Jefferson, Ohio First Flight U.S. Commemorative Cover
Object numberMO 1949.129.2.19
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 Jefferson, Ohio. On the left side of the white envelope is a stamped purple ink cachet consisting of a circular illustration of an airplane propeller flanked by wings. Text above and below the illustration reads: ★ FIRST FLIGHT ★ / UNITED STATES AIR MAIL • / 1836 1938 / JEFFERSON OHIO. To the left of the cachet, running vertically, are the original ink signatures of the Jefferson postmaster and the pilot: L D Whitwood PM / Nathaniel Tooker Pilot.
The envelope is addressed to (handwritten in ink): F.D. Roosevelt, Pres., of U.S.A. / Washington, / D. C. Along the top of the envelope are five adhered U.S. postage stamps, and one preprinted U.S. postage stamp: a 1937 bright violet 3¢ Territorial Issue (Puerto Rico) postage stamp (Scott 801); a 1937 green 20¢ China Clipper air mail postage stamp (Scott C21); a 1938 dark blue and carmine 6¢ Eagle air mail postage stamp (Scott C23); a 1936 red and blue 16¢ Special Delivery air mail postage stamp (Scott CE2); a 1930 brown 4¢ Taft postage stamp (Scott 685); and a carmine 2¢ preprinted George Washington postage stamp. The envelope is postmarked Jefferson, Ohio, May 19, 1938.
On the reverse, the envelope is postmarked Washington, D.C., 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.The envelope is addressed to (handwritten in ink): F.D. Roosevelt, Pres., of U.S.A. / Washington, / D. C. Along the top of the envelope are five adhered U.S. postage stamps, and one preprinted U.S. postage stamp: a 1937 bright violet 3¢ Territorial Issue (Puerto Rico) postage stamp (Scott 801); a 1937 green 20¢ China Clipper air mail postage stamp (Scott C21); a 1938 dark blue and carmine 6¢ Eagle air mail postage stamp (Scott C23); a 1936 red and blue 16¢ Special Delivery air mail postage stamp (Scott CE2); a 1930 brown 4¢ Taft postage stamp (Scott 685); and a carmine 2¢ preprinted George Washington postage stamp. The envelope is postmarked Jefferson, Ohio, May 19, 1938.
On the reverse, the envelope is postmarked Washington, D.C., May 19, 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