This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Switzerland. Jump to: navigation, search This 1974 stamp from Japan depicts a Class 8620 steam locomotive. ... For a time after the Anschluss in 1938, letters from Austria to Germany were required to add German stamps, resulting in a mixed franking. ...

(pre-stamp postal history here)

Cantonal issues

The first stamps used in Switzerland were issued by the cantons of Zürich, Geneva and Basel for their own use, with the first federal issues coming several years later. The twenty-six cantons of Switzerland are the states of the federal state of Switzerland. ... Location within Switzerland   Zürich? (in English often Zurich, IPA ) is the largest city in Switzerland (population: 366,145 in 2004; population of urban area: 1,091,732) and capital of the canton of Zürich. ... Geneva (French: Genève) is the second-most populous city in Switzerland located where Lake Geneva (French: Lac Léman, but the Genevois and Genevoise are fond of calling it Lac de Genève) empties into the Rhône River. ... Location within Switzerland Basel (English traditionally: Basle , German: Basel , French Bâle , Italian Basilea ) is Switzerlands third most populous city (188,000 inhabitants in the canton of Basel-City as of 2004; the 690,000 inhabitants in the conurbation stretching across the immediate cantonal and national boundaries made Basel...

Zürich

Monochrome image of the Zürich 4 and 6

The Zürich issue was first put on sale 1 March 1843, making it the second type of stamp in the world, after the UK's Penny Black three years earlier. The issue consisted of two imperforate stamps printed as side-by-side pairs, one with a large numeral "4" and the other with a "6", both inscribed "Zürich" at the top. The 4-rappen stamp was also inscribed "LOCAL-TAXE" at the bottom, since it was intended to pay for letters mailed within a city, while the 6-rappen, inscribed "CANTONAL-TAXE", for use with letter going anywhere in the canton. The design was lithographed in black by Orell, Fuessli, and Company, with a pattern of fine red lines underneath, to discourage counterfeiting. Initially the red line were horizontal, but starting in 1846 they were printed vertically. These stamps were popular from the start, but were not printed in large numbers and are quite scarce today, with values ranging from US$1,500 to $20,000 depending on type. Jump to: navigation, search Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1624x992, 208 KB) Erste Briefmarken von dem Züricher Kanton, Schweiz. ... Jump to: navigation, search Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1624x992, 208 KB) Erste Briefmarken von dem Züricher Kanton, Schweiz. ... March 1 is the 60th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (61st in leap years). ... 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... For the research project, see Penny Black (research project). ... For postage stamps, separation is the means by which individual stamps are made easily detachable from each other. ... In Switzerland, one-hundredth of one Swiss franc is called Rappen in German. ... Lithography is a method for printing on a smooth surface, as well as a method of manufacturing semiconductor and MEMS devices. ... A counterfeit is an imitation that is made with the intent to deceptively represent its content or origins. ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1850 Zürich issued a 2 1/2-rappen value depicting the city's coat of arms. Jump to: navigation, search 1850 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ...

Geneva

The "Double Geneva" was designed to be usable for both local and cantonal rates.

Geneva brought out its own stamp issue on 1 October 1843, the "Double Geneva". Like the first Zürich issue, it consisted of pairs of stamps, each printed in black on yellow-green paper, depicting the city's arms, and inscribed "Poste de Genéve" at the top and "Port local" at the bottom. But an additional inscription, reading "10 PORT CANTONAL Cent" ran across the top of each pair. The idea was that the user could cut out a single stamp to pay the intra-commune rate, and a pair to make up the inter-commune rate. Only 6,000 of the doubles were ever printed, and as of 2003, intact used doubles typically go for around US$35,000 at auction. Jump to: navigation, search Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1624x933, 259 KB) Erste Briefmarken von Kanton Genf, in Scwheiz. ... Jump to: navigation, search Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1624x933, 259 KB) Erste Briefmarken von Kanton Genf, in Scwheiz. ... Jump to: navigation, search October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in Leap years). ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, and also: The International Year of Freshwater The European Disability Year Events January events January 1 Luíz Inácio Lula Da Silva becomes the 37th President of Brazil. ...

In 1845, Geneva switched to conventional single 5c stamps. In 1849 itprinted a 4c stamp featuring the federal cross in black and red, and similar 5c designs in 1850 and 1851. Jump to: navigation, search 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search 1850 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search 1851 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Basel

