K1301s

Black Heritage

James Weldon Johnson - Author, Lyricist

Fred Collins Signature

Collins Cover Announcement 

JAMES WELDON JOHNSON

Mr. Johnson was born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1871. After college, he started his career as a high school principal. Continuing at law school, he became in 1897 the first black attorney admitted to the Florida Bar. In 1901, Mr. Johnson moved to New Yrok City where he wrote over 200 songs for Broadway musicals. In 1906, Teddy Roosevelt appointed this unusual and talented man as U.S. Consul to Venezuela and then to Nicaragua. Later, he taught at Fisk University and while there wrote several books of poetry. Beginning in 1934, he was a professor of Literature at New York University until he was killed in a Maine auto accident in 1938.

For the cachet, I show several items associated with his many careers. A "mortar-board" graduation hat for his academic accomplishments. A "scale of justice" for his legal background. A typewriter for his literary works. And, a straw hat, cane, and keyboard for his musical compositions. In the center, a large portrait brings the hand-painted cachet together.

Two of the new stamps were used for this FDC. One has the official Nashville, Tennessee cancel while the second has an unofficial First Day postmark from Jacksonville, Florida -- the city of his birth. I'm sure that COLLINS was the only cachet to obtain this Florida cancel which adds a nice philatelic and historical touch.

A fine FDC paying tribute to a remarkable man. Item #K1301 $9.00.