The feature stamp on this hand drawn, hand painted . . . and Strictly One-of-a-Kind . . . FDC, by Judith Fogt, is the PO's 1983 200-Year Anniversary of Hot Air Balloon Flight . . . The Intrepid stamp, Scott 2032.   

About the inspiration for the feature stamps : as noted above, this is a 200-Year Anniversary FDCs. Ya' see, it was in 1783, in Paris, France, when two brothers, Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier, made the world's very first successful manned balloon flight on a free-flying balloon. Their flight lasted approximately 10 minutes. (By "free-flying," I mean that before Montgolfier's inaugural flight, other attempts were made with balloons being secured to the earth as they arose, just for safety's sake.)   

That being said, in 1983, the PO released a set of 4 stamps, which showcased hot-air balloons from 1861 to 1935.

About the feature stamp, itself : the hot air balloon which accents this cover is The Intrepid of 1861. Before the above mentioned "free-flying" days of ballooning, The Intrepid was used by the North during the Civil War as a reconnaissance ballon, helping the Yankees to search out Rebel camps and, thus, played a key role in the helping the North win the Civil War

About the hand drawn and hand painted cachet : on her lavishing colored, hand painted cachet, Mrs. Fogt gives us commanding look at a considerably more modern and artistically designed hot air balloon, made to resemble a Peacock, with all the vibrant colors we might expect to see when a peacock spreads its wings . . . and all this, as we spot a silhouetted pair of free-fliers enjoying their thrilling ride set against a Heavenly blue sky.  

About the ultra-theme related cancellation : and aptly enough, Mrs. Fogt obtained the PO's official 4-bat cancel from Alburqueue, where hot-air ballooning is a very popular event.

About the Scarcity Factor : and as noted above, this FDC is a Strictly One-of-a-Kind FDC. 

All in all, a the usual Judith Fogt artistic expertise. 

INTERESTING TIDBIT: in his informative 8-page article in the December 2007 issue of First Days, writer Steve Ripley reveals that Judy Fogt's covers, from her very first up to her 1989 creations are all one-of-a-kind pieces. Judy did continue her cachetmaking in 1990 and beyond in a hand-drawn, hand painted line that she called Limited Editions where multiple quantities of each cover were made. But the cover featured in this auction is from Mrs. Fogt's One-of Days.  

But getting back to First Days for a minute --- if you are not yet a member of the AFDCS (American First Day Cover Society), which publishes First Days, you might want to check out their site at AFDCS.org, and seriously consider joining. The magazine is quite informative, and it will keep you very much in-tune and up-to-date with all Hobby issues, both past and present. (Most informed Hobbyists are members.)