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- 3c 50th Anniversary of Statehood Map President Franklin D. Roosevelt sketch
3c 50th Anniversary of Statehood Map President Franklin D. Roosevelt sketch
Object Details
- Description
- Original stamp design for the 50th anniversary of statehood for Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington. Sketched on White House stationery by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and dated "5/4/39." It is initialed "FDR, fecit 1939." An example of the resulting postage stamp, USA Scott 858, is affixed to the note sheet above the design.
- In anticipation of the fiftieth anniversary of statehood to be celebrated by these states in 1939, members of Congress, citizens, and officials from each state requested that special stamps be issued to commemorate the occasions. Serious opposition arose within the Post Office Department (POD) because it normally only issued stamps to commemorate a centenary celebration, and issuing four separate stamps at one time would tax POD resources.
- Charles A. Hauswirth, mayor of Butte, Montana, was particularly active in the drive to issue a fiftieth anniversary stamp for his state. During a personal visit with President Roosevelt, the president asked Mayor Hauswirth if Montana was going to have a special stamp issued for this anniversary. The mayor advised Postmaster General James Farley of the president's interest in a letter dated April 13, 1939. Then in a letter dated May 4, 1939, Mayor Hauswirth asked Mr. Farley to consider a single stamp honoring all four states. The Post Office Department's response to the mayor was encouraging. "Although we are unable to make a definite commitment in the matter at this time," it read, "it may be possible to take favorable action on this suggestion."
- During a meeting between the president and the postmaster general on May 4, 1939, President Roosevelt had suggested a single stamp honoring all four anniversaries. The president drew a sketch suggesting a design and gave it to Postmaster General Farley. This sketch, incorporating maps all four states on a single stamp, was sent to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and using this sketch as a model, the Bureau developed the final design. It also used a geological survey relief map of the states furnished by the Department of the Interior.
- The Post Office Department ultimately issued one stamp for four states. The stamp went on sale in the capitals of each of the four states on their anniversary dates: Bismarck, North Dakota and Pierre, South Dakota, November 2, 1939; Helena, Montana, November 8, 1939; and Olympia, Washington, November 11, 1939.
- References:
- Hauswirth, Charles A., Mayor, city of Butte, Montana, letter to the Honorable James Farley, April 13, 1939.
- Hauswirth, Charles A., Mayor, city of Butte, Montana, letter to the Honorable James Farley, May 4, 1939.
- Black, Ramsey S., Third Assistant Postmaster General, letter to Mayor Charles A. Hauswirth, May 13, 1939.
- Baur, Brian C., Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Stamps of the United States 1933-1945, Linn's Stamp News. 1993.
- Data Source
- National Postal Museum
- Date
- 1939
- Object number
- 0.209045.12
- Artist
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt, American, 1882 - 1945
- Type
- Postage Stamps
- Medium
- paper; graphite; ink
- Dimensions
- Height x Width: 8 x 5 3/4 in. (20.32 x 14.61 cm)
- Place
- United States of America
- See more items in
- National Postal Museum Collection
- On View
- Currently on exhibit at the National Postal Museum
- Title
- Scott Catalogue USA 858
- Topic
- Maps
- National Stamp Collection
- U.S. Stamps
- Record ID
- npm_0.209045.12
- Usage
- Usage conditions apply
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