U.S. 1939 Philatelic Truck souvenir sheet highly collectible

Stamp Market Tips by Henry Gitner and Rick Miller

Most collectors know that President Franklin D. Roosevelt was a stamp collector and took a very strong and direct interest in U.S. stamp production.

In 1939, he and Postmaster General James A. Farley came up with the idea of the Philatelic Truck, a mobile postal museum, that would tour the country to promote stamp collecting, the Post Office Department and its services.

The rolling museum was a converted armored truck that contained examples of all U.S. stamps issued up to that time. It also featured displays and exhibits on stamp collecting and the creation of postage stamps from design to printing.

The truck traveled throughout the United States, stopping at towns, cities and villages where schools and the general public were invited to tour the truck and learn about stamp collecting, the Post Office Department and U.S. stamps.

Every person touring the truck was given an engraved souvenir sheet showing the White House. The souvenir sheets, which were not valid for postage, were printed aboard the rolling museum. The sheet was inscribed “Souvenir Distributed on the Occasion of the Visit of the Philatelic Truck” above the depiction of the White House. An inscription in the frame at the bottom of the design reads, “Issued by the United States Post Office Department.” The souvenir sheet was produced both with and without gum.

Although it was a product of the Post Office Department, the souvenir sheet’s lack of postal validity consigns it to the category of a cinderella (label). However, given its beautifully engraved design, fascinating history and intimate connection to the Post Office Department, many U.S. collectors include it in their collections.

Although the Philatelic Truck souvenir sheet is not listed or valued in the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers, it is listed in the Brookman Price Guide at $9.50 for ungummed as issued and $60 for original gum in mint, never-hinged condition.

The gum usually has skips and bends similar to those found on the 1934 American Philatelic Society souvenir sheet (Scott 750) and the 1934 Trans-Mississippi Philatelic Exposition souvenir sheet (Scott 751).

An ungummed example of the Philatelic Truck souvenir sheet without faults is a good buy at $10 or less. Gummed examples in mint, never-hinged condition sell for $30 to $40.

Some enterprising visitors got their sheets autographed or postmarked on cover. These are highly collectible and sell for $50 to $100 or more, depending on the desirability of the autograph or postmark.

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