Easter Seals As Collectibles.

When did Easter seals come to be? Here is one I found in a mix of stamps.



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hmm.. I recall some where it has been discussed here.. search for easter seals.

Tragedy leads to inspiration

The organization that would become Easter Seals was founded by Edgar Allen, an Ohio-businessman who lost his son in a streetcar crash. The lack of adequate medical services available to save his son prompted Allen to sell his business and begin a fund-raising campaign to build a hospital in his hometown of Elyria, Ohio. That hospital continues to operate today as Elyria Memorial Hospital. After the hospital was built, Allen learned that children with disabilities were often hidden from public view. Inspired by this discovery, in 1919 he founded what would become the National Society for Crippled Children, the first organization of its kind.
[edit] The birth of the Easter Seals seal

In the spring of 1934, the organization launched its first "seals" campaign to raise money for its services after funding declined during the Great Depression. To show support for the program, donors purchased the seals and placed them on envelopes and letters, in addition to normal postage. Cleveland Plain Dealer cartoonist J.H. Donahey designed the first seal. Donahey based the design on a concept of simplicity because those served by the charity asked "simply for the right to live a normal life." The overwhelming public support for the seals campaign raised $47,000, over twice the annual budget, and triggered a nationwide expansion of the organization and a swell of grassroots efforts on behalf of people with disabilities. In 1944, the organization broadened its mission to help adults and achieved a nationwide reach by 1950.
[edit] The "Easter Seals" name emerges

The lily, a symbol of spring, was officially incorporated as Easter Seals' logo in 1952 for its association with resurrection and new life. The creation of the Easter Lily as the seal was the work of Ruth Miley McClellan of Petersburg, Indiana. It was presented to the national headquarters of the organization in Chicago in October of 1952 and chosen as the society's symbol at a convention in San Francisco where Mrs. McClellan attended as one of three delegates representing Indiana. It has appeared on each seal since then. By 1967, the Easter "seal" was so well recognized, the organization formally adopted the name "Easter Seals." more than you probably want to know, compliments of Wikipedia.

Today, Easter Seals holds an annual seal art contest, open to the public. Each year, six winning seal artwork designs are chosen and featured on the seals. Easter Seals mails seals to more than 19 million households across the country every year.

Despite the use of Christian symbolism, the organization is not affiliated with any particular religious organization and does not discriminate. The similarly named Christmas Seals program started in 1908 and is associated with the American Lung Association.

Mark,
I would suggest that is not an easter seal but a Tuberculosis charity label.
Danish Christmas seals began in 1904 IIRC
Easter seals followed.

Origins
At the beginning of the 1900s tuberculosis was a greatly feared disease, and its harmful effects on children seemed particularly cruel. In 1903 [2], Einar Holbøll, a Danish postal clerk developed the idea of adding an extra charitable stamp on mailed holiday greetings during Christmas. The money raised could be used to help children sick with tuberculosis. The plan was approved by the Postmaster and the King of Denmark (Christian IX).

In 1904 the world's first Christmas Seal was issued, 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 DKK 0.02 per seal.

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 organisations working towards the same purpose. 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.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Seal

Obviously ... someone needs to update Wikipedia! I've a batch too, but haven't scanned them yet.

There is actually a club for Xmas and Easter Seal collectors. Seemed like they only wanted full sheets, not individual items. Hope that helps.

Ah, I always thought that tall Red cross/plus sign meant it was a TB stamp...
I learned another new thing today...

Edwin,
I shared your query before I started stamp hoarding,
When I was a kid, I thought it was the little board
they nailed to the top of the cross as an insult
"King of the jews"

That icon is called "The Cross of Lorraine" and has many
meanings and references.
Best to pass you over to Mr. Wiki.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_of_Lorraine

Looking at the Christmas seal (tuberculosis)
That is the first time I have noticed the two bars of
the cross are the same length

The original posted image is of a Christmas Seal.

Here are a few Christmas Seals I found.

I just found a 1957 Easter Seal:

Here are a few more;

The first two came from the same sheet as the two Rod showed earlier.
The others all have a similar central design emblem.







Londonbus1

Londonbus1 showed a 1954 Easter Seal. The text of the history of Easter Seals on this post suggests that the Easter Lily placed on an Easter Seal started in 1952 (?):




Does anyone have the first couple of Easter Seals for 1952(?) and/or 1953?

I have more so will check for those dtaes.

1931 seems the earliest date thus far..Nova Scotia?

but they were not called that. Does that qualify?

1931 – Easter Seals Nova Scotia was first registered as "Nova Scotia Society for the Care of Crippled Children" (NSSCC), a campaign which raised money for NS children with physical disabilities for traveling clinics initially.

http://www.easterseals.ns.ca/about-...our-history/

1935-1952 colour proof set $30
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...290422966659