Original 1930 philatelic correspondence concerning an unusual Royalton, Wisconsin postal cancellation described at the time as depicting a witch riding a broom.

In a March 25, 1930 typed and signed letter on his personal stationery, stamp collector Henry C. De Witt Jr. of Summit, New Jersey writes directly to the Postmaster at Royalton, Wisconsin. De Witt states that he had read in a publication for stamp collectors that the Royalton office was using a cancellation device “showing a witch riding a broom” on registered mail and that it was being applied in red. He explains that he collects such cancellations and asks the postmaster to cancel enclosed covers and return them for his collection. De Witt identifies his collector memberships/numbers on the letter as A.P.S. 9833 and A.A.M.S. 288.

Accompanied by a 2-cent U.S. postal stationery envelope addressed to De Witt and postmarked Royalton, Wisconsin, June 8, 1931. The surviving envelope bears a conventional Royalton cancellation; the witch-and-broom cancellation discussed in the letter is not present on this envelope.

An unusual piece of Depression-era philatelic correspondence documenting how a dedicated collector sought unusual local postal cancellations directly from postmasters. Letter retains original folds and handwritten annotations; envelope shows postal wear, creasing and edge/corner wear. Please review photographs for condition and details.

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Royalton Wisconsin postal history witch broom cancel cancellation Henry C De Witt APS philately stamp collector correspondence 1930 1931 postmaster pictorial cancel postal stationery 2 cent Washington