Sports History Collectibles Appraisal

Babe Ruth First Day Cover (FDC) - 1939 Cooperstown Centennial

This item is a historical Philatelic First Day Cover (FDC) commemorating the 1939 Cooperstown Centennial, featuring a pictorial cachet of baseball legend Babe Ruth. The rectangular envelope, likely standard letter size (approximately 6.5 x 3.75 inches based on visual estimation), appears to be made of aged, light-colored paper, exhibiting some discoloration consistent with its age. The left side prominently displays a colorful, hand-drawn or printed illustration of Babe Ruth in his pinstriped uniform, holding two baseball bats over his shoulder. The colors in the illustration, particularly the blue background and Ruth's skin tones, appear somewhat faded but are still discernible. The right upper corner features a purple U.S. postage stamp with 'FIRST DAY OF ISSUE' printed beneath it, indicating its philatelic significance. A circular Cooperstown postmark is visible, clearly dated 'JUN 12 9-AM 1939 N.Y.', which aligns with the centennial celebration of baseball's supposed origins. The envelope is addressed to 'Mrs. P. M. BROWN, Box. 176., GRAND. RAPIDS. MINNISOTA' in neat, handwritten script. The overall condition suggests minor wear, creasing, and potential foxing due to age, but it is currently encased in a protective plastic sleeve, which has preserved it from further damage. The craftsmanship of the cachet is indicative of early 20th-century philatelic art, blending illustration with postal history. The item represents a significant piece of baseball memorabilia and philatelic history, combining the allure of one of the greatest athletes with the historical context of a major baseball anniversary and the collecting appeal of a First Day Cover.