Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Ratification of the Constitution U.S. Commemorative Cover
Artifact IDMO 1997.15.61
Object Type
Cover, Commemorative
Artist
Whipple Y. Chester
(American)
Date1938
Mediumwatercolor on paper
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 ratification of the U.S. Constitution. The hand-colored cachet on the left side of the white envelope features an illustration of a ship sailing past Mt. Constitution on Orcas Island in Washington State. Accompanying text reads: Commemorating the / Ratification of the / CONSTITUTION of the UNITED STATES / 1788 1938 / MT. CONSTITUTION Elev. 2409 ft / ON ORCAS ISLAND • 15 Miles / WEST OF BELLINGHAM, WASH. A pop-out illustration in the upper left of the cachet has an illustration of the state of Delaware and the text: DELAWARE / FIRST TO / RATIFY / DEC. 7 1787. A pop-out illustration in the lower right of the cachet has an illustration of the state of New York and the text: LAST STATE / TO RATIFY / IN 1788 / JULY 26, 1788. The cachet designer's original ink signature is on the left side of the cachet: Whipple Y. Chester / cachet designer. The designer's name is printed in the lower right of the cachet: Whipple / Chester. The cover is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, Bellingham, WA.
The envelope is addressed to (handwritten in black ink): President Franklin D. Roosevelt / White House / Washington, D.C. In the upper right corner is hand written "AIR MAIL PLEASE," along with two adhered stamps - a U.S. 1938 purple 3¢ Constitution postage stamp (Scott 835), and a U.S. 1937 violet 3¢ Constitution postage stamp (Scott 798). The envelope is postmarked Bellingham, Washington, July 26, 1938.
On the reverse, a black ink stamped message reads: FROM THE FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT COLLECTION / AUTHENTICATED BY H. R. HARMER INC., N. Y. The number "204" is stamped in red at the bottom center, and the circled number "R39" 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.The envelope is addressed to (handwritten in black ink): President Franklin D. Roosevelt / White House / Washington, D.C. In the upper right corner is hand written "AIR MAIL PLEASE," along with two adhered stamps - a U.S. 1938 purple 3¢ Constitution postage stamp (Scott 835), and a U.S. 1937 violet 3¢ Constitution postage stamp (Scott 798). The envelope is postmarked Bellingham, Washington, July 26, 1938.
On the reverse, a black ink stamped message reads: FROM THE FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT COLLECTION / AUTHENTICATED BY H. R. HARMER INC., N. Y. The number "204" is stamped in red at the bottom center, and the circled number "R39" is written in pencil in the lower right corner.
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
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