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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 1949.129.1.69a
Name Cover, Commemorative
Maker
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 green ink cachet consisting of a box enclosing text that reads: 1918 20th ANNIVERSARY 1938 / COMMEMORATING THE / INAUGURATION ON MAY 15, 1918 / OF REGULAR AIR-MAIL SERVICE / BY TH[E] POST OFFICE DEPT. / NATIONAL / AIR-MAIL WEEK / MAY 15 - 21 / 1918 LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y 1938 / SPONSORED BY THE / LONG ISLAND CITY NATIONAL / AIR-MAIL WEEK COMMITTEE. Below the cachet is the original ink signature of the Long Island City postmaster: Francis J. Littig / Acting Postmaster.

The envelope is addressed to (typed): Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt / 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 Long Island City, New York, May 20, 1938.

Enclosed in the envelope is a paper insert onto which the cachet design has been stamped (see MO 1949.129.1.69b).
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
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.
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