There could hardly be a clearer reminder of Martin Luther’s deep-seated antisemitsm than a letter about to be auctioned off in the US.

Dated September 1, 1543 and written in German to a fellow theologist, the lot, which has a starting price of $250,000 (£194,400), has already drawn three bids since last month.

A translation of the letter provided by the auction house describes Jews as “devils incarnate who curse our Lord” and who “abuse His mother.”

“Although we think of Martin Luther as a reformer, this letter reminds us of his unrepentant antisemitism,” said Bobby Livingston, executive vice president at RR Auction.

Luther’s later writings, which included virulently antisemitic views, found a new lease of life during the Third Reich and were used in Nazi propaganda.

Luther, who called for the destruction of Jewish schools, synagogues and prayer books, was centuries later praised as a great reformer by Adolf Hitler in Mein Kampf.

The German theologist challenged the Roman Catholic Church and played 
a leading role in sparking the 16th century Reformation, which led to the founding of Protestantism.