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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
1938 National Air Mail Week 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

1938 National Air Mail Week U.S. Commemorative Cover

Artifact IDMO 1949.129.1.42
Object Type Cover, Commemorative
Maker
Date1938
Mediumpaper, ink
Dimensionsoverall H 3 5/8 in x W 6 1/2 in (9.2 cm x 16.5 cm )
Physical DescriptionA stamp cover commemorating National Air Mail Week in 1938. Running along the bottom of the white envelope is a red-bordered blue band with several images of planes and white text that reads: SPECIAL FLIGHTS • AIR MAIL WEEK • SPECIAL FLIGHTS / ★ UNITED STATES - 20th ANNIVERARY - AIR MAIL SERVICE ★. On the left side of the envelope is a stamped blue ink cachet consisting of a box enclosing an illustration of a Cape Cod-style house bordered by trees. Text above and below the illustration reads: NATIONAL AIR MAIL WEEK / MAY 15 - 21, 1938 / Peak House, Medfield, Mass. Built in 1680 / Sponsored by MEDFIELD STAMP CLUB. Below the cachet's illustration is the original ink signature of the Medfield postmaster: Joseph D Scully P.M.

The envelope is addressed to (typed): Franklin D. Roosevelt; / President of the United States; / Washington, D. C. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a U.S. 1938 blue and red 6¢ Air Mail postage stamp (Scott C23). The envelope is postmarked Medfield, Massachusetts, May 19, 1938.
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 NoteLent to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Charles M. Abbott in 1949. It was donated as a bequest of Abbott to the Library in 1952.
Credit LineGift of Charles M. Abbott
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