Height x Width: 20 3/4 x 18 1/2 in. (52.71 x 46.99 cm)
Type:
Postage Stamps
Place:
United States of America
Date:
September 18, 1934
Description:
Uncut, imperforate, ungummed press sheet of two hundred 4c Mesa Verde (National Parks issue) stamps, signed by James A. Farley in green ink and Franklin D. Roosevelt in blue ink; plate number 21330.
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.
