3c Mothers of America President Franklin D. Roosevelt sketch

Franklin Delano Roosevelt's original pencil design for Mothers of America postage stamp. Although originally intended to honor artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler, at FDR's direction the stamp as issued honored mothers on Mother's Day mail. Roosevelt inscribed the sketch with the message: "For Jim Farley—The "Original Design" of the Mothers Day Stamp by Franklin D. Roosevelt." Dated 2/16/34 FDR.

The designer altered the painting Whistler's Mother by removing the background and the woman's feet and adding a vase of flowers. An example of the resulting stamp, USA Scott 737, (issued 1934 May 2) is attached in the lower left corner.

References:
Baur, Brian C. Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Stamps of the United States 1933-45. Sidney, OH: Linn’s Stamp News, 1993.
Baur, Brian C. Franklin D. Roosevelt: The Stamp-Collecting President. Sidney, OH: Linn’s Stamp News, 1999.

Scott Catalogue USA: 737

Museum ID: 0.209045.11