Skip to main content
Collections Menu
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Charles Dickens Centenary Stamp Cover
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Charles Dickens Centenary Stamp Cover

Artifact IDMO 1997.15.49
Object Type Cover, Commemorative
Maker (English, 1866 - 1959)
Date1912
Mediumpaper
Dimensionsoverall H 2 1/2 in x W 3 3/4 in (6.4 cm x 9.5 cm )
Physical DescriptionA 1912 stamp cover commemorating the Charles Dickens centenary stamp, sent to Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House. The small, off-white envelope has printed text that reads: THE CHARLES DICKENS CENTENARY STAMP / TESTIMONIAL COMMITTEE. THE EARL OF ROSEBERY, K.G., / LORD ALVERSTONE, LORD TENNYSON, THOMAS HARDY, ESQ., / SIR EDWARD / J. POYNTER. THE HON. THEODORE ROOSEVELT, LORD STRATHCONA, / LORD CURZON, LORD AVEBURY, THE RT. HON. JOSEPH CHAMERBLAIN, and / upwards of a hundred other eminent lovers of Dickens.

Adhered to the envelope are three U.S. 1938 green 1¢ George Washington postage stamps (Scott 804). The envelope is postmarked New York, NY, March 12, 1943 with a BUY WAR SAVINGS BONDS AND STAMPS cancellation. A black ink stamped message across the envelope reads: FROM THE FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT COLLECTION / AUTHENTICATED BY H. R. HARMER INC., N. Y.

The return address is written on the reverse: From / R. M. Dolliver / 51 W. 92 St. / N.Y.C. The circled number "R32" is written in pencil in the lower right corner.

A Charles Dickens non-postal stamp (see MO 1997.15.72) was removed from the envelope.
Historical NoteFor the centenary celebration of Charles Dickens (1812-1870) in 1912, the Charles Dickens Centenary Testimonial Committee was established to collect funds for the benefit of the descendants of the writer. The committee published and sold sheets of a dozen 1 pence Dickens non-postal stamps.

Franklin 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 and its accompanying stamp (MO 1997.15.72), 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
Related Links