Preheat oven to 350. Butter & flour 4 individual small loaf pans. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat sugar and unsalted butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in orange juice, grated orange peel and vanilla extract (batter may look curdled). Beat in flour mixture. Fold in poppy seeds.
Divide batter equally among the prepared pans (about 1 1/2 cups each). Place pans in the oven and bake until tops of the cakes are brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Transfer pans to racks. Cool cakes 10 minutes. Cut around sides of pans to loosen cakes. Turn cakes out onto wire racks and cool completely.
Cakes can be prepared up to 1 week ahead. Wrap in aluminum foil; store cakes at room temperature.
Wrap in holiday plastic wrap, foil and paper, etc.