Caritas - Icelandic first Christmas seal
What does Caritas stand for?
In Latin, caritas originally meant dearness or high value, but in Christian Latin it became the word for charitable love — the virtue of caring for others.
It is closely related to the Greek word agápē, meaning selfless love.
Many organizations use the name Caritas to signal humanitarian work, kindness, and social support.
The Icelandic spelling Karitas is simply a localized version of the same word.
💬 As a name:
Karitas is used as a female given name in Iceland and carries the meaning “charity”, “kindness”, or “loving care.”
The origin of the 1904 Christmas Seal..
In my view, the origins of the first Caritas seal are somewhat unclear.
In the book Jólamerkin by Hauk Valdimarsson and Þór Þorsteins, it is stated that the seal was given to Iceland through the involvement of Ragnheiður Stefánsdóttir, the wife of Minister Hannes Hafstein, and that it was donated on behalf of the Danish Caritas, the charitable organization of the Catholic Church. The aim was to establish an infant care home (Vöggustofa) for the babies of impoverished mothers. I have not found any contemporary sources that describe the involvement of Caritas in Denmark in this issue. The search for such a source is still ongoing.
Below I have highlighted the sources I have found, which I believe may shed light on the origins of these seals.
News from the Postmaster in Reykjavik 01.01. 1905
This news report is the first and only contemporary source I have found regarding the 1904 issue of the Caritas charity seals. From the wording, it can be inferred that the seals had already been released, meaning the report confirms that they arrived in Iceland before the end of the year. It is still uncertain when they were actually put on sale. No sources exist that provide that date.
The 1904 issue of the charity stamp, first Icelandic Christmas Seal, item originated from Sarah Petersson collection, very rare sheet. Almost all items on this page are originated from her collection.
The 1904 issue - the stamps
In the book by Haukur Valdimarsson and Þór Þorsteins, the stamps are described as having blue and black colouring, with a silver overprint forming a kind of frame. Each sheet contained four seals. As can be seen below, there is some variation in colour between the seals. I would also point out that in some of the seals there is a circle around the letter C, which characterizes the seal that appears first in each sheet, as shown in the image above and in seal number three below.
As for the total quantity issued, I have not found any sources that provide that information.
These six stamp show several colour variations in the 1904 issue.
The 1905 issue – the story
There are more sources about the 1904 issue in contemporary newspapers, both are from December 1905.
Above are two contemporary newspaper reports from Reykjavík and Þjóðólfur, which confirm the involvement of the minister’s wife in the seal issue and its intended purpose. They also describe the seal as it appeared when released. However, there is no mention whatsoever of any connection to the Danish Caritas charity organization.
Two nice full sheets from the 1905 issue.
The 1905 issue - the stamps
In the book by Haukur Valdimarsson and Þór Þorsteins, the seals are described as having light blue and black colouring, with a silver overprint forming a kind of frame. Each sheet contained four seals. As can be seen below, there is some variation in colour between the seals, as well as examples of significant deviations.
Regarding the total quantity issued, I have not found any sources that provide that information.
One major difference between the 1904 seals and the later ones is that the name Caritas changes to Karitas. No sources explain why the name was altered, but it is reasonable to assume that this was done to adapt the seal to Icelandic conditions and to associate it with the women’s association Kvenfélagið Karitas.
Six nice stamps from 1905 issue, with very interesting variation!
Something happens 1906...
The above report is from Fjallkonan, dated 19 May 1906, and it states that during the previous week a children’s home began operating, founded by the women’s association Karitas. This provides direct evidence that the idea underlying the 1904 issue — the plan to establish a home for the infants of impoverished mothers — did in fact become a reality.
This report states that the association counted fifty women, and that its chair was Ragnheiður Hafstein, the wife of the minister — the very person who, in later accounts, was believed to have brought the 1904 issue to Iceland.
Then the focus turns to the Thorvaldsen Society…
In the Thorvaldsen Society’s 70th anniversary commemorative volume, there is a dedicated section on the establishment of the Child Upbringing Fund (Barnauppeldissjóður), spanning pages 76–83. Its creation — or more precisely, the resolution to establish it — was made at an extraordinary meeting of the society on 29 March 1906. Another extraordinary meeting was held on 23 May 1906, at which a fundraising campaign was launched.
What is significant for our narrative is that Ragnheiður Hafstein appears on the board of the fund on that meeting. According to the newspaper report mentioned above, she was the chair of the women’s association Karitas, which had just founded a children’s home under its auspices.
