Wyoming State Archives receives philatelic gift

A Wyoming family has given a gift to the state archives which traces a little known part of the career of a U.S. Senator and first assistant United States postmaster general.

The Jackson Hole Star-Tribune reports the gift consists of 258 pieces of correspondence spanning the years 1933 to 1952.

"Each stamped letterhead envelope in the collection is stamped to a Cheyenne constituent of O'Mahoney and holds a special cancellation applied on the First Day of Issue in the city where the stamp was issued.

"Ninety of the colorful envelopes are accompanied by letters from O'Mahoney explaining the background behind the newly issued postage stamp.

"Some of the letters refer to the direct personal involvement of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, an avid stamp collector, in the design process for a number of the new stamps. Roosevelt frequently submitted pencil sketches of his ideas.

"O'Mahoney served under Postmaster General James A. Farley, a close New York political ally of the president.

"In the collection is a 1954 envelope, autographed by Farley, bearing a stamp depicting Old Faithful Geyser (shown above) and postmarked Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming."

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