Christmas Stamp Fund

South Africa, Durban · 1979-09-13

Official

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front

Cachet: The cachet on this cover centres on a portrait of Maja Christiansen, rendered in a warm sepia tone and framed within an oval. Her likeness sits above an ornate gold scrollwork panel bearing the bilingual inscription "Stigter Suid-Afrikaanse Kersseëlfonds / Founder South African Christmas Stamp Fund" alongside her name in flowing script. Two Christmas Stamp Fund postmarks from Durban appear on the cover, each built around a stylised double barred cross split into two halves, with "Christmas Stamp Fund" lettered on one side and "Kersseël-Fonds" on the other. The stamp itself shows two children by candlelight, illustrated by Gerhard Mynhardt to mark fifty years of the Christmas Stamp Fund from 1929 to 1979.

Info card

SOUTH AFRICAN CHRISTMAS STAMP FUND 1919: Egil Christiansen, a newly appointed Consul for Denmark, arrived in Durban with his wife MAJA who was to become the founder of the SOUTH AFRICAN CHRISTMAS STAMP FUND. Shortly after her arrival, Maja discerned the need for raising funds to fight tuberculosis in children of stricken families. At a dinner during a visit to Denmark in 1923 she was placed beside POSTMASTER HOLBOLL who had introduced Christmas Stamps in Denmark in 1903. He expounded the success of the stamps in Denmark and the United States of America and the notion was born of A CHRISTMAS STAMP FOR SOUTH AFRICA by which funds could be raised to combat tuberculosis. Maja returned to Durban and started her campaign by approaching cabinet ministers, city councillors and the Postmaster General. She suffered many disappointments and frustrations, but through her perseverance, courage and ability the first Christmas Stamp was introduced in South Africa in December 1929. On 24 September 1934, before Mr and Mrs Egil Christiansen departed from South Africa, Maja laid the foundation-stone of the first PREVENTORIUM, which became known as the PIETERMARITZBURG SUNSHINE HOME. The opening ceremony was performed in 1936 by Lady Clarendon who was the wife of the Governor-General of that time. Three further SUNSHINE HOMES were built (one in QUEENSTOWN and two in BELLVILLE, Cape) where children of all races who had been in contact with sufferers of tuberculosis were admitted and clothed, fed and educated. By 1974 the Sunshine Homes became redundant as a result of a new approach to treatment that allowed children of tuberculosis sufferers to stay with their parents. The PIETERMARITZBURG SUNSHINE HOME was closed down first, followed by the two BELLVILLE homes and finally the QUEENSTOWN home in early 1978. The work of the SOUTH AFRICAN CHRISTMAS STAMP FUND has now diverged. Funds are allocated to the building of creches and clinics, to the support of hospital wards and to health-education schemes throughout the Republic. Most work is done in remote rural areas among Black communities. GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE: On 14 October 1977, a small garden of remembrance in honour of MAJA CHRISTIANSEN was opened in Pietermaritzburg by the mayor. Here a bronze plaque was erected that bears the following inscription: "In memory of MAJA CHRISTIANSEN, citizen of Denmark, who founded the SOUTH AFRICAN CHRISTMAS STAMP FUND in 1929."

Additional information

This cover is postmarked on 13 September 1979 in Durban. It carries the RSA 4c Christmas Stamp Fund issue marking fifty years since South Africa's first Christmas stamp was introduced in December 1929. Maja Christiansen founded the fund after a chance dinner conversation in Denmark in 1923 with the postmaster who had introduced that country's own Christmas stamps back in 1903, and her campaign led directly to the founding of the Pietermaritzburg Sunshine Home for children affected by tuberculosis.

Theme: Heritage

Condition: FineGood condition. Minor wear or small imperfections, but overall well-presented.

Addressed: No

Signed: No

Stamp denomination: R0.02 (ZAR)

SAPO serial number: 3.16

Estimated value: ~US$0.1

This is a high-level, subjective estimate only, not a professional appraisal.