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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.
Douglas B-19 Airplane Flight 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.

Douglas B-19 Airplane Flight U.S. Commemorative Cover

Artifact IDMO 2021.2
Object Type Cover, Commemorative
Maker
Date1941
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 initial flight of the Douglas B-19 airplane on June 27, 1941. On the left side of the white air mail envelope is a red, white, and blue printed cachet featuring text that reads: B-19 / Initial flight of / World's Largest Airplane / The Douglas B-19 / Super-Bomber for / United States Army Air Corps / Clover Field / Santa Monica / California / to / March Field / Riverside / California. Flanking the bottom of the text is the U.S. Air Force insignia roundel (left) and an illustration of planes circling the globe (right).

The envelope is addressed to (handwritten in ink): Mr. Franklyn [sic] D. Roosevelt / White House / 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 March Field, California, June 27, 1941.

On the reverse of the envelope is a purple ink stamped message that reads: February, 1946 / This philatelic item is from the personal / stamp collection of the late President / Franklin Delano Roosevelt. / Jacques Minkus Gimbels Stamp Depts. / New York-Philadelphia.
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 NoteDonated to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Phil Campbell in 2020.
Credit LineGift of Phil Campbell
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 StatusUnrestricted
CopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view