5c National Parks Yellowstone original "Farley's Follies" uncut press sheet
Object Details
- Description
- Uncut, imperforate, ungummed press sheet of two hundred 5c Yellowstone (National Parks issue) stamps, signed by James A. Farley in green ink and Franklin D. Roosevelt in blue ink; plate number 21280.
- Postmaster General James Farley frequently bought imperforate, ungummed, printed sheets of stamps right off the press. Both Farley and FDR signed in the margins. Farley presented the first sheet off the press to FDR and frequently saved the second for his own family. Farley often presented other sheets as souvenirs or political favors to friends. He did this twenty times during his tenure. The practice angered the philatelic community and political opponents when exposed. Feeling deprived of access to these unique and invaluable sheets, critics lobbied Congress, demanding justice. To quell the mounting tension, Farley ordered all twenty sheets reprinted in a special printing without gum or perforations and offered for sale to every American who desired the sheets. The reprintings began on March 15, 1935. Stamp collectors refer to the scandal and the reprinted sheets as "Farley's Follies."
- To view the reprinted stamps, see USA Scott numbers 752-771.
- Data Source
- National Postal Museum
- Date
- July 23, 1934
- Object number
- 0.209045.33.5
- Type
- Postage Stamps
- Medium
- paper; ink (blue) / engraving
- Dimensions
- Height x Width: 18 3/4 x 20 3/4 in. (47.63 x 52.71 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 744
- Topic
- Maps
- The Environment
- National Stamp Collection
- U.S. Stamps
- Record ID
- npm_0.209045.33.5
