Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
1938 National Air Mail Week U.S. Commemorative Cover
Object numberMO 1997.15.70
Name
Cover, Commemorative
Maker
Unknown
Date1938
Mediumpaper
Dimensionsoverall H 3 5/8 in x W 6 1/2 in (9.2 cm x 16.5 cm )
DescriptionA stamp cover commemorating National Air Mail Week in 1938. On the left side of the white air mail envelope is a red cachet featuring the illustration of an airplane and text that reads: NATIONAL AIR MAIL WEEK / MAY 15-21, 1938 / BUTTONWOODS, R. I. / MRS. ANDREW B. COMSTOCK / POSTMASTER / AMERICAN AIRLINES INC. / A NATIONWIDE SYSTEM SERVING RHODE ISLAND. At the bottom of the envelope, a purple ink text stamp reads: BY SPECIAL FLIGHT TO / HILLSGROVE AIRPORT MAY 19 1938.
The envelope is addressed to (handwritten in ink): President of the United / States, / Franklin D. Roosevelt / Washington D. C. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a U.S. 1938 blue and red 6¢ Air Mail postage stamp (Scott C23). The envelope is postmarked Buttonwoods, Rhode Island, May 19, 1938.
On the reverse, the envelope is postmarked Providence, Rhode Island, May 19, 1938. Also on the reverse, a purple ink stamped message reads: This philatelic item is from the personal / stamp collection of the late President / Franklin Delano Roosevelt. / Jacques Minkus Gimbels Stamp Depts. / New York-Philadelphia. An additional red ink stamped message reads: FROM THE FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT COLLECTION / AUTHENTICATED BY H. R. HARMER INC., N. Y. The circled number "R20" is written in pencil in the lower right corner and "MAH" is stamped in red.
Label TextFranklin Roosevelt was an avid, lifelong stamp collector who gathered over 1.2 million stamps into his personal collection during the course of his life. He began collecting stamps at the age of eight at the suggestion of his mother, Sara Delano Roosevelt, who passed on her collection to him.The envelope is addressed to (handwritten in ink): President of the United / States, / Franklin D. Roosevelt / Washington D. C. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a U.S. 1938 blue and red 6¢ Air Mail postage stamp (Scott C23). The envelope is postmarked Buttonwoods, Rhode Island, May 19, 1938.
On the reverse, the envelope is postmarked Providence, Rhode Island, May 19, 1938. Also on the reverse, a purple ink stamped message reads: This philatelic item is from the personal / stamp collection of the late President / Franklin Delano Roosevelt. / Jacques Minkus Gimbels Stamp Depts. / New York-Philadelphia. An additional red ink stamped message reads: FROM THE FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT COLLECTION / AUTHENTICATED BY H. R. HARMER INC., N. Y. The circled number "R20" is written in pencil in the lower right corner and "MAH" is stamped in red.
After FDR's death, his personal stamp collection, including this stamp cover, was sold at public auction in 1946 in accordance with his wishes.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDonated to the FDR Library by the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute in 1995.
Credit LineGift of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesStamp Collecting Materials (National Archives Identifier 749938)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.Collections
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