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Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
1938 National Air Mail Week U.S. Commemorative Cover
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

1938 National Air Mail Week U.S. Commemorative Cover

Object numberMO 1949.129.1.39
Date1938
Mediumpaper, ink
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 stamped purple ink cachet consisting of three concentric circles that enclose text that reads: ★ Commemorating 20th Anniversary of Air Mail Service ★ / U. S. Post Office Dept. / NATIONAL / AIR MAIL WEEK / LYNN, [illustration of airplane] MASS. / THE CITY OF PARKS & BEACHES / MAY 15 - 21 / 1938. Additional cachet text above and below the circles reads: BIRTHPLACE OF / CONGRESSMAN WM. P. CONNERY JR / "LYNN'S OWN CONGRESSMAN / "BEST LIGHTED CIY IN THE WORLD". Below the cachet is the original ink signature of the Lynn postmaster: Thomas A. Wilkinson, P.M.

The envelope is addressed to (typed): The Hon, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, / President of the United States, / White House, / 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 Lynn, Massachusetts, May 19, 1938.

On the reverse, the envelope has a purple ink stamped message that reads: GENERAL ELECTRIC / 1938 - OUR 60TH YEAR / OF ELECTRICAL PROGRESS. / [GE logo] / FIRST FLIGHT COVER / MAY 19, 1938.
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.

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 NoteLent to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Charles M. Abbott in 1949. It was donated as a bequest of Abbott to the Library in 1952.
Credit LineGift of Charles M. Abbott
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
No expuestos