Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
1937 Eclipse Expedition U.S. Commemorative Cover
Artifact IDMO 1953.2
Object Type
Cover, Commemorative
Maker
Unknown
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 1937 joint U.S. Navy - National Geographic Eclipse Expedition. On the left side of the envelope is a printed and stamped black and white cachet with a drawn map of the Phoenix Islands area below the Equator and text that reads: OBSERVED from U.S.S. AVOCET / U.S. NAVY - NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ECLIPSE EXPEDITION / Total Eclipse of SUN / 8:36 A.M. to 8:39 A.M. / 19[?] G.M.T. [time and date hand corrected from "8:02 A.M. to 8:06A.M / 1934 G.M.T.”]. Along the left side of the cachet is a handwritten ink note, “Canton Island,” and the signature of Captain Julius F. Hellweg who was commanding the U.S. Navy detachment for the expedition and was the superintendent of the Naval Observatory.
The envelope is addressed (typed) to: THE HONORABLE / FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT / PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, / WHITE HOUSE, / WASHINGTON, D.C. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a U.S. 1932 deep violet 3¢ George Washington stamp (Scott 720). The envelope is postmarked U.S.S. AVOCET, June 8, 1937, 8:38, with a "CANTON ISLAND" cancellation. There is no return address.
On the reverse, the envelope is postmarked Washington, DC, June 28, 1937.
b) Inside the envelope is a folded sheet of stationery from the Navy Department, U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C. with "Letter #3" written in pencil.
Additional DetailsThe envelope is addressed (typed) to: THE HONORABLE / FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT / PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, / WHITE HOUSE, / WASHINGTON, D.C. Adhered in the upper right corner of the envelope is a U.S. 1932 deep violet 3¢ George Washington stamp (Scott 720). The envelope is postmarked U.S.S. AVOCET, June 8, 1937, 8:38, with a "CANTON ISLAND" cancellation. There is no return address.
On the reverse, the envelope is postmarked Washington, DC, June 28, 1937.
b) Inside the envelope is a folded sheet of stationery from the Navy Department, U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C. with "Letter #3" written in pencil.
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
