As part of the commemoration last year of the 500^th anniversary of Martin Luther posting his 95 Theses, our churches in county Down put together an illustrated exhibition on the history of the Reformation from 1517. One part of this was a collection of stamps from around the world all related to Luther. It is surprising how many countries have seen Martin Luther as a suitable subject for a postage stamp. I don’t imagine this is an exhaustive collection of Martin Luther related stamps but it is interesting to compare the variety of images and styles utilised. Some are very artistic, others less so.

Top row, left to right:

USA 1983 20c, 500th anniversary of Luther’s birth; French Polynesia 1983 90F, 500th anniversary of Luther’s birth; Bulgaria 1996 300 lev, 450th anniversary of Luther’s death; Germany 2017 .70 euro, 500th anniversary of reformation.

Second row, left to right:

Lithuania 2017 .39 euros, 500th anniversary of reformation; West Germany 1971 30c, 450th anniversary of the diet of Worms; Estonia 2017 .65 Euro, 500th anniversary of reformation; France 1983 3.30F, 500th anniversary of Luther’s birth.

Left to right:

South Africa 1967 12.5 c, 450^th anniversary of reformation; South Africa 1967 2.5 c, 450^th anniversary of reformation; West Germany 1979 50 pf, 450^th anniversary of Luther’s Catechism; Germany 1995 100 pf, 450^th anniversary of the Worms Reichstag.

Left to right:

Germany 2002 56 pf, 500^th anniversary Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg; West Germany 1983 80 pf, 500th anniversary of Luther’s birth; West Germany 1961 15 pf, 415^th anniversary of Luther’s death; Germany 1996 100pf, 450^th anniversary of Luther’s death.

Left to right:

East Germany 1983 85 pf, 500^th anniversary of Luther’s birth; East Germany 1983 20 pf, 500^th anniversary of Luther’s birth; East Germany 1983 10 pf, 500^th anniversary of Luther’s birth; East Germany 1983 35 pf, 500^th anniversary of Luther’s birth.