Juneau to Fairbanks, Alaska First Flight U.S. Commemorative Cover
Object numberMO 1949.129.2.26
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 Juneau to Fairbanks, Alaska. In the lower portion of the white envelope is a stamped purple ink cachet consisting of an illustration of an airplane flying over a scene, flanked by totem poles, of a body of water with mountains in the background. Text above and below the illustration reads: UNITED STATES / Air Mail / JUNEAU – FAIRBANKS/ first flight. On the left side of the envelope is an embossed gold foil seal for the Territory of Alaska. Typed along the top of the envelope: First Flight – JUNEAU TO FAIRBANKS.
The envelope is addressed to (typed): The Honorable Franklin D. Roosevelt / President, / Washington / D. C. In the upper left corner of the envelope is the return address followed by the original ink signatures and typed tiles of the Governor and Secretary: TERRITORY OF ALASKA / OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR / JUNEAU / John W. Troy [signature], Governor / Edward W. Griffin [signature], Secretary . 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 Juneau, Alaska, May 3, 1938.
On the reverse, the envelope is postmarked Fairbanks, Alaska, May 3, 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 (typed): The Honorable Franklin D. Roosevelt / President, / Washington / D. C. In the upper left corner of the envelope is the return address followed by the original ink signatures and typed tiles of the Governor and Secretary: TERRITORY OF ALASKA / OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR / JUNEAU / John W. Troy [signature], Governor / Edward W. Griffin [signature], Secretary . 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 Juneau, Alaska, May 3, 1938.
On the reverse, the envelope is postmarked Fairbanks, Alaska, May 3, 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