Christmas Seals (United States)

On December 8, 1907, Christmas seals were sold for the first time in America: a simple one-cent sticker placed on holiday mail to raise funds to fight tuberculosis. Though not valid postage, the seals invited ordinary households to turn seasonal correspondence into a quiet act of mercy. The idea was inspired by an overseas campaign, especially the Danish “Jul” seals begun a few years earlier to support children’s health. In an era when tuberculosis brought long suffering and frequent death, the seals offered a hopeful alternative to despair—many small gifts joining into a public good.

Emily Bissell and Brandywine Sanatorium

The American effort is closely tied to social worker Emily P. Bissell of Delaware. Burdened by the failing Brandywine Sanatorium near Wilmington, she sought a way to keep its doors open for patients who had little else. Bissell persuaded local newspapers and the postal system to allow the seals to travel on envelopes as a visible appeal to conscience. Her work showed practical courage: organizing printing, rallying volunteers, and asking the public to give when giving was not easy. The result was striking—thousands of dollars were raised, stabilizing the sanatorium and proving that compassion, multiplied, can meet a great need.

Legacy and Christian Witness

Christmas seals flourished nationwide through civic groups and churches, making charity a normal part of the season that remembers the Savior’s coming. Their strength was not in grand speeches but in steady neighbor-love expressed through everyday routines. Scripture commends this kind of generosity: “Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.” (Proverbs 19:17) And, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone…” (Galatians 6:10)

Over time, the campaign’s beneficiaries shifted as public health needs changed. Today, income from Christmas seals is used primarily in the fight against birth defects, supporting research and services that help children and families. The enduring lesson remains: small offerings, freely given, can become faithful stewardship—mercy made visible, one letter at a time.