Betsy & Chuck: Christmas Seal Pricelist

US Christmas Seal PCPs: 1927 to 1994

What are Progressive Color Proofs?

Multicolor seals are printed from two or more different printing plates. Originally, PCPs were made by printers to check the alignment of the designs on different plates, and the appearance where two colors overlap.
  
A typical PCP set consists of seven seals or blocks. There is one for each of four plates, two for intermediate stages (the combination of the first 2 and first 3 colors), and the completed design.
   
In the 1920's, collectors learned of the existence of PCP sets and got a few for their collections. Beginning in 1927, the National TB Association asked one printer to make extra PCP sets for collectors, and since then they are relatively common. These extra PCPs were discontinued in 1995.
  
Prices on this list are for PCP sets by the common printer; "true PCPs" by other printers are worth a premium.
 


Your Special Needs:

If you want anything special, please let us know your needs, including condition and how large a block you want. If we have it in stock, we'll quote you a price. For example:

- Portrait Slogan Seals

- Printers Mark and Union Label Blocks

- Designers Names, Marginal Inscriptions

- Constant Plate Flaws

- Full Sheets (even if all designs are not different)
 


Pricelist

 
 
 

Year 

 

# in

set

 

# in

AD 


 

NH

Full Perf

NH

StraightEdge

Hinged /Dist Gum Full Perf Hinged /Dist Gum SE No Gum

Full Perf

No Gum

Straight Edge

(A) (B) (C)
(D) 
(E) 
(F) 
(G) 
(H) 
(I) 










1927 4 1
$25.00
$19.00
$22.00
$17.00
$19.00
$14.00
1928 7 1
2.75
1.75
2.25
1.50
1.50
1.25
1929 3 1
7.75
5.75
6.75
4.75
5.75
3.75
1930 4 1
4.75
3.25
3.75
2.75
2.50
1.95
1931 7 1
1.75
1.25
1.50
0.95
0.95
0.75
1932 7 1
1.75
1.25
1.50
0.95
0.95
0.75
1933 7 1
1.75
1.25
1.50
0.95
0.95
0.75
1934 7 1
2.00
1.50
1.75
1.25
1.25
0.95
1935 7 1
1.50
1.10
1.25
0.95
0.95
0.75
1936 7 2
12.50
9.50
9.50
7.50
3.75
2.75
1937 7 1
1.50
1.10
1.25
0.95
0.95
0.75
1938 7 1
1.50
1.10
1.25
0.95
0.95
0.75
1939 7 1
1.50
1.10
1.25
0.95
0.95
0.75
1940 7 1
1.75
1.25
1.25
0.95
0.95
0.75
1941 7 1
1.50
1.10
1.25
0.95
0.75
0.50
1942 7 1
1.50
1.10
1.25
0.95
0.75
0.50
1943 7 2
5.75
3.75
4.50
2.75
2.25
1.75
1944 7 1
1.50
1.10
1.25
0.95
0.75
0.50
1945 7 1
1.50
1.10
1.25
0.95
0.75
0.50
1946 7 1
1.75
1.25
1.50
1.10
0.75
0.50
1947 7 1
1.75
1.25
1.50
1.10
0.95
0.75
1948 7 1
1.75
1.25
1.50
1.10
0.75
0.50
1949 7 1
1.75
1.25
1.50
1.10
0.75
0.50
1950 7 1
1.75
1.25
1.50
1.10
0.75
0.50
1951 7 1
1.75
1.25
1.50
1.10
0.75
0.50
1952 7 1
1.75
1.25
1.50
1.10
0.95
0.75
1953 7 1
2.00
1.50
1.75
1.25
0.75
0.50
1954 7 4
12.50
6.75
8.75
3.75
4.75
3.75
1955 7 2
3.75
2.75
3.25
2.25
1.95
1.50
1956P 7 4
6.75
4.75
5.75
3.75
4.75
3.25
1956I  7 4
15.00
12.50
3.75
1957 7 4
6.75
4.75
5.75
3.75
4.75
3.25
1958 7 2
3.75
2.75
3.25
2.25
1.95
1.50
1959 7 2
3.75
2.75
3.25
2.25
1.75
1.25
1960 7 4
6.75
4.75
5.75
3.75
4.75
3.25
1961 7 4
7.75
5.75
6.75
4.75
3.75
2.75
1962 7 4
12.50
9.75
9.75
7.75
3.25
2.25
1963 7 4
6.75
4.75
5.75
3.75
3.75
2.75
1964 7 4
6.75
4.75
5.25
3.75
3.75
2.75
1965 7 4
5.75
3.75
4.75
3.25
4.75
3.25
1966 7 8
12.50
8.75
9.75
6.75
7.75
5.75
1967 7 20
25.00
22.00
22.00
19.00
17.00
15.00
1968 9 8
8.75
5.75
6.75
4.75
5.75
3.75
1969I  11 4
3.75
3.25
2.75
1970 12 100
75.00
70.00
60.00
1971 9 8
8.75
5.75
6.75
4.75
4.50
2.75
1972P 7 10
7.75
6.75
5.75
4.75
3.75
2.75
1972I  7 10
6.75
4.75
2.75
1973 7 12
12.50
9.75
9.75
7.75
5.75
3.75
1974 7 4
5.75
3.75
4.75
3.25
3.75
2.75
1975 7 54
100.00
90.00
80.00
1976 7 54
125.00
110.00
100.00
1977 7 54
80.00
70.00
60.00
1978 7 54
80.00
70.00
60.00
1979 8 54
80.00
70.00
60.00
1980 8 54
80.00
70.00
60.00
1981 8 1
1.50
0.95
1.25
0.75
1.25
0.75
1982 10 14
29.00
25.00
25.00
22.00
21.00
19.00
1983 10 2
9.50
7.50
8.50
6.50
7.50
5.50
1984 9 14
29.00
25.00
25.00
22.00
21.00
19.00
1985 10 2
8.75
6.75
7.75
5.75
6.75
4.75
1986 10 6
25.00
19.00
19.00
17.00
17.00
15.00
1987 10 6
22.00
17.00
17.00
15.00
15.00
13.00
1988 10 6
22.00
17.00
17.00
15.00
15.00
13.00
1989 10 2
12.50
9.50
9.50
7.50
8.50
6.50
1990 10 2
9.50
7.50
8.50
6.50
7.50
5.50
1991 10 8
75.00
70.00
60.00
1992 10 2
25.00
19.00
22.00
17.00
19.00
15.00
1993I  9 2
25.00
22.00
19.00
1994I  11 2
25.00
22.00
19.00

