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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.
Panama Canal Zone First Day Cover
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Panama Canal Zone First Day Cover

Artifact IDMO 1953.435
Object Type Cover, First Day
Maker (American, 1881 - 1947)
Date1939
Mediumpaper
Dimensionsoverall H 3 5/8 in x W 6 1/2 in (9.2 cm x 16.5 cm )
Physical DescriptionAn unused envelope with a thermographic cachet honoring the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal Zone on August 15, 1939. The upper half of the green cachet features the circular Seal of the Canal Zone Isthmus of Panama with text above and below that reads: FIRST DAY CANAL ZONE ISSUE / Commemorating the Twenty-fifth Anniversary / Opening of the Panama Canal, August 15, 1939. In the lower half of the cachet is an illustration of the canal bordered by palm trees, mountains, and flying planes. Adhered on the illustration is a small black and white photographic portrait of a uniformed George W. Goethals within a drawn "frame" including the wording "PANAMA CANAL 1939". The photograph is captioned below with text that reads: COLONEL GEORGE W. GOETHALS / Chief of engineers and in complete charge of all work on the / Panama Canal. In 1914 he was made first Governor of Canal Zone. Printed in the upper right corner of the envelope: Regular / Postage / 1 Cent.
Historical NoteThis envelope is one in a group of twenty-four First Day covers (MO 1953.420-MO 1953.443) produced by philatelist Walter G. Crosby to honor the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal Zone on August 15, 1939.
Additional Details
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 StatusUnrestricted
CopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view