karlfry

16 Jan 2016
09:03:44pm

I hope I don't sound to dumb, but are Christmas seals listed in Scotts catalogs? I never collected them but I now have become the proud owner of "a boat load" of Christmas Seals some full sheets some singles etc. I guess I have the making of a new collection! Any info would be helpful, thanks!

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amsd

Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads
16 Jan 2016
10:11:01pm

re: Info on Christmas Seals

Karl,

Michael is partially correct; Christmas seals from 1907 through 1979 are listed in Scott ; 1980 onward are not.

If you want a fuller catalogue of US Christmas seals, look at Green's catalogue, which runs from 1907 through today, and includes more varieties than does Scott.

There is an APS affiliate, Christmas Seal and Charity Stamp Society, that produces an award-winning journal on all things seals; several SOR members are, or were, members of that affiliate.

David

 
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musicman

APS #213005
17 Jan 2016
11:00:57am

re: Info on Christmas Seals

Karlfry,

...and David (amsd) should know - after all, he is the editor of The Seal News!


(...ummm, you still are, aren't you David?)



Karl, you might want to check into getting a copy of John Denune's Christmas seal album pages on CD which is available from the website, I believe.

I purchased one a few years ago....nice!




Randy

 
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tomiseksj

18 Jan 2016
08:54:55am

re: Info on Christmas Seals

You may find this website helpful.

 
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TuskenRaider

18 Jan 2016
01:25:46pm

re: Info on Christmas Seals

Hi karlfry;

If you are intending to collect singles, you may want to find a website that tells you where the "secret" or printer's marks are hidden on each stamp. These marks identify which printer was used to print that particular sheet. As many a 5 or 6 different printers were used in some years. The printers mark was on the sixth stamp in the sixth row, or stamp #56.

Sometimes, one can tell by the perforation gauge which printer it was, but many times several different printers would use the same gauge of perforations. So to be sure that you have one from each printer, you would need to acquire stamp #56.

If you are buying singles there is usually a price premium on those, because someone had to take the time to find those marks and sort them. A very time consuming task, tho easier if you have the whole sheet. You can always use all the other seals on you Nov-Dec mailings and Xmas cards. I mailed 50 cards this year and used one or two on the back of every card.

Years ago I did some Google research and found quite a few of them. However you may want to continue this effort and find others. If you are successful, maybe add them to this thread for future seal collectors to utilize.

During several of the years tiny letters USA were printed on all the seals intended for the United States. If during those same years this tiny USA was missing, it meant that they were intended for use in Canada.

Here they are:




Locations of printer's marks on seals

1936 Christmas seal = Eureka printer's mark : A green letter "E" in the lower right corner of seal #56 . Strobridge printer's mark : A large gray "S" on seal #56 . Edwards and Deutsch printer's mark : A green letter "D" in the lower right corner of seal #56 . United States Printing and Litho. printer's mark : A green letter "U" in the lower right corner of seal #56

1940 Christmas seal = Printer's marks : A small ultramarine letter (E, S, D, U) in the yellow above the cross on seal #56

1942 Christmas seal = Printer's Mark : A tiny letter on seal #56 located : Eureka : a white "E" in lower right corner . Strobridge : a black "S" in lower right corner . E&D : a tiny black "D" on side of house at right . USPL : a very small black "U" on side of house at right

1944 Christmas seal = Printer's Mark : A small blue letter (E, S, D, U) in the lower right corner of seal #56 . Initials "USA" appear on all seals for the first time

1945 Christmas seal = Printer's Mark : A small letter (E, S, D or U) between the fence pickets at the lower left corner of seal #56

1947 Christmas seal = Printer's Mark : A small brown letter (E, S, D, U) in the lower left corner of the white background above the letter "M" of "MERRY" on seal #56

1948 Christmas seal = 1948: Printer's Mark : A tiny blue letter (E, S, D, U) to the left of the fireplace on seal #56

1949 Christmas seal = Printer's Mark : A small letter (E, S, D, U) in the light blue background , in the lower left corner of seal #56

1950 Christmas seal = Printer's Mark : A tiny black letter (E, S, D, U, F) on the green background below the double-barred cross , in the lower left corner of seal #56

1951 Christmas seal = 1951: Printer's Mark : A tiny black letter (E, S, D, U, F) on seal #56 . "E" is in center top of seal . Others are in top left corner above Santa's cap

1952 Christmas seal = 1952: Printer's Mark : A tiny black letter (E, S, D, U, F) on the green background , between the candlestick and its tray , in the lower right corner of seal #56

1953 Christmas seal = 1953: Printer's Mark : A tiny black letter (E, S, D, U, F) on the red mitten in the lower right corner of seal #56

1954 Christmas seal = Printer's Mark: "D" located between the boy's feet on seal #56. (no photo available)

1955 Christmas seal = Printer's Mark: "E" in the lower right corner above date on seal #56. (no photo available)

1956 Christmas seal = Printer's Mark: "U" under the boy's foot on seal #56. (no photo available)

1958 Christmas seal = Printer's Mark: "W" located under the arm of the girl on seal #56. (no photo available)

1959 Christmas seal = printer's mark - a small black letter "E" located above the boy's foot in seal # 56. (no photo available)

1960 Christmas seal = Printer's Mark: "E" on seal #56, between the two carolers. (no photo available)

1961 Christmas seal = not found

1962 Christmas seal = not found

1981 Christmas seal = printer's mark - a small black letter "S" located below rear of rocker of hobby horse. (no photo available)

1982 Christmas seal = printer's mark - a small black letter "S" located below Santa's cap, on 3rd stamp from left of strip. (no photo available)

1983 Christmas seal = printer's mark - a small black letter "B" located left of snowball on Santa's cap, in 4th row & 3rd column. (no photo available)

1984 Christmas seal = printer's mark - a small black letter "S" located at bottom left corner of wrapped gift. (no photo available)

Just stampin' along....
TuskenRaider

 
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amsd

Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads
19 Jan 2016
06:46:00am

re: Info on Christmas Seals

Lars is referring to some envelopes he created for me. They are a tad off the beaten track, and they exemplify the care and creativity Lars bring so all stamp projects.

They are turned covers, meaning they are used and reused. The reuse is of the most difficult kind...... No Lars didn't take my cover to him, cross off his address and replace it with mine. He physically turned the cover, so the outside is in and pristine inside was waiting for his artistry, which included an imperfect chef and Christmas seal.

Our good friend Bob Ingraham is a turned cover collector, although his focus on those generated by necessity, not generosity and creativity.

This also gives me an opportunity applaud Ken's efforts to use seals on his outgoing mail. They are becoming increasingly rare on cover. For those of us who collect seals on cover, as I do, the convention is to have them tied, so placement is important, although no guarantee one gets what one wants. Still the odds are better if the seal is placed where the cancel or postmark typically appears or, as I do, have them hand cancelled.

When Michael buys Scott, we will have him expand the seal section and correct Scott's misguided approach. Until then, Green's remains the seal bible. It is edited by John Denune, whose website has been highlighted several times in this thread.

And nothing gives me greater pleasure than giving Lars a chuckle.

David

 
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