Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Oklahoma First Flight U.S. Commemorative Cover
Artifact IDMO 1949.129.2.6
Object Type
Cover, Commemorative
Maker
Unknown
Date1938
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 a first U.S. air mail flight from Oklahoma in 1938. On the left side of the white envelope is a red and blue printed cachet featuring an outline illustration of the state of Georgia. Text above and below the illustration reads: First Flight . . . / OKLAHOMA / AIRMAIL FEEDER LINES / March 12, 1938. Along the right side of the cachet are the original ink signatures of the Blackwell, Oklahoma postmaster and assistant postmaster.
The envelope is addressed to (typed): HON. FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT, / PRESIDENT of The UNITED STATES, / WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. In the upper left corner of the envelope is the printed and typed return information: AIR MAIL / From John C Affholder, P.M., / BLACKWELL, OKLAHOMA. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope are two U.S. bright red violet 3¢ Constitution Sesquicentennial Issue postage stamps (Scott 798). The envelope is postmarked Blackwell, Oklahoma, March 12, 1938.
On the reverse, the envelope is postmarked Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, March 12, 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.The envelope is addressed to (typed): HON. FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT, / PRESIDENT of The UNITED STATES, / WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. In the upper left corner of the envelope is the printed and typed return information: AIR MAIL / From John C Affholder, P.M., / BLACKWELL, OKLAHOMA. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope are two U.S. bright red violet 3¢ Constitution Sesquicentennial Issue postage stamps (Scott 798). The envelope is postmarked Blackwell, Oklahoma, March 12, 1938.
On the reverse, the envelope is postmarked Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, March 12, 1938.
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