N701

Martin Luther

German Priest, Theologian

Winter 2025 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 8 N701 — Martin Luther — 11-11-83

It was a real challenge to secure a meaningful unofficial cancel on this cover because the first day of issue was on a holiday. Fortunately, I discovered that Martinsburg, West Virginia was a 24hour facility, so I knew it was going to be a successful trip. I arrived to a relatively quiet city and quickly proceeded to purchase the new stamps. After finishing up at the Main DC Post Office, I was off on my long drive to Martinsburg. The postal people there were among the most friendly I had encountered on my travels, and soon the unofficial cancels with killer bars were on my covers. The hand painted cachet depicts a young Luther in his early studies. A very effective use of a bright yellow background is used to contrast with the brownish/reddish/rust of the traditional robe. It's a most interesting cover