The 2021 American First Day Cover Society Court of Honor cachet showcases the artwork of the late Ludwig W. Staehle (1893-1967) of New York City.

Each year, the AFDCS honors a cachet artist or company that has contributed to the hobby over a number of years. This year’s Court of Honor cachet will be serviced with new holiday stamps that will be issued in the coming months.

The series uses the Christmas theme, since the U.S. issues stamps for this subject almost every year. The series began in 1981 and there has been a new Court of Honor FDC every year since then.

The Staehle cachet is adapted from a World War II era patriotic cover. It features the bold, symbolic design for which Staehle is well known. The original cover is cachet number 1399 in Lawrence Sherman’s United States Patriotic Envelopes of World War II (2006).

According to Sherman, Staehle emigrated to New York in 1927 and became an interior architectural designer. He began creating cachets in the 1930s. For three consecutive years, 1942-1944, he was named “King of Cachets” by Stamps magazine. He was especially prolific during the war years, creating designs for patriotic and first day covers for multiple cover producers.

The Ludwig Staehle Court of Honor FDCs will be offered in the AFDCS Marketplace in due course. Prices will start at $5.00.