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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 1949.129.1.54
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. On the left side of the white envelope is a printed cachet consisting of a black and white halftone photographic image of a small 1½-story building surrounded by trees, and text above and below that reads: The Oldest P. O. Bldg. in U. S. / Built 1776 / RALSTON, N. J. / AIR MAIL WEEK / MAY 15-21 1938. To the bottom right of the cachet is the original ink signature of the Ralston postmaster: M E DeMott / P.M.

The envelope is addressed to (typed): "Pres. F. D. Roosevelt / The White House / Washington / D.C. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a block of four U.S. 1938 blue and red 6¢ Air Mail postage stamps (Scott C23). The envelope is postmarked Ralston, New Jersey, May 17, 1938.

On the reverse, the envelope is postmarked Basking Ridge, New Jersey, May 19, 1938, and Newark, New Jersey, May 19, 1938 with an "AIR MAIL SAVES TIME" cancellation.
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)
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