Hope Diamond Mail Wrapper

Smithsonian Snapshot

Hope Diamond Mail Wrapper
Image courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum   

Hope Diamond Mail Wrapper, Postmark: Nov. 8, 1958
Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum
When he donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958, jeweler Harry Winston sent the fabled gem by registered first-class mail. This package carried the diamond on its trip from New York City to Washington, D.C. Of the $145.29 mailing price, only $2.44 was for postage. The balance was the insurance fee for $1 million. This object is one of 137 million artifacts, works of art and specimens in the Smithsonian’s collection. This object is not on display.
For more info, please visit the Arago site of the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum.


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Samia Brennan
(202) 633-5191
Jessica Porter
(202) 633-5192