund), decided at that time to put all future collected funds to use in building and operating convalescent homes for children.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Flere testamenterer til et godt formål|url=https://www.julemaerket.dk/720/testamente|access-date=2021-05-20|website=www.julemaerket.dk|language=da}}</ref>
{{clear}}
{{multiple image
 | align=center
 | footer_align=center
| footer=Selection of Danish Christmas seals, 1910, 1911, 1916, 1922, 1951 issues
 | direction=horizontal
 | total_width=800
 | image1=Danish Christmas Seals, 1910 & 1911.jpg
 | alt1=
 | caption1=
| image2=Selection of three Danish Christmas seals.jpg
 | alt2=
 | caption2=
}}
{{clear}}
[[File:Denmark Christmas seal, 1958 issue.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|Controversial seal of Denmark, 1958]]
In 1958 a controversy over the appearance of [[Santa Claus]]  on a Danish Christmas seal started when Rev. Paul Nedergad, a [[Copenhagen]] clergyman, referred to Santa Claus as a "pagan goblin". He insisted that people should find another way to help the charitable cause to fight tuberculosis and boycott the Christmas seal in question. Most of the people of Denmark, however, paid little attention to Negerdard's comment and continued to buy the Christmas seals that depicted Santa Claus.<ref>[[#clar1959|Clar, Journal article, October 1959]] p. 337</ref>

<!-- [[File:Hotel Koldingfjord - Denmark.jpg|thumb|left|The first Danish Christmas seal sanatorium in Kolding, now [[Hotel Koldingfjord]] ]] -->

{{clear}}