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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.
1939 Presidential Cruise 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.

1939 Presidential Cruise U.S. Commemorative Cover

Artifact IDMO 1997.15.51
Object Type Cover, Commemorative
Maker (American, 1881 - 1947)
Date1939
Mediumpaper
Dimensionsoverall H 3 5/8 in x W 6 1/2 in (9.2 cm x 16.5 cm )
Physical DescriptionAn unaddressed stamp cover commemorating Franklin Roosevelt's 1939 Presidential Cruise on the USS HOUSTON. On the left side of the white envelope is a gold-colored thermographic cachet which includes illustrations of a map, a city scene, and the Panama Canal and text that reads: UNITED STATES FLEET / VISITS - EAST - COAST / JANUARY JUNE 1939 / FROM → [list of locations] / → TO [list of locations]. Adhered at the bottom of the cachet is a small black and white photograph of the ship, USS HOUSTON.

Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a U.S. 1937 violet 3¢ Virgin Islands postage stamp (Scott 802). The envelope is postmarked U.S.S. HOUSTON, February 23, 1939 with a PRESIDENTIAL CRUISE cancellation, and a ST THOMAS VIRGIN ISLES cancellation. Written in pencil in the upper left corner of the envelope: 2/28/42.

On the reverse, a black ink stamped message reads: FROM THE FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT COLLECTION / AUTHENTICATED BY H. R. HARMER INC., N. Y. The circled number "R26" 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.

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 StatusUnrestricted
CopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view
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