 

Why are so many Prices Listed?

As with seals in general, PCP sets come in various conditions. Our prices primarily reflect gum condition and presence of straight edges. Also, for a couple of years, common PCP sets are available both perforated and imperf.
 
 

Notes to Columns:

(A) PCP sets are perforated unless otherwise indicated.

"I" means Imperforate

"P" means Perforated (when both exist)

(B) This is the number of different stages in a set.

(C) This is the number of positions in an All-Designs block. In 1954, for example, the PCP set includes 7×4 = 28 seals

(D) Price for Never Hinged and Fully Perforated seals where possible (Strips for 1967, for example, are SE at both ends.)

(E) Price for Never Hinged, with Straight Edges

(F) Hinged or Disturbed Gum, but Fully Perforated

(G) Hinged or Disturbed Gum, Straight Edge

(H) No Gum or very Disturbed Gum, Fully Perforated

(I) No Gum or very Disturbed Gum, Straight Edge

(J) All designs, but no gift tags, Fully Perforated

(K) All designs, but no gift tags, Straight Edge
 

Prices in italics indicate conditions with few or none in stock at this time. Please tell us whether we may send better or worse condition if necessary.
 
"-" means that the PCP set doesn't exist in this condition.
  


Don't Care about Gift Tags?

If you want only a single or block of four representing all the different Seal designs (but don't need Gift Tags which essentially repeat the same designs), the following section can save you some money:
 
 

Year 

#in

set

# in AD 

No Tag

NH FP 

No Tag

NH SE 


Self Colors:

Used up to 1967, these are pure colors of ink of the desired shade (for example, red or green). PCP sets from these years may include as few as 3 stages or as many as 7.

Process Colors:

Used since 1968, this method uses four colors: cyan (a light turquoise), magenta, yellow and black. These are overlaid to produce the desired shades. Process-printed seals are described as multicolored.

(A)
(B)
(C)

(J) 
(K) 

1983
10
1

$1.50
$0.95

1985
10
1

1.50
0.95

1986
10
4

5.75

1987
10
4

9.75
3.75

1988
10
4

9.75 
3.75

1989
10
1

1.50
0.95

1990
10
1

1.50
0.95

1991
10
4

3.75

1992
10
1

4.75
2.75

1993I 
9
1

4.75

1994I 
11
1

4.75


 
Back to Top

  Go back to Betsy & Chuck's Home Page

or send us a message at  BetsyChuck@att.net


Betsy & Chuck
3606 S. Atherton Street, State College, PA 16801-8301
814-466-3469 (phone or fax)
Home page: http://betsychuck.home.att.net