Show first christmas seals originated in denmark to fight tuberculosis that harbinger of the holiday season the cheerful christmas seal has recently made its appearance as the national tuberculosis association opened its annual drive for funds to continue work in the prevention and cure of this dread disease the idea of the sale of seals to aid the light fight against tuberculosis originated to in denmark in 1903 the following year the first seals were sold the idea gained almost immediate popularity and soon spread to neighboring countries tr les christmas seals appeared in the united states in 1907 when miss emily P bissel of the 21 4 wilmington Wll del red bed cross chapter designed a seal that was sold lacall locally Y py the campaign was so successful that the next year the national red cross adopted the idea and conducted a nationwide nation wide campaign froni then until 1919 the red cross continued the th annual christmas seal distribution in their last year the returns had risen to nearly 4 beginning with 1920 the national tuberculosis association began distribution of the seals the designs of these stamps have been the work of prominent artists who have interpreted the christmas spirit each in his hia own way in addition to the united states approximately 40 other countries have adopted the christmas seal for raising anti antl tuberculosis funds |