Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Franklin Roosevelt's 52nd Birthday U.S. Commemorative Cover
Artifact IDMO 1997.15.55
Object Type
Cover, Commemorative
Maker
Unknown
Date1934
Mediumpaper
Dimensionsoverall H 3 5/8 in x W 6 1/2 in (9.2 cm x 16.5 cm )
Physical DescriptionA stamp cover commemorating Franklin D. Roosevelt's 52nd birthday. The cachet on the left side of the white envelope consists of an illustrated orange-tone portrait of George Washington with printed blue text that reads: G. WASHINGTON / FIRST PRESIDENT / OF THE U. S. / Born in 1732 / To Save and Make Free / A People Suffering / From Tyranny / and / Oppression. Below that, an illustrated blue-tone portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt has blue and red text that reads: Elected President of U. S. / in 1932 - Innaugurated [sp.] Mar. / 4, 1933 in a Period of / Depression, to Save a Free / People From Economic Ruin / and to Remember the / Forgotten Man / LAST PRESIDENT INNAU- / GURATED ON MARCH 4TH / JAN. 30, 1882 COMMEMORATING JAN. 30 1934 / 52ND Birthday of FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT.
The envelope is addressed to (typed): C F Kaufelt / Richmond Va. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a U.S. 1933 violet 3¢ General Oglethorpe postage stamp (Scott 726). The envelope is postmarked Hyde Park, New York, January 30, 1934.
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 "R10" is written in pencil in the lower right corner with "MAH" stamped in red below it.
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 (typed): C F Kaufelt / Richmond Va. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a U.S. 1933 violet 3¢ General Oglethorpe postage stamp (Scott 726). The envelope is postmarked Hyde Park, New York, January 30, 1934.
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 "R10" is written in pencil in the lower right corner with "MAH" stamped in red below it.
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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