Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
1938 National Air Mail Week U.S. Commemorative Cover
Object numberMO 1949.129.1.100
Name
Cover, Commemorative
Maker
Dahlke Stationery & Mfg. Co.
(American, founded 1917)
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 envelope is a green ink cachet consisting of a circle that encloses an illustration of a winged envelope in flight. Text in the cachet reads: 20TH ANNIVERSARY AIR MAIL / CLIFTON HEIGHTS - PA. / MAY 15-21, 1938 / FLIGHT / MAY 19. Below the cachet is the original ink signature of the Clifton Heights postmaster: John A. McShane, P.M.
The envelope is addressed to (handwritten in ink): Franklin D. Roosevelt / President of the United States / 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 Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1938
On the reverse, the envelope is postmarked Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1938 with an "AIR MAIL SAVES TIME" cancellation. Also on the reverse is a printed message regarding the "Air Mail Only" official use of the envelope and the manufacturer's information: MANUFACTURED BY DAHLKE STATIONERY & MFG. CO. BUFFALO, N. Y.
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): Franklin D. Roosevelt / President of the United States / 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 Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1938
On the reverse, the envelope is postmarked Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1938 with an "AIR MAIL SAVES TIME" cancellation. Also on the reverse is a printed message regarding the "Air Mail Only" official use of the envelope and the manufacturer's information: MANUFACTURED BY DAHLKE STATIONERY & MFG. CO. BUFFALO, N. Y.
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
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
Non exposé