The Basel Dove was the world's first tri-colored stamp

Basel only ever issued one stamp, the "Basel Dove" of 1845. This was a 2 1/2-rappen value featuring a white embossed dove carrying a letter in its beak, and inscribed "STADT POST BASEL", a design by the architect Melchior Berry. It is printed in black, crimson, and blue, making it the world's first tri-colored stamp. Jump to: navigation, search Image File history File links Stamp-Basler_Taube. ... Jump to: navigation, search Image File history File links Stamp-Basler_Taube. ... Basel Dove 1845 The Basel Dove is a notable stamp from Switzerland. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Embossing is the process of creating a three-dimensional image or design in paper. ... Genera Subfamily Columbinae Columba Nesoenas Streptopelia Macropygia Reinwardtoena Turacoena Turtur Oena Chalcophaps Henicophaps Phaps Ocyphaps Geophaps Petrophassa Geopelia Leucosarcia Zenaida Ectopistes (extinct) Columbina Claravis Metropelia Scardafella Uropelia Leptotila Geotrygon Starnoenas Caloenas Gallicolumba Trugon Microgoura (extinct?) Subfamily Otidiphabinae Otidiphaps Subfamily Gourinae Goura Subfamily Didunculinae Didunculus Subfamily Treroninae Phapitreron Treron Ptilinopus Drepanoptila... Architect at his drawing board, 1893 An architect, also known as a building designer, is a person involved in the planning, designing and oversight of a buildings construction, whose role is to guide decisions affecting those building aspects that are of aesthetic, cultural or social concern. ... Crimson is a deep red color tinged with blue; however the name is also used for red colors in general. ... For other uses, see Blue (disambiguation) Blue is one of the three primary additive colors; blue light has the shortest wavelength range (about 420-490 nanometres) of the three primary colors. ...

Federal issues

1850 10-rappen stamp of Switzerland

The adoption of the federal constitution in 1848 made it practical to issue confederation-wide stamps, and the first of these came out in 1850 (the exact date is uncertain). All used the same basic design, a Swiss cross surmounted by a posthorn, but there were a number of variations. The local-rate stamps had a value of 2 1/2 rappen, with some inscribed "ORTS-POST" (German) and "POSTE LOCALE" (French). This was the first of many multi-language issues. For longer-distance mail, the 5-rappen stamp was inscribed "RAYON" and the 10-rappen, "RAYON II". Initially the stamps were issued with a black frame separating the white cross from the red background, but as a technically incorrect rendition of the Swiss arms, these were withdrawn. Jump to: navigation, search ImageMetadata File history File links Stamp_Switzerland_1850_10r. ... Jump to: navigation, search ImageMetadata File history File links Stamp_Switzerland_1850_10r. ... 1848 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1850 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search The Post horn (or posthorn) is a valveless brass instrument used to signal the arrival or departure of a mounted courier or mail coach. ...

In 1852 a 15-rappen/centime value inscribed "RAYON III" was issued, using the same design as previously, but printed entirely in vermilion. Jump to: navigation, search 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Categories: Colors | Pigments | Stub ...

10 rappen, 1854, green thread

All of the preceding issues were declared invalid on 1 October 1854, and replaced with the seated allegorical figure "Helvetia", the first of several issues known as "seated Helveticas". The figure was embossed but only the outline was colored, making it rather hard to pick out. This was the first issue to deal with the multiple languages of Switzerland; in addition to the word "FRANCO" at the top, the other three sides listed the denomination in rappen, centimes, and (Italian) centesimi. Jump to: navigation, search ImageMetadata File history File links Stamp_Switzerland_1854_10r. ... Jump to: navigation, search ImageMetadata File history File links Stamp_Switzerland_1854_10r. ... Jump to: navigation, search October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in Leap years). ... Jump to: navigation, search 1854 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Helvetia on a 25 centime Swiss postage stamp, 1881 Helvetia is the Roman name for an ancient region of central Europe occupying a plateau between the Alps and the Jura Mountains. ...

The issue was also notable for the use of a colored silk thread running horizontally through the paper, as an anti-counterfeiting measure. (In the illustration to the left, the thread is faintly visible about 1/3 of the distance from the bottom of the stamp, looking almost like a crease.) Silk weaver Silk is a natural protein fiber that can be woven into textiles. ... A counterfeit is an imitation that is made with the intent to deceptively represent its content or origins. ...

Closeup of the red thread embedded in the paper of the 1855 10rp stamp of Switzerland.

A number of values were printed between 1854 and 1862, ranging from 5 rappen to 1 franc, and philatelists distinguish them further by type of paper and color of thread. The commonest type surviving today is the 5-rappen brown on thick paper with a green thread, costing US$20 used; certain other types are rare, and the pale yellow-green shade of the 40-rappen value will go for $7,000 or more. Jump to: navigation, search ImageMetadata File history File links Stamp_Switzerland_red_thread. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

A new design with more legible seated Helvetia appeared in 1862, now sporting a "watermark" consisting of a cross inside an ellipse (not a true watermark because it was impressed into the paper after printing), and for the first time, perforations. The units of currency disappeared, with "HELVETIA" inscribed at the top and "FRANCO" at the bottom. Initially printed on white wove paper, the stamps switched to granite paper in 1881. (The paper has red and blue silk threads, clearly visible in the larger image of the stamp to the left.) The stamps continued in use until 1883; many of them are common and cheaply available today, although legitimate cancellations on the granite paper varieties are uncommon because of the short period of use. This Crown & CA (for Crown Agent) watermark was standard for postage stamps of the British colonies from the 1880s to the 1920s. ... This pair of coil stamps clearly shows the pattern of perforation holes; also, on the left side of the pair, the stamp was torn, while on the right the perforations were cut with scissors or knife. ... Granite paper is a term for paper stock embedded with extremely fine colored fibers of either cloth or paper. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1881 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1883 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

