Fairbanks to Juneau, Alaska First Flight U.S. Commemorative Cover
Object numberMO 1949.129.2.27
Name
Cover, Commemorative
Maker
Unknown
Date1938
Mediumpaper, ink
Dimensionsoverall H 4 1/8 in x W 9 1/2 in (10.5 cm x 24.1 cm )
DescriptionA stamp cover commemorating the 1938 U.S. air mail first flight from Fairbanks to Juneau, Alaska. In the lower right of the white air mail envelope is a stamped teal ink cachet consisting of an illustration of an airplane flying over a scene, flanked by totem poles, of a dog sled team with mountains in the background. Text above and below the illustration reads: UNITED STATES / Air Mail / FAIRBANKS – JUNEAU / first flight. On the left side of the envelope is a gold foil heart sticker with text that reads: FAIRBANKS / ALASKA’S / GOLDEN / HEART / THERE’S A SOFT SPOT IN IT FOR YOU. Typed and printed below the heart: FIRST / AIR MAIL / FROM FAIRBANKS TO JUNEAU AND OUTSIDE.
A typed message at the top center of the envelope is followed by several original ink signatures and typed titles: WE EXTEND OUR THANKS AND APPRECIATION TO / PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AND DELEGATE DIMOND / FOR AIR MAIL SERVICE IN ALASKA. / Leslie Nerland [signature] Mayor of Fairbanks / R E Sheldon [signature] President, Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce / W. J. Jones [signature] – Walter Hall [signature] Pilots.
The envelope is addressed to (typed): HONORABLE ANTHONY J. DIMOND / DELEGATE FROM ALASKA / WASHINGTON, D. C. In the upper left corner of the envelope is the printed return address: JULIEN A. HURLEY / STROECKER BUILDING / FAIRBANKS, ALASKA. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope are two U.S. 1937 light violet 3¢ Territorial Issue (Alaska) postage stamps (Scott 800). The envelope is postmarked Fairbanks, Alaska, May 8, 1938 and Seattle, Washington, May 12, 1938.
On the reverse, the envelope is postmarked Juneau, Alaska, May 8, 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.A typed message at the top center of the envelope is followed by several original ink signatures and typed titles: WE EXTEND OUR THANKS AND APPRECIATION TO / PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AND DELEGATE DIMOND / FOR AIR MAIL SERVICE IN ALASKA. / Leslie Nerland [signature] Mayor of Fairbanks / R E Sheldon [signature] President, Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce / W. J. Jones [signature] – Walter Hall [signature] Pilots.
The envelope is addressed to (typed): HONORABLE ANTHONY J. DIMOND / DELEGATE FROM ALASKA / WASHINGTON, D. C. In the upper left corner of the envelope is the printed return address: JULIEN A. HURLEY / STROECKER BUILDING / FAIRBANKS, ALASKA. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope are two U.S. 1937 light violet 3¢ Territorial Issue (Alaska) postage stamps (Scott 800). The envelope is postmarked Fairbanks, Alaska, May 8, 1938 and Seattle, Washington, May 12, 1938.
On the reverse, the envelope is postmarked Juneau, Alaska, May 8, 1938.
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