Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Navy Day U.S. Commemorative Cover
Artifact IDMO 1997.15.60
Object Type
Cover, Commemorative
Maker
Unknown
Date1938
Mediumpaper
Dimensionsoverall H 3 5/8 in x W 6 1/2 in (9.2 cm x 16.5 cm )
Physical DescriptionA stamp cover commemorating Navy Day, 1938. The cachet on the left side of the white envelope has a red, white, and blue patriotic shield illustration. Black typed text above, below, and in a box over the center of the shield, reads: U.S.S. MUGFORD. / NAVY DAY / OCTOBER 27, 1938. / OBSERVING THE BIRTHDAY OF / "TEDDY" ROOSEVELT AND / HONORING THE UNITED STATES NAVY / TABOGA - AREA / Perlas Island Group.Rep. Pan.,
The envelope is addressed to (typed): His Excellency Franklin D, / ROOSEVELT, President of the / United States. / White House. / Washington, D.C. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a U.S. 1938 violet 3¢ Iowa postage stamp (Scott 838). The envelope is postmarked U.S.S. Mugford, October 27, 1938 with a Taboga cancellation.
The return address is typed on the reverse E.D. La Vergne. / U.S.S. MUGFORD, / %PM. New York, N.Y. Below it is another address, stamped in blue, which has been crossed out: E.M. BRAZELTON / 3311 INDIANA AVE. / SIOUX CITY, IOWA. Typed and written information towards the bottom indicates the stamp cover is number 77 out of 91 issued. Also on the reverse, a red ink stamped message reads: FROM THE FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT COLLECTION / AUTHENTICATED BY H. R. HARMER INC., N. Y. The circled number "R38" is written in pencil in the lower right corner.
Historical NoteFranklin 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): His Excellency Franklin D, / ROOSEVELT, President of the / United States. / White House. / Washington, D.C. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a U.S. 1938 violet 3¢ Iowa postage stamp (Scott 838). The envelope is postmarked U.S.S. Mugford, October 27, 1938 with a Taboga cancellation.
The return address is typed on the reverse E.D. La Vergne. / U.S.S. MUGFORD, / %PM. New York, N.Y. Below it is another address, stamped in blue, which has been crossed out: E.M. BRAZELTON / 3311 INDIANA AVE. / SIOUX CITY, IOWA. Typed and written information towards the bottom indicates the stamp cover is number 77 out of 91 issued. Also on the reverse, a red ink stamped message reads: FROM THE FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT COLLECTION / AUTHENTICATED BY H. R. HARMER INC., N. Y. The circled number "R38" is written in pencil in the lower right corner.
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 NoteDonated to the FDR Library by the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute in 1995.
Credit LineGift of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute
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.In Collection(s)
Not on view