Lewiston, Pennsylvania First Flight U.S. Commemorative Cover
Object numberMO 1949.129.2.21
Name
Cover, Commemorative
Maker
Unknown
Date1941
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 1941 U.S. air mail first flight from Lewistown, Pennsylvania. On the left side of the white envelope is a stamped red ink cachet consisting of an illustration of an airplane flying over a river and bridge with factory buildings in the background. Text above and below the illustration reads: U. S. AIR MAIL / PICK-UP ROUTE FIRST FLIGHT / A.M. 49-F / LEWISTOWN, PA. To the left of the cachet is the original ink signature, running vertically, of the Lewistown postmaster: J. C. Amig P.M.
The envelope is addressed to (typed): Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt / President of the U.S.A. / No. 49 East 65th Street [crossed out] / New York City, N.Y. [crossed out] / Wash DC [written in pencil]. The return address is printed in the upper left corner: Pennsylvania Chapter / National Association of Postmasters / J. C. AMIG, PRESIDENT / LEWISTOWN, PA. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a U.S. 1941 carmine 6¢ Air Mail postage stamp (Scott C25). The envelope is postmarked Lewistown, Pennsylvania, September 29, 1941.
On the reverse, the envelope is postmarked New York, New York, September 30, 1941 with a “STATION Y” cancellation.
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): Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt / President of the U.S.A. / No. 49 East 65th Street [crossed out] / New York City, N.Y. [crossed out] / Wash DC [written in pencil]. The return address is printed in the upper left corner: Pennsylvania Chapter / National Association of Postmasters / J. C. AMIG, PRESIDENT / LEWISTOWN, PA. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a U.S. 1941 carmine 6¢ Air Mail postage stamp (Scott C25). The envelope is postmarked Lewistown, Pennsylvania, September 29, 1941.
On the reverse, the envelope is postmarked New York, New York, September 30, 1941 with a “STATION Y” cancellation.
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