From 1913 onward, the Thorvaldsen Society issued Christmas seals to support the Child Upbringing Fund. The Caritas/Karitas seal issues ceased in 1911. Ragnheiður Hafstein passed away in 1913.
Then we turn to the history of Reykjavík…
In Guðjón Friðriksson’s history of Reykjavík, from 1994, on page 135, the children’s home Karitas is discussed. It reiterates what has already been established: that the institution was founded on the initiative of Ragnheiður Hafstein and that the children’s home was intended for the infants of impoverished mothers, accommodating children from three to eighteen months of age, and began operating in the spring of 1906. It is stated that the home remained in operation for several years.
Such institutions later came to be known as vöggustofur (infant homes).
It is also noted that at the same time, the Thorvaldsen Society established the Child Upbringing Fund with the aim of operating a similar institution for children — a plan that did not materialize until decades later.
The 1911 issue- the story
In searching for sources about this issue, I came up completely empty‑handed. Yet the seal was nevertheless issued.
1911 issue, sheet of 24, color variation inside the sheet. This sheet is from Sarah Petersson collection.
1911 issue - the stamps
In the book by Haukur Valdimarsson and Þór Þorsteins, the seals are described as having dark blue and black colouring. There is no a silver overprint forming a kind of frame in this issue. Each sheet contained 24 seals.
Regarding the total quantity issued, I have not found any sources that provide that information.
One major difference between the 1904 seals and the later ones is that the name Caritas changes to Karitas. No sources explain why the name was altered, but it is reasonable to assume that this was done to adapt the seal to Icelandic conditions and to associate it with the women’s association Kvenfélagið Karitas. But in this issue it changes back from Karitas to Caritas. Why? With no contemporary sources available, one can only speculate whether this seal was in fact issued by Caritas in Denmark, and that this may be the reason why the name was later changed back again.
Two block of four from the 1911 issue.
Summary of the Caritas/Karitas Charity Seal and the Karitas Children’s Home
The Arrival of the 1904 Caritas Seal
The 1904 Caritas charity seal marks the beginning of organized fundraising for a children’s home in Iceland. The seal is believed to have arrived as a gift from Danish Caritas, reportedly through the involvement of Ragnheiður Hafstein, who later became chair of the women’s association Karitas. The proceeds from its sale were intended to support the establishment of a home for infants of impoverished mothers.
From Idea to Reality: 1905–1906
By 1906, contemporary newspapers confirm that the children’s home Karitas had begun operating in Reykjavík. The association behind it counted around fifty women, with Ragnheiður Hafstein as chair. The home cared for children aged three to eighteen months and appears to have operated for several years, though exact details about its location and closure remain unknown.
Design and Variations of the Seal
The seals show noticeable variation in colour and printing, and little is known about their production, quantity, or formal release date in Iceland. The name appears both as Caritas and Karitas, a change not explained in sources but likely intended to adapt the Danish initiative to Icelandic conditions and link it to the newly founded women’s association.
Gaps and Unanswered Questions
Despite confirmed contemporary reports of the children’s home, many aspects of the story remain unclear:
The role of Danish Caritas in the Icelandic initiative
Where the seals were printed and how many were issued
The exact release date of the 1904 seal in Iceland
The fate of the Karitas association
The precise timeline and location of the children’s home
Why the operation eventually ended
These gaps make the story both historically significant and intriguingly incomplete.
Later Developments: The Thorvaldsen Society
Around the same time, the Thorvaldsen Society established the Child Upbringing Fund in 1906, with Ragnheiður Hafstein serving on its board. Although the society intended to establish a similar children’s institution, this did not materialize until decades later. From 1913 onward, the society issued Christmas seals to support the fund — the same year Ragnheiður Hafstein passed away.
End of the Caritas/Karitas Seal Issues
After 1906, no seals are known to have been issued until 1910, and the Caritas/Karitas issues ceased entirely in 1911. The reasons for this discontinuation remain unknown.
In Summary
The 1904 Caritas seal is the first Icelandic charity seal and the catalyst for the establishment of the Karitas children’s home in 1906. While the existence of the home is confirmed, many details surrounding the seals, the association, and the broader initiative remain unanswered — leaving the story both remarkable and ripe for further research.
Fast forward to 1953....
