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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.
Polish Stamp Cover
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Polish Stamp Cover

Artifact IDMO 1997.15.94
Object Type Envelope
Maker
Date1938
MediumPaper, Ink
Dimensionsoverall H 4 1/2 in x W 7 in (11.4 cm x 17.8 cm )
Physical DescriptionA heavily-discolored blue stamp cover from Poland addressed to (handwritten in ink): To / His Excellency / The President of the U. S. A. / Mr. Franklin Roosevelt / in Washington. / U. S. America. Adhered on the envelope is a Polish 1936 brown 1z Cathedral at Wilno postage stamp (Scott 303), and two 1938 red 30g King Stephen Bathory commending the peasant Wielock postage stamps (Scott 325). The envelope is postmarked Stara Sol, Poland, December 23, 1938 and also has a black ink Stara Sol registration stamp.

On the reverse of the envelope is the hand written return address: CHAIM BARTH / STARASOL / SAMBOR/ Wj. LWOWSKIE / POLAND. Also on the reverse are two postmarks for New York, NY, January 7, 1939, and a postmark for Washington, DC, January 17, 1939. A black ink stamped message reads: FROM THE FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT COLLECTION / AUTHENTICATED BY H. R. HARMER INC., N. Y. The circled number "R116" is written in pencil in the lower right corner, and the number "DCW-3" is written in pencil further up.
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 StatusRestricted - Possibly
CopyrightCopyright or other proprietary rights of stamp(s) may be held by individuals or entities other than the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum does not warrant that the use of materials will not infringe on the rights of third parties holding the rights to these works, or make any representations or warranties with respect to the application or terms of any international agreement, treaty, or protections that may apply. It is your responsibility to determine and satisfy any copyright or other use restrictions.
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