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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.
Putnam Valley Centennial 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.

Putnam Valley Centennial U.S. Commemorative Cover

Artifact IDMO 1997.15.58
Object Type Cover, Commemorative
Maker
Date1939
Mediumpaper; cardstock
Dimensionspart a (stamp cover) H 3 5/8 in x W 6 1/2 in (9.2 cm x 16.5 cm )
 part b (card) H 6 in x W 3 1/2 in (15.2 cm x 8.9 cm )
Physical Descriptiona) A stamp cover commemorating the centennial of Putnam Valley, NY. The cachet on the left side of the white envelope consists of a blue halftone portrait of Israel Putnam, within a border of red, white, and blue bands, along with red and blue text that reads: CENTENNIAL / PUTNAM VALLEY•N•Y / 1839 . . . . 1939.

The envelope is addressed to (typed): Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt, / President, / Washington, D.C. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a U.S. 1939 purple 3¢ New York World's Fair postage stamp (Scott 835). The envelope is postmarked Tomkins Corners, New York, May 2, 1939.

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 "R35" is written in pencil in the lower right corner with "MAH" stamped in red below it.

b) Inside the envelope is a double-sided card featuring an illustrated map and printed history of Putnam Valley.
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