The Roosevelt Small Die Proofs
Roosevelt small die proofs are impression proofs of US postage stamps, painstakingly prepared by the Bureau of Engraving & Printing in the early 20th century. These proofs were bound into deluxe presentation albums, unofficially called “Roosevelt Albums” due to their distribution during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency. The practice of distributing such exclusive albums was discontinued due to public backlash over favoritism, ending in January 1905.
The albums contained 302 proofs each, representing nearly every US and Cuba postage stamp issued up to 1903, including Official, Newspaper & Periodical, Postage Due, and Special Delivery issues. Importantly, only 85 such complete albums were produced, making them extraordinarily rare and valuable.
Only a select group of influential figures received these presentation albums—friends and political connections of Third Assistant Postmaster General Edwin C. Madden and President Roosevelt. Some known recipients include Secretary of War Elihu Root, Speaker of the House Joseph G. Cannon, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, and Assistant Treasury Secretary Robert J. Armstrong. One of the few Democrats to receive an album was Representative Claude A. Swanson, who served as the ranking Democrat on the House of Representatives Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.
Over time, many Roosevelt Albums were broken up, and the individual proofs dispersed to satisfy collector demand. Intact albums are extremely rare. Individual die proofs often bear signs of their origin. Many of the proofs were made with fugitive inks (inks that fade, run, or disappear when exposed to water). Excessive bleeding from when the proof was soaked free from its backing is a common indicator.
Roosevelt small die proofs stand out as an intriguing chapter in philatelic history—rare artifacts with both technical and historical resonance. Today, they are valued not only for their scarcity but also for the insights they provide into early 20th-century US stamp production and presidential patronage.
