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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.
U.S. 1934 3¢ Mothers of America Stamp Pane
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

U.S. 1934 3¢ Mothers of America Stamp Pane

Artifact IDMO 1958.53.3
Object Type Stamp, Postage
Maker (American, founded 1775)
Date1934
Mediumpaper, ink, adhesive
Dimensionsoverall H 10 5/8 in x W 8 3/8 in (27 cm x 21.3 cm )
Physical DescriptionA full pane of fifty unused U.S. 1934 deep violet 3¢ "Adaptation of Whistler's Portrait of his Mother" Mothers of America stamps (Scott 737). The pane is from stamp sheet no. 21205. The top margin of the pane has a badly faded ink inscription by Franklin D. Roosevelt: "This is the second sheet of stamps . . . on the 1st day of sale 5/2/34 James A. Farley Postmaster General." In the left margin is the original ink signature "Franklin D. Roosevelt". Also in the left margin is a black ink stamped message that reads: FROM THE FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT COLLECTION / AUCTIONED FEB., APRIL, 1946 BY H. R. HARMER INC., N.Y.
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.

During his presidency, FDR became involved in the design of a number of U.S. postal stamps. This stamp pane features a stamp he helped design. In 1934, the U.S. Postal Service was planning to issue a stamp honoring the artist, James Whistler, best known for his painting of Whistler’s Mother. But the President had a different idea. He wanted to use the image of Whistler’s mother as the centerpiece of a stamp honoring American mothers on Mother’s Day. He sketched out his idea in a drawing which led to the production of the stamp featured here. FDR directed that this stamp be printed in time for use in the mails during the weeks leading up to Mother’s Day in May 1934.

After FDR's death, his personal stamp collection – including this stamp pane – was sold at public auction in 1946 in accordance with his wishes. The pane is one in a group of fifty U.S. stamp sheets and panes (MO 1958.53.1-50) signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Henry Morgenthau Jr., and others.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDonated to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Joseph S. Lindemann in 1958.
Credit LineGift of Joseph S. Lindemann
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