25 centimes, 1881, granite paper

In 1882, the low value stamps (up to 15c) were numerals, while the higher values featured a "Standing Helvetia". These continued in use, with a number of variations in color, perforation, and paper, until 1907. 1900 saw Switzerland's first commemorative stamps, a set of three values issued for the 25th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union, with an allegorical design featuring various symbols of communication. Jump to: navigation, search ImageMetadata File history File links Stamp_Switzerland_1881_25c. ... Jump to: navigation, search ImageMetadata File history File links Stamp_Switzerland_1881_25c. ... 1882 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1907 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1900 is a common year starting on Monday. ... The Common Man featured in a commemorative golden postage stamp released by the Indian Postal Service on the 150th anniversary of the Times of India - 1988 A commemorative stamp is a postage stamp issued to honor or commemorate a place, event or person. ... The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is a international organization that coordinates postal policies between member nations, and hence the world-wide postal system. ...

A new definitive series in 1907 showed William Tell's son holding a crossbow and an apple pierced by an arrow for values below 10c, a bust of Helvetia for 10c to 15c values, and another seated Helvetia for higher values. The William Tell's son design went through several redrawings, including a temporary move of the bowstring in front of the crossbow's stock. From 1914 on, a portrait of William Tell himself was used for values between 10c and 30c. A definitive postage stamp is a regular issue stamp that is part of a definitive issue or definitive series consisting of a range of denominations sufficient to cover all postal rates usefully. ... William Tell (German Wilhelm Tell, French Guillaume Tell) was a legendary hero of disputed historical authenticity who is said to have lived in the Canton of Uri in Switzerland in the early 14th century. ... A crossbow is a weapon that fires projectiles called crossbow bolts or quarrels. ... Bowstring is an unincorporated community in the Bowstring Lake unorganized area in Itasca County, Minnesota. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1914 is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Also in 1914, the first of many scenic stamps were issued. The 5fr depicted the Rütli meadow, while the 3fr and 10fr stamps showed the Mythen and Jungfrau mountains, respectively. The Jungfrau (German: virgin) is the highest peak of a mountain massif of the same name, located in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss Alps, overlooking Grindelwald. ... Mount McKinley in Alaska has one of the largest visible base-to-summit elevation differences anywhere A mountain is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain in a limited area. ...

The first semi-postal stamp was issued in 1913, but regular annual issues did not start until 1915. For many years an issue of 3-5 stamps came out on 1 December each year, until 1972. Jump to: navigation, search 1913 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1915 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1972 was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ...

An set of three stamps in 1919 celebrated peace at the end of World War I. Stamp printing experienced some difficulties during this period, and a variety of surcharges were needed in 1915 and 1921. The UPU was noted on its 50th anniversary in 1924 with two stamps, one depicting its building in Bern and the other the location of the 1874 Congress. 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search World War I was primarily a European conflict with many facets: immense human sacrifice, stalemate trench warfare, and the use of new, devastating weapons - tanks, aircraft, machineguns, and poison gas. ... An overprint is the addition of text (and sometimes graphics) to the face of a postage stamp after it has been printed. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1915 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search 1921 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search 1924 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Location within Switzerland The city of Bern, English traditionally Berne (Bernese German Bärn , German Bern , French Berne , Italian Berna , Romansh Berna ), is the Bundesstadt (administrative capital) of Switzerland, and is the fourth most populous Swiss city (after Zürich, Geneva and Basel). ...

In about 1930 Switzerland began to use "grilled gum", a light grill applied along the gum to counteract the tendency for gummed stamps to curl. The grill is most obvious on mint stamps, but is faintly visible on used stamps as well. This was abandoned around 1944. Jump to: navigation, search 1930 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The next definitive series was a set of scenic views issued in 1934. The designs were typographed, resulting in a vigorous albeit somewhat crude-looking appearance, and they were superseded by engraved versions of the same basic designs, beginning in 1936. Jump to: navigation, search 1934 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Typographic work Typography (from the Greek words typos = form and grapho = write) is the art and technique of selecting and arranging type styles, point sizes, line lengths, line leading, character spacing, and word spacing for typeset applications. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1936 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Several commemorative issues appeared in the 1930s, then in 1941 came new definitives honoring Swiss military heroes. Another definitive set in 1945 marked the end of the war; the higher values of this were issued in small numbers, and are relatively expensive today. // Events and trends The 1930s were spent struggling for a solution to the global depression. ... 1941 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The definitive series of 1949 depicted achievements of Swiss technology. Since that time, Swiss stamps have generally followed a regular pattern; an issue of about four commemoratives on a single date in the spring, and a similar group in the fall, as well as a Europa issue, usually in the spring. Starting in the 1980s, there have been additional themed issues; for instance, in 1993 an issue of four stamps featured works of art by Swiss women. 1949 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... Jump to: navigation, search // Events and trends The 1980s marked an abrupt shift towards more conservative lifestyles after the momentous cultural revolutions which took place in the 1960s and 1970s and the definition of the AIDS virus in 1981. ... 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ...