---
title: '"Julen 1904": the first Christmas seal (Denmark, 1904)'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/denmark-first-christmas-seal-1904/
description: A purple perforated label reading 'JULEN 1904' above an oval portrait of Queen Louise under a crown, framed by flowers, over the Danish arms of three…
section: Collection
---

[Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)

[!["Julen 1904": the first Christmas seal (Denmark, 1904)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/denmark-first-christmas-seal-1904.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/denmark-first-christmas-seal-1904.jpg)

# "Julen 1904": the first Christmas seal (Denmark, 1904)

A purple perforated label reading 'JULEN 1904' above an oval portrait of Queen Louise under a crown, framed by flowers, over the Danish arms of three lions. The tell is the borrowed prestige: the queen's portrait, crown and national arms are placed on an ordinary charity label so that buying and sticking it on a Christmas letter reads as a loyal, approved act.

- **Date:** December 1904
- **Period:** [Pre-1914](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#era=pre-1914)
- **Made by:** Julemærkefonden (Danish Christmas Seal committee), with Einar Holbøll of the Danish postal service
- **Region:** [Western and Central Europe](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#region=western-central-europe)
- **Country:** [Denmark](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#country=denmark)
- **Medium:** [Stamp](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#medium=stamp)
- **Issuer type:** [NGO](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#actor=ngo)
- **Regime:** [Deuntzer Government](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#regime=deuntzer-government)
- **Leader:** [Johan Henrik Deuntzer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#leader=johan-henrik-deuntzer)
- **Audience:** [Domestic public](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#audience=domestic-public)
- **Purpose:** [Fundraise](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#purpose=fundraise)
- **Theme:** [Health](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#theme=health)
- **Techniques:** [Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/)
- **Source:** Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- **Source:** [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:First_Christmas_Seal,_Denmark,_1904.jpg), retrieved September 29, 2026
- **Rights:** Public domain (1904 print; Commons 'Public domain', Copyrighted=False, PD-old) Julemærkefonden, 1904 (Danish Christmas Seal Foundation); scan via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

## Text on the object

Original (Danish) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
JULEN
1904
```

English translation (machine translation by Claude, not verified by a fluent reader)

```
CHRISTMAS
1904
```

'Julen' is Danish for 'Christmas' (with the definite ending). No denomination or other text on the label.

[← Guerra Vaccino-Obrigateza! (Compulsory-Vaccination War!), O Malho cartoon](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/guerra-vaccino-obrigateza-o-malho-1904/) [Bharat Mata (Mother India) →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/bharat-mata-tagore-1905/)

## Using the same techniques

- [Bronze sestertius of Gaius (Caligula), reverse S P Q R P P OB CIVES SERVATOS in an oak wreath](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-caligula-ob-cives-servatos-0037/) (0037 · Testimonial, Transfer)
- [Gold coin of Kanishka: King of Kings legend, king at the altar, deity Oesho](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/gold-dinar-kanishka-king-of-kings-0130/) (0130 · Transfer)
- [Gold solidus of Justinian I, reverse VICTORIA AVGGG with Victory holding a Christogram staff](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/solidus-justinian-i-victoria-avggg-0538/) (0538 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Bayeux Tapestry, scene 23: UBI HAROLD SACRAMENTVM FECIT VVILLELMO DVCI](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/bayeux-tapestry-harold-oath-to-william-1070/) (1070 · Transfer, Card stacking)
- [Frontispiece to Eikon Basilike, The Pourtraicture of His Sacred Majestie in his Solitudes and Sufferings (Hollar, 1649)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eikon-basilike-frontispiece-hollar-1649/) (1649 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Consult of the doctors on the grave illness of the Grand Sultan (Consult vande medicijnen inde swaere siekte vanden grooten Sultaen)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/consult-of-the-doctors-sick-sultan-antwerp-1683/) (1683 · Transfer, Bandwagon)
- [The Highlanders Medley, or The Duke Triumphant (A Loyal Song)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/highlanders-medley-duke-triumphant-1746/) (1746 · Name-calling, Transfer)
- [Marche du Dom Quichotte moderne pour la deffence du Moulin des Abus (March of the Modern Don Quixote in Defence of the Mill of Abuses)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/dom-quichotte-moulin-des-abus-1791/) (1791 · Name-calling, Transfer)