Who Signed Your Cover?

I'm sure we're all used to seeing signatures on FDCs/event covers of the 1940s to 1950s - 99% signed by postmasters/postmistresses. Well I'm in the habit of reading those signatures to see if I can ID the signer. Normally not - but I was able to pick this one up for $1 because presumably no one else checked

This FDC of the 1948 3c cent Booker Washington stamp is signed by his daughter, Portia Washington Pittman, which I think is really neat.





Anyone else have examples?

Very nice, indeed, but it is not a Booker T Washington stamp. The stamp is Dr. G W Carver. I would assume Booker Washington's daughter's signature would still make this a desirable cover.

A good reason why the Booker T. Washington stamp wasn't used:




A quick web search reveals that Portia Washington Pittman signed many covers that day (February 12, 1948), so it may be quite common to find them.

This is kind of related: I found a postage meter for sale on Card Cow referencing the location as Booker Washington Birthplace, VA. (I don't think I've ever seen so many letters used within a Pitney Bowes Postage Meter before!)

I guess I'm too busy checking signatures to pay attention to stamps

Thanks for the correction and the additional info.

Quote:
Quote: A commemorative postage stamp issued in 1948 for George Washington Carver (Scott number 953). Note that a stamp for Booker T. Washington was not issued until 1952 and so this stamp for the black botanist was most appropriate in 1948 at the time of the event. Postmarked with a special machine cancel dated February 12, 1948, from "Booker Washington Birthplace, Va.," with a slogan that reads "OPENING DAY CANCELLATION."

Um . . . wasn't Booker T. Washington featured on Scott 873 in the Famous Americans series? Scott 873 is a 10 cent stamp that was issued on April 7, 1940. Clearly that would have been the right stamp to use on a 1948 card with a special Booker T. Washington cancel, and it would have been widely and easily available for such an event.

Also, even if there were not a Booker T. Washington stamp already easily available in 1948, I am not sure that I would entirely agree with the stark characterization that using a stamp issued to honor George Washington Carver was "most appropriate" for a cancellation honoring Booker T. Washington. Carver was a black botanist, while Booker T. Washington was a mixed race civil rights leader (his father was white and his mother was black). About the only thing they have in common is Washington is part of each of their names - but then so are all of the stamps with George Washington depicted on them.

Look at the cancel- "opening day cancellation" closely. It looks very crudely made. Sort of add methinks? I think it genuine, just crude. Neat item.