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Switzerland Stamps


Switzerland stamps showcase one of the most significant countries in Central Europe. Their stamps depict the centuries of historical events, the famous people, and the stunning Alpine scenery of this tiny little European country, that has become a beacon of "peace" for the world.

Another remarkable thing about Switzerland is their accomplishment in having been able to avoid participation in any armed military conflict for about 500 years now!  Switzerland became a beacon of liberty during the 20th Century by maintaining its neutrality and sovereignty through two devastating World Wars.  It's not surprising that a large number of international organizations and international peace conferences have all been based in Switzerland over the centuries.


Issues for the Cantons of Zurich, Geneva, and Basel


The first Swiss stamps were those of the Cantons (States) of Zurich, Geneva, and Basel.  These early Swiss stamps have another distinction.  They were also the 3rd (1843), 4th (1843), and 5th (1845) adhesive postage stamp issuing nations of the World!

Unfortunately, the Cantonal postage stamp issues are tremendously rare today, and nice examples are far beyond the financial means of most stamp collectors.



In 1848, all the Swiss Cantons joined together to form the Federation of Switzerland.  The first postage stamps for the Federation of Switzerland were issued in 1850.  All of these Switzerland stamps bore the Switzerland Coat of Arms.  An example is shown above.


The "Strubel" Series of 1854 to 1862


For the philatelist, the early postage stamp issues of Federation of Switzerland offer an abundance of specialization opportunities, with some definitive issues featuring many different printings, papers, types, plate flaws, etc.

Myself, I collect the entire country, but I specialize in the Strubels and in the Standing Helvetia series, as much as my present retirement budget will allow.

For the person that has a country collecting approach and avoids the prohibitively expensive Cantonal issues, most of the major postage stamp issues, from the first postage stamps of the Swiss Federation to those of today, are actually just about completable, requiring only a moderate long-term investment.

Today, that can not be said for most of the countries of the World, especially those that have been issuing postage stamps since the middle of the 19th Century.

If one isn't particular about having an occasional repaired classic stamp in their collection, even some of the Cantonal issues are reasonably attainable by the dedicated philatelist with a substantial budget.

It was easy for me to get hooked on collecting this country. Knowing that my family's origins were originally Germanic, I have always had an interest in the history and postage stamps of the German speaking countries of Europe. But, a few years ago, I was working on my family's genealogy and discovered that my Great Great Grandfather came to America from Switzerland around 1870. In doing further research, I actually found that the Aeschlimann name (or variants of it) originated in the area of the Bern Canton of Switzerland in the early 16th Century. So, besides my philatelic interests in the country, I have a family connection to it, as well.


Standing Helvetia Series of 1882 to 1907
Privately Manufactured Trial-Color-Proof Switzerland Stamps


Reviews of the postage stamp issues of Switzerland, as well as occasional historical articles, will eventually appear in the page link section at the upper right.

All of the content pages in this Switzerland stamps category are presented, as chronologically as possