How Cachet!

While I grew up in a family that worked for the United States Postal Service, I didn’t learn what the philatelic meaning of the word “cachet” meant until today. A cachet is a stamped or printed design or inscription, other than the postmark, on an envelope. Earlier this week, I happened upon an envelope labeled “Hugh Peterson, Stamp Collection” and found a series of envelopes with these designs commemorating happenings around the nation and in Congressman Peterson’s home state of Georgia.

Many of the designs have to do with air travel, including celebrating the openings of the Albuquerque Municipal Airport and La Guardia Airport in 1939. Others commemorate the flight of a specific plane, such as the one below for TWA and its then new Boeing Stratoliner, which made the trip across the United States in 14 hours carrying 33 passengers and 5 crew members.

Some are also signed by people who played a significant part in planning the event, such as Eli Whitney Day and the opening of the Hunter Airport (now Hunter Army Airfield) in 1940, both of which were in Savannah, Georgia.

Post by Renna Tuten, Project Archivist, Russell Library