First day cover for the U.S.S. SACRAMENTO

first day of issue envelope

First day cover for the U.S.S. SACRAMENTO (PG-19, built 1914), patrol gunboat; front of envelope has cachet in blue ink, features unidentified navy ship in the center with an eagle perched on a ribbon banner, wings spread, printed on banner "A STRONG NATION/ A STRONG NAVY/ G.A. Shaw", printed on left "FIRST DAY/ POSTAL SERVICE/ U.S.S. SACRAMENTO/ GUNBOAT/ RECOMMISSIONED", stamp on right features portrait of Benjamin Franklin in profile, printed on stamp "UNITED/ STATES/ POSTAGE/ BENJAMIN/ FRANKLIN/ 1/2 CENT 1/2"; stamp postmarked "U.S.S. SACRAMENTO/ FEB/ 27/ 1941/ PARCEL POST". The U.S.S. SACRAMENTO helped down two enemy planes during the attack on Pearl Harbor and assisted with rescue operations (see correspondence file).