PHYLLIS A. WHITNEY - FIRST DAY COVER SIGNED - HFSID 185840

PHYLLIS A. WHITNEY
Edgar Allen Poe first day cover with Poe cachet in purple ink, signed by Edgar-winning author Whitney
First Day Cover signed: "Happy reading!/Phyllis A. Whitney", 6½x3¾. FDC honoring Edgar Allan Poe, 3-cent Poe stamp affixed, postmarked Richmond, VA., October 7, 1949, FIRST DAY OF ISSUE. Whitney, who is best known for her juvenile mysteries, received the prestigious Edgar Allan Poe Award (the "Edgar"), named after the famed American author and poet, for her sixth juvenile mystery, Mystery of the Haunted Pool, in 1961, and she won a second "Edgar" for Mystery of the Hidden Hand (1964). She was also nominated for "Edgars" in 1962 (Secret of the Tiger's Eye), 1971 (Secret of the Missing Footprint) and 1974 (Mystery of the Scowling Boy). In the year this stamp was issued, Whitney published her ninth book and eighth novel, The Mystery of the Gulls. Whitney (1903-2008 in Yokohama, Japan) wrote over 76 books, including three textbooks, over a career spanning more than 65 years, and began working on her autobiography in 2006. More than 50 million copies of her books are in print in paperback alone, and Whitney's works have been published in more than 30 countries. She also wrote more than 100 short stories and served as Children's Book Editor of Book Week (1942-1946), a publication of the Chicago Sun, and in the same capacity for the Philadelphia Inquirer (1947-1948). Whitney also taught juvenile fiction writing courses at Northwestern University (1945) and New York University (1947-1958) and wrote a number of bestselling romance/suspense novels, including Emerald (1983), Rainsong (1984), Dream of Orchids (1985), Flaming Tree (1986), Silversword (1987), Feather on the Moon (1988) and Daughter of the Stars (1994). Whitney, who was elected President of the Mystery Writers of America in 1975, was awarded the group's Grand Master Award in 1988. Slightly soiled. Fine condition.