8c National Parks Zion original "Farley's Follies" uncut press sheet of 200
Object Details
- Description
- This is an uncut, imperforate, ungummed press sheet of two hundred Zion (National Parks issue) stamps, signed by James A. Farley and Franklin D. Roosevelt; plate number 21325.
- 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
- September 10, 1934
- Object number
- 0.209045.33.8
- Type
- Postage Stamps
- Medium
- paper; ink (sage green) / engraving
- Dimensions
- Height x Width: 18 1/2 x 20 3/4 in. (46.99 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 747
- Topic
- Maps
- The Environment
- National Stamp Collection
- U.S. Stamps
- Record ID
- npm_0.209045.33.8
