Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
USS Decatur Decommissioning Commemorative Cover
Artifact IDMO 1953.28
Object Type
Cover, Commemorative
Maker
Walter Garfield Crosby
(American philatelic cachet specialist, 1881 - 1947)
Date1937
Mediumpaper, ink
Dimensionsoverall H 3 5/8 in x W 6 1/2 in (9.2 cm x 16.5 cm )
Physical Descriptiona) A stamp cover commemorating the originally scheduled decommissioning date of the U.S. Navy destroyer, USS DECATUR (DD-341). On the left side of the envelope is a red cachet with an illustration of a series of U.S. Navy ships lined up in the water – each with their ship number on the bows – above which is the wording “Last Day in Commission” in rope lettering. At the bottom of the illustration is a box within which has been adhered a small sepia tone photograph of the USS Decatur below which is text that reads: U. S. S Decatur (341) / REST IN PEACE. Above the cachet a blue ink stamped message says “LAST DAY IN COMMISSION POSTPONED.”
The envelope is addressed to (typed): President / Franklin D. Roosevelt / White House / Washington, D. C. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a U.S. 1937 carmine 2¢ Decatur & MacDonagh Navy Issue stamp (Scott 791). The envelope is postmarked U.S.S. DECATUR, January 18, 1937, with a "SAN DIEGO / CALIFORNIA" cancellation.
The return address is ink stamped in blue on the reverse of the envelope: Courtesy of the Original / Crosby Cover Album (Improved) / 104-5th St., P. O. Box 682 / San Pedro, Calif.
b) Inside the USS DECATUR stamp cover is another envelope with the stamp corner cut away. The envelope has a brown cachet commemorating Independence Day, July 4, 1935 with the image of a bear, an empty box, and a message that states "• CALIFORNIA • GREETS • YOU •. The envelope is unaddressed with no postage marks.
Additional DetailsThe envelope is addressed to (typed): President / Franklin D. Roosevelt / White House / Washington, D. C. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a U.S. 1937 carmine 2¢ Decatur & MacDonagh Navy Issue stamp (Scott 791). The envelope is postmarked U.S.S. DECATUR, January 18, 1937, with a "SAN DIEGO / CALIFORNIA" cancellation.
The return address is ink stamped in blue on the reverse of the envelope: Courtesy of the Original / Crosby Cover Album (Improved) / 104-5th St., P. O. Box 682 / San Pedro, Calif.
b) Inside the USS DECATUR stamp cover is another envelope with the stamp corner cut away. The envelope has a brown cachet commemorating Independence Day, July 4, 1935 with the image of a bear, an empty box, and a message that states "• CALIFORNIA • GREETS • YOU •. The envelope is unaddressed with no postage marks.
Custodial History NoteDonated as a bequest of Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in 1947.
Credit LineEstate of Franklin D. Roosevelt
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