Glasgow, Kentucky First Flight U.S. Commemorative Cover
Object numberMO 1949.129.2.5
Name
Cover, Commemorative
Maker
Unknown
Date1938
Mediumpaper, ink
Dimensionsoverall H 3 7/8 in x W 7 1/2 in (9.8 cm x 19.1 cm )
DescriptionA stamp cover commemorating the first official U.S. air mail flight from Glasgow, Kentucky during National Air Mail Week, May 15-21, 1938. On the left side of the white air mail envelope is a printed blue cachet with text that reads: GLASGOW, KY. / 21 Miles From Mammoth Cave / National Park. / Boyhood Home Of / ARTHUR KROCK / of The New York Times. / Twice winner of the Pulitzer award / for outstanding newspaper work. / National Air Mail Week / May 15-21. Stamped in purple ink above and to the right of the cachet is the message: FIRST OFFICIAL FLIGHT.
The envelope is addressed to (handwritten in ink): To the gracious gentleman who can take it standing / up - and with a smile; To the courageous fighter who / has never learned the meaning of the word Quit / or of the word Fear. / (over) / [on reverse] FLIGHT NO.2. / LOUISVILLE, KY. TO GLASGOW, KY. AND RETURN. / P. F. L[illegible] Jr / PILOT. In the upper left corner of the envelope is the original ink signature of the Glasgow postmaster: Joe Richardson, Postmaster / Glasgow, Ky. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope are two U.S. 1938 blue and red 6¢ Air Mail postage stamps (Scott C23). The envelope is postmarked Glasgow, Kentucky, May 19, 1938.
On the reverse, a purple ink stamp in the form of a shield has text inside that reads: NATIONAL AIR MAIL WEEK / GLASGOW, KY. / TWENTY THREE MILES / FROM MAMMOTH CAVE / NATIONAL PARK / May 15 to 21, 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): To the gracious gentleman who can take it standing / up - and with a smile; To the courageous fighter who / has never learned the meaning of the word Quit / or of the word Fear. / (over) / [on reverse] FLIGHT NO.2. / LOUISVILLE, KY. TO GLASGOW, KY. AND RETURN. / P. F. L[illegible] Jr / PILOT. In the upper left corner of the envelope is the original ink signature of the Glasgow postmaster: Joe Richardson, Postmaster / Glasgow, Ky. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope are two U.S. 1938 blue and red 6¢ Air Mail postage stamps (Scott C23). The envelope is postmarked Glasgow, Kentucky, May 19, 1938.
On the reverse, a purple ink stamp in the form of a shield has text inside that reads: NATIONAL AIR MAIL WEEK / GLASGOW, KY. / TWENTY THREE MILES / FROM MAMMOTH CAVE / NATIONAL PARK / May 15 to 21, 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