WEIMAR GERMANY
GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH
FOUNDATION CEREMONY
(1922)
This postcard was published by Verlag der Luther-Gesellschaft G.m.b.h to commemorate the foundation ceremony of the German Evangelical Church in Wittenberg. The card is inscribed "Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchenbund Gründungsfeier himmelfahrt 1922 in der SchloβKirche zu Wittenberg" - 'Federation of German Protestant Churches founding ceremony in 1922 in the Castle Church in Wittenberg'.
The Castle Church (or Church of Reformation) is an important Protestant Church, considered the starting point of the Reformation. Martin Luther had disseminated his 95 Latin theses for the disputation from here on October 31, 1517. It is this church that can be seen on the special cancellation on the cards below. This cancel was used on consecutive days from 24th to 27th May 1922.
There were at least four versions of this postcard, all had the same design, the differences being in the pre-printed value stamp.
The first card PP39-C-1 had a 75Pf pre-printed Germania stamp.
The second PP40-C-1 had a 1¼ Mark pre-printed Germania stamp.
The third PP60-C-2 had a 40Pf 'number in large rectangle' pre-printed stamp and
Finally, PP61-C-1 had a 50Pf 'number in large rectangle' pre-printed stamp.
I have not seen any version of this card without a pre-printed stamp, but one might possibly exist.
PP39-C-1
75Pf Germania
This version of the postcard has a 1920 issue, 75Pf, Germania, Michel 148 or (Michel 197) pre-printed stamp.
PP39-C-1
PP40-C-1
1¼ Mark
This version of the postcard has a 1922 issue, 1¼ Mark, Germania, Michel 198 or (Michel 151) pre-printed stamp. In addition, this particular example has the cancellation used in Wittenberg during the event on 25th May 1922.
PP40-C-1
FROM MY COLLECTION
PP60-C-2
40Pf Large Number in Rectangle
This version of the postcard has a 1921 issue, 40Pf, 'large number in rectangle', Michel 163 or (Michel 182) pre-printed stamp. In addition, this particular example has the cancellation used in Wittenberg during the event on 25th May 1922.
PP60-C-2
FROM MY COLLECTION
PP61-C-1
50Pf Large Number in Rectangle
This version of the postcard has a 1921 issue, 50Pf, 'large number in rectangle', Michel 164 or (Michel 183) pre-printed stamp. In addition, this particular example has the cancellation used in Wittenberg during the event on 25th May 1922.
PP61-C-1
FROM MY COLLECTION