1946-1x, WX130, 1946 U.S. National Christmas Seals, pm E, Sheet/100, F, MNH. Fresh, firm paper, bright colors, full gum, never folded, shipped flat in an archival safe sheet protector. Scan is of a sheet.
Designed by Mary Loise Estes. Art work by Lloyd Coe. Portraits drawn by Constance L. Naar. Lamplighter, sheet of 100 (10x10), olive black, red, and blue. Seal size: 17x23mm. Perd. 121/2x12.
Portrait seals: The four center seals are portraits of people who, more than any others, were responsible for the issuance and successful sale of the first seal in 1907:
(1) Seal #45 - Jacob Riis, who first called attention to the 1904 Danish Christmas Seal and urged that the U.S. adopt the idea to raise funds to fight TB; (2) Seal #46 - Miss Emily Bissel, who designed the seal; (3) Seal #55 - E.A. Van Valkenburg, editor of the Philadelphia North American, the newspaper which publicized the seal; (4) Seal #56 - Leigh Mitchell Hodges, the man whose interest was aroused by Miss Bissell, and who wrote the articles which aroused public support for the sale of the first seals.
Printer's Mark: white "E" in the blue background above the "R" of "GREETINGS" in the lower left corner of seal #86.
1946 Christmas Seals were printed by four printers. The letter "E" "D" "S" or "U" appears on seal #56.
Christmas TB Seals are also known as Christmas Seals, and are usually classified as Charity Seals, or Cinderella Stamps.