December 9, 1907

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Joel Byers

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY.com! in 1907, Christmas Seals went on sale for the second time, in the Wilmington, DE post office. The first time was at the Juneau, Alaskan Territory post office in 1906 and the purchasers were offered the option of clubbing their own or having one of the postal workers do it for them. It was a big, bloody success in Alaska and when the people began talking about how they were able to buy and kill a seal to help prevent lung diseases, the word quickly got back to Washington, DC and Mrs. Emily Bissell. Mrs. Bissell was shocked and flabbergasted and hurriedly sent a telegram to the Alaskans to explain that her proposed idea for “Christmas Seals” was an extra, festive stamp that would be sold to go on Christmas cards and the money collected would be used to help prevent and cure tuberculosis. The Alaskans admitted that was also a good idea and she should look to do that in the future, especially as there wasn’t that big of a market for seal blubber in the lower 48.

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About Joel Byers

Born in North Georgia and educated at some very fine public institutions. Real education started after graduating from college and then getting married and raising two boys. Has the ability to see the funny and absurd in most things and will always remark on it, even if it means getting the stink-eye from his victims.
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