The 1953 Christmas Seals Jubilee Exhibition in Copenhagen
A Celebration of the Origins of the Christmas Seal Movement
In November 1953, Copenhagen hosted a remarkable event: the Christmas Seals Jubilee Exhibition, held from 13–15 November to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the world’s first Christmas seal, issued in Denmark in 1904. The exhibition brought together collectors, historians, charitable organizations, and postal enthusiasts to celebrate the origins and development of the Christmas seal movement — a philanthropic tradition that would eventually spread across the globe.
Honoring the First Christmas Seal (1904)
The exhibition centered on the groundbreaking Danish Christmas seal of 1904, created by Einar Holbøll, a Danish postal clerk who conceived the idea of selling small charity labels at Christmas to raise funds for children suffering from tuberculosis. His idea became an immediate success and inspired similar initiatives in many countries.
The 1953 commemorative sheet issued for the exhibition prominently featured the original 1904 Danish seal, depicting Princess Louise, symbolizing the birth of the movement.
Iceland’s Caritas Seal Recognized Internationally
One of the most striking aspects of the 1953 sheet is the inclusion of the Icelandic Caritas seal of 1904, placed at the center of the design. Its presence confirms that Danish organizers regarded the Icelandic issue as part of the early international expansion of the Christmas seal concept.
The Icelandic seal — showing the Icelandic falcon on a blue field — was originally sent to Iceland as a charitable gift from Danish Caritas. Although Icelandic documentation from the period is sparse, the 1953 exhibition sheet serves as a powerful external confirmation that Denmark considered the Icelandic seal an authentic Caritas issue and a legitimate part of the movement’s early history.
The Danish West Indies Seal (1907)
The third stamp depicted on the commemorative sheet is the 1907 Christmas seal from the Danish West Indies, another early example of the movement’s spread beyond Denmark’s borders. Its inclusion highlights the rapid international adoption of charity seals in the first decade of the 20th century.
Purpose and Significance of the Exhibition
The Jubilee Exhibition served several purposes:
Celebration of 50 years of charitable work through Christmas seals
Recognition of international contributions, including Iceland’s early participation
Promotion of tuberculosis prevention, still a major public health concern in the 1950s
Fundraising, as the commemorative sheet was sold for 1 krone to support health charities
The event also strengthened the cultural and historical identity of Christmas seals as more than mere collectibles — they were symbols of solidarity, public health, and international cooperation.
The 1953 Commemorative Sheet
The sheet issued for the exhibition is now a sought‑after item among collectors. Its design features:
A golden star above the title CARITAS
Three historically significant seals (1904 Denmark, 1904 Iceland, 1907 Danish West Indies)
Bilingual text: JULEMERKETS JUBILEUMSUDSTILLING / THE CHRISTMAS SEALS JUBILEE EXHIBITION
The dates and location: Copenhagen, 13–15 November 1953
A symbolic price of KR. 1.00 printed on both sides
The sheet is not a postal item but a commemorative fundraising piece, created specifically for the exhibition.
Legacy
The 1953 Jubilee Exhibition marked a turning point in the historical awareness of Christmas seals. It acknowledged the movement’s origins, celebrated its international reach, and preserved its early artifacts for future generations. For Iceland, the inclusion of the Caritas seal on the commemorative sheet is especially meaningful: it confirms Iceland’s role in the earliest chapter of Christmas seal history and provides rare external documentation of the 1904 issue.
Today, the 1953 sheet stands as a testament to the enduring impact of a simple idea — that a small charity label could help change the world.
Two sheets from 1953, one black printed.
Now to 1958..Christmas Seal Exhibition in Copenhagen
In March 1958, Copenhagen hosted a special Christmas Seal Exhibition, held on 15–16 March as part of the annual meeting of the Danish Christmas Seal Collectors Association (Danmarks Julemærkesamler Forening). The event marked five years since the successful Jubilee Exhibition of 1953, which had celebrated the 50th anniversary of the world’s first Christmas seal.
The 1958 exhibition brought together collectors, historians, and enthusiasts from across the Nordic countries. It showcased early Christmas seals, international issues, promotional artwork, and a large archive of charity labels. A commemorative sheet was produced for the occasion, featuring three historic seals—including the Icelandic Barnahælið Karitas seal—highlighting Iceland’s role in the early development of the Christmas seal movement.
Held in the Berlingske Tidende lecture hall in central Copenhagen, the exhibition reflected both the growing popularity of Christmas seal collecting and the continued importance of charity seals in public health fundraising. With strong support from Danish cultural institutions and participation from Nordic philatelic societies, the 1958 exhibition helped preserve and promote the early history of Christmas seals for future generations
A mini sheet issued to commemorate the exhibition.
