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Swiss Stamps


Pro Juventute Issues

of 1927-1932

The Pro Juventute surtaxed Swiss stamps issued between 1927 and 1931 made a break with established tradition, in that the annual subjects had a varied array of themes.  The lower-denomination Pro Juventute stamps featured children, city coats of arms, and landscapes.  During this period, the higher-denomination Pro Juventute stamp of each set usually commemorated a famous person or event, a practice that would continue for may years.



The four Pro Juventute Swiss stamps shown above (Zu. WI #41-44, Mi. #222-25, Sc. #B41-44) were issued on December 1, 1927 to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Death of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi.

The designs are as follows:

  • 05 C. + 05 C. - Orphan.
  • 10 C. + 05 C. - Orphan at Pestalozzi school.
  • 20 C. + 05 C. - Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi.
  • 30 C. + 10 C. - Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi.

Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746-1827) was a Swiss educational reformer.  He founded several educational institutions in both the German-speaking and French-speaking regions of Switzerland, and he wrote many works explaining his principles of education.  Thanks to his work, illiteracy in 18th Century Switzerland was almost completely eradicated by 1830.



The four Pro Juventute stamps shown above (Zu. WI #45-48, Mi. #229-32, Sc. #B45-48) were issued on December 1, 1928.

The three lower-denomination Pro Juventute stamps feature city coats of arms, as follows:

  • 05 C. + 05 C. - Lausanne.
  • 10 C. + 05 C. - Winterthur.
  • 20 C. + 05 C. - St. Gallen.

The 30 C. + 10 C. denomination Pro Juventute stamp was issued to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Jean Henri Dunant.

Jean Henri Dunant (1828-1910) was a Swiss businessman and social activist.  During a business trip in 1859, he witnessed the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino in Italy.  He was profoundly moved by the event, and afterwards, he wrote a book, Memory of Solferino, which became the impetus for the creation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1863.  In 1901, he became the first person to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.



The four Pro Juventute Swiss stamps shown above (Zu. WI #49-52, Mi. #235-38, Sc. #B49-52) were issued on December 1, 1929.

The three lower-denomination Pro Juventute stamps feature landscape paintings, as follows:

  • 05 C. + 05 C. - Lake Lugano and Mt. Salvatore (1,975 ft.), Ticino.
  • 10 C. + 05 C. - Lake Engstlen and Mt. Titlis (10,623 ft.), Obwalden.
  • 20 C. + 05 C. - Mt. Lyskamm (14,852 ft.), Valais.

The 30 C. + 10 C. denomination Pro Juventute stamp was issued to honor the renowned Swiss patriot Niklaus von der Flüe.

Niklaus von der Flüe (1417-1487) had a multifaceted life.  He was born of wealthy parents, and during his life, he was a soldier, military leader, member of the assembly, councilor, judge, and mystic.  After 1467, as the result of a vision, he left his family and worldly possessions and became a hermit.  His council to the Diet of Stans in 1481 helped to prevent war between the Swiss Cantons, and for this, he is revered as a Swiss patriot and as the symbol of Swiss unification.  He was beatified in 1669 and canonized in 1947, and he is the patron saint of Switzerland.



The four Pro Juventute stamps shown above (Zu. WI #53-56, Mi. #241-44, Sc. #B53-56) were issued on December 1, 1930.

The three lower-denomination Pro Juventute stamps feature city coats of arms, as follows:

  • 05 C. + 05 C. - Fribourg.
  • 10 C. + 05 C. - Altdorf.
  • 20 C. + 05 C. - Schaffhausen.

The 30 C. + 10 C. denomination Pro Juventute stamp was issued to honor Jeremias Gotthelf.

Jeremias Gotthelf was the pen name of Albrecht Bitzius (1797-1854), a famous Swiss pastor and novelist.



The four Pro Juventute Swiss stamps shown above (Zu. WI #57-60, Mi. #246-49, Sc. #B57-60) were issued on December 1, 1931.

The three lower-denomination Pro Juventute stamps feature landscapes, as follows:

  • 05 C. + 05 C. - Lakes Silvaplana and Sils, Grisons.
  • 10 C. + 05 C. - Mt. Wetterhorn (12,113 ft.), Bern.
  • 20 C. + 05 C. - Lake Geneva, (Vaud, Geneva, Valais).

The 30 C. + 10 C. denomination Pro Juventute stamp was issued to honor Alexandre Vinet.

Alexandre Vinet (1797-1847) was a Swiss critic and theologian that promoted Protestant theology within French-speaking areas of Europe.


The four Pro Juventute Swiss stamps shown above (Zu. WI #61-64, Mi. #262-65, Sc. #B61-64) were issued on December 1, 1932.

The three lower-denomination Pro Juventute stamps feature sports, as follows:

  • 05 C. + 05 C. - Flag bearer.
  • 10 C. + 05 C. - Putting the stone.
  • 20 C. + 05 C. - Wrestling.

The 30 C. + 10 C. denomination Pro Juventute stamp was issued to honor Eugen Huber.

Eugen Huber (1849-1923) was a Swiss jurist and the author of the Swiss Civil Law book, published in 1907.








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