Christmas Seal & Charity Stamp Society
Encyclopedia
The Christmas Seal & Charity Stamp Society is a non-profit philatelic organization devoted to collecting Christmas Seal
s, Charity label
s, fundraising seals, charity stamps and semi-postal postage stamp
s where part of the cost of the stamp goes to charity. The society was founded in 1931 by W.L. Kinkead, a stamp collector and president of the New Jersey Tuberculosis League.
.
, listed in the Pets, Plants, and Wildlife section, and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
listed in the ethnic section.
Formed to promote and improve the hobby of Christmas Seal collecting; Members are encouraged to write and edit specialized catalogs. CS&CSS members exhibit their collections which include all fundraising, event seals, and Cinderella Stamps, at stamp shows or Philatelic exhibition
s. In 2009 the CS&CSS established the Emily Bissell
Award for best competitive Christmas Seal exhibit. Members meet at national and international stamp shows where their hobby and publications are on display and educational material is distributed from society booths. Articles and information are shared through their award winning quarterly journal, Seal News, which includes a society auction where members can buy and sell duplicates from their collection.
Christmas Seal
Christmas Seals are labels placed on mail during the Christmas season to raise funds and awareness for charitable programs.They have become particularly associated with lung diseases such as tuberculosis, and with child welfare...
s, Charity label
Charity label
A charity label is a label resembling a postage stamp, sold by charities to raise funds. They are generally intended to be used on mail, as a way of advertising the sender's support of the charity's cause....
s, fundraising seals, charity stamps and semi-postal postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s where part of the cost of the stamp goes to charity. The society was founded in 1931 by W.L. Kinkead, a stamp collector and president of the New Jersey Tuberculosis League.
Organization
Numbering over 350 members worldwide, the CS&CSS is a non profit organization with an elected board, president, and secretary/ treasurer; all positions are unpaid volunteers. The society is affiliated to the American Philatelic SocietyAmerican Philatelic Society
The American Philatelic Society is the largest nonprofit stamp collecting and organization of philately in the world, with almost 44,000 members from 110 countries...
.
Catalogs
the CS&CSS began publishing catalogs for collectors in 1936 when pioneer member, Dick Green wrote Green's Catalog, which remains the Bible of United States, and worldwide Christmas Seal collecting. Another early author of CS&CSS literature was Ray Mosbaugh who wrote catalogs of worldwide red cross seals, and US fundraising seals issued for causes other than tuberculosis, known as the All Fund Catalog. This Catalog is divided into 10 sections which catalog hundreds of fundraising seal issuing societies such as, Easter Seals (U.S.), Boys Town (organization) listed in the Catholic section, National Wildlife FederationNational Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation is the United States' largest private, nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization, with over four million members and supporters, and 48 state and territorial affiliated organizations...
, listed in the Pets, Plants, and Wildlife section, and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
listed in the ethnic section.
Activities
Formed to promote and improve the hobby of Christmas Seal collecting; Members are encouraged to write and edit specialized catalogs. CS&CSS members exhibit their collections which include all fundraising, event seals, and Cinderella Stamps, at stamp shows or Philatelic exhibition
Philatelic exhibition
A Philatelic Exhibition is an exhibition of stamps and postal history where stamp collectors compete for medals. The displays are shown in glass frames, and the exhibition is normally accompanied by stamp dealer and post office stands where stamps may be purchased.Many philatelic exhibitions are...
s. In 2009 the CS&CSS established the Emily Bissell
Emily Bissell
Emily Perkins Bissell was an American social worker and activist, best remembered for introducing Christmas Seals to the United States....
Award for best competitive Christmas Seal exhibit. Members meet at national and international stamp shows where their hobby and publications are on display and educational material is distributed from society booths. Articles and information are shared through their award winning quarterly journal, Seal News, which includes a society auction where members can buy and sell duplicates from their collection.