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Saturday, November 29, 2008

"Christmas Seals" (circa 1939) Poster by Rockwell Kent

Merry Christmas and Season's Greetings!

Since I will be away for part of December, I thought this would be a good opportunity to post some Christmas/Holiday related art.

Let's start with a fantastic 26-inch high Christmas Seals poster by Rockwell Kent (an amazing artist). The "deco" feel makes the piece very dynamic and no matter where in the room this piece is hanging, your eye immediately goes to it.

26-Inch High Rockwell Kent Poster


----- DATABASE NOTES -----

"Buy Christmas Seals" (circa 1939) poster by Rockwell Kent. Sothebys Description: A circa 1939 off-set printed poster by Rockwell Kent asking for support for the National Tuberculosis Association. The poster reads: "Buy Christmas Seals / Protect Your Home From Tuberculosis." It depicts and angel sprinkling yellow flowers while rising before a vibrant blue background and a red cross. The printer is unknown. Vp4 Condition: A. This linen backed poster is in fine to very fine condition. It is exceptionally clean and bright with little or no visible wear or touch-up. [Item: 19"W x 26"H] SeqID-0725

Notes: The idea of a Christmas seal was conceived by a Danish postal clerk and the first Christmas seal was issued by Denmark in 1904 to raise money for tuberculosis. The first U.S. Christmas seal was issued in 1907. Emily Bissell, a Red Cross worker, deigned a simple red and white seal to raise money to save a local TB sanitarium. She had heard about the success of Christmas seal sales for TB in Denmark and thought the idea was worth trying. She was so successful the first year that in 1908 the American Red Cross ran the campaign on a national basis. The Red Cross issued seals every year until 1919 when the National Tuberculosis Association took over. With the decline of TB, the name was changed in 1968 to the National Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease Association. In 1973, the name was changed again to its current name of the American Lung Association. (http://hometown.aol.com/betsychuck/xmas.htm) Circa 1939. 26x19in.

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