Letter, Carrie Chapman Catt to Lydia Avery Coonley Ward

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10 Victoria Luise Platz
W. Berlin, Germany
Oct 4.
My Dear Mrs. Coonly Ward; –
You wished me to in-
quire about Christmas stamps
in Copenhagen. I did so. I learned that
the idea was suggested by a
man who was a high official
in the post office department
of Denmark. The stamps are
made by the government and
are placed upon the market
two or three weeks before Christ-
mas. The Post-offices, book stores
toy shops, & etc sell them. Then
everyone who will do so uses them.
Merchants have them stuck
upon a all packages to be delivered
and also place them upon their
bills. They are added to the regular

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to the regular postage upon
letters and postal cards, and
they are added to the outside
decorations of Christmas
gift packages. In fact, they are
stuck everywhere the ingenuity
of the “sticker” suggests. They are
extremely popular – the whole
populace seeming to approve
the plan.
They sell for what is about
equivalent to one and a quarter
of our American cents
I enclose samples of 1904,
which I think was the first year
they were used, and also a sample
for 1905.
In 1904, the receipts, after
deducting the expenses, were
68,000 kroner, or $18, 360. I did not
learn the amount for 1905 $26,000
heard

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The total amount was contrib-
uted to philanthropy. Last year
it was entirely given to the
Tuberculosis hospitals, the
year before, to the children’s
hospitals, asylums +c.
The design for 1905 was the
head of the old queen, the
coat of arms, +c. I do not think
the designs very attractive.
Now, Norway and Sweden
have taken up the idea and
will introduce it this year.
I enclose the card of the
man who is the “father” of the
idea. If you need to know
more, you can write direct
to him, altho, I think I have
given you the chief points.

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It seems a clever idea and
I believe it would take succeed in the
United States if State or City would
take it up. But the principle upon
which the idea is based is new
with us, altho’ quite in harmony
with Old World methods. In Den-
mark, particularly, all sorts of
things, libraries, reading clubs,
schools, hospitals +etc receive
a donation from the government.
So it is quite accustomed to
“fathering “ philanthropy. Our gov-
ernment is not only not used
to responsibilities of this kind,
but I have an idea, there is
considerable feeling against
such adoption by the government
of public enterprises. Please
excuse this careless letter. I have
been obliged to write hastily.
Most cordially,
Carrie Chapman Catt