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Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Air Mail 20th Anniversary U.S. Commemorative Cover
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Air Mail 20th Anniversary U.S. Commemorative Cover

Artifact IDMO 1997.15.71
Object Type Cover, Commemorative
Maker
Date1938
Mediumpaper, pencil
Dimensionsoverall H 3 5/8 in x W 6 1/2 in (9.2 cm x 16.5 cm )
Physical DescriptionA stamp cover commemorating the 20th anniversary of Air Mail. On the left side of the white air mail envelope is a purple cachet featuring the illustrations of an airplane, a stagecoach, a steam engine train, and a modern streamliner train. Text accompanying the illustrations reads: 20th Anniversary of the Air Mail / 1918 "NEITHER SNOW, NOR RAIN, NOR HEAT. . ." 1938 / TOPEKA / OFFICIAL / CACHET. Above the cachet is an original ink signature: John E. Barrett / Postmaster.

The envelope is addressed to (typed): HON. FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT / THE PRESIDENT. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a block of four U.S. 1938 blue and red 6¢ Air Mail postage stamps (Scott C23). The envelope is postmarked Topeka, Kansas, May 15, 1938 with a "KANS. (9) TOPEKA. KANS." cancellation.

On the reverse, a red ink stamped message reads: FROM THE FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT COLLECTION / AUCTIONED 1946 BY H. R. HARMER INC., N. Y. The circled number "R22" is written in pencil in the lower right corner with "MAH" stamped in red below it.
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.

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