Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
California to New York Transcontinental "Guba" Flight U.S. Commemorative Cover
Artifact IDMO 1949.129.2.29
Object Type
Cover, Commemorative
Maker
Unknown
Date1937
Mediumpaper, ink
Dimensionsoverall H 4 1/8 in x W 9 1/2 in (10.5 cm x 24.1 cm )
Physical DescriptionA stamp cover commemorating the 1937 U.S. transcontinental flight of a “Guba” flying boat from California to New York. The cachet consists of a typed text message that reads: Carried on transcontinental / non stop flight of 'GUBA' - / CONSOLIDATED PBY TYPE / AIRBOAT - San Diego, / California to New York, / New York. June 24-25, 1937. The message is followed by the typed titles and names and original ink signatures of those involved with the flight: CAPTAIN & OWNER RICHARD ARCHBOLD / PILOT RUSSELL R. ROGERS / CO PILOT WILIAM B. WHEATLEY / NAVIGATOR LT. COMDR, L. R. GRAY / RADIO OPERATOR HAROLD RAMM / ENGINEER GERALD BROWN.
The envelope is addressed to (typed): FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT / PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES / THE WHITE HOUSE / WASHINGTON, D.C. In the upper left of the envelope is the printed return address: CONSOLIDATED AIRCRAFT CORPORATION / Lindbergh Field / SAN DIEGO, CALIF. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a U.S. 1934 dull orange 6¢ Air Mail postage stamp (Scott C19). The envelope is postmarked New York, New York, June 25, 1937.
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): FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT / PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES / THE WHITE HOUSE / WASHINGTON, D.C. In the upper left of the envelope is the printed return address: CONSOLIDATED AIRCRAFT CORPORATION / Lindbergh Field / SAN DIEGO, CALIF. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a U.S. 1934 dull orange 6¢ Air Mail postage stamp (Scott C19). The envelope is postmarked New York, New York, June 25, 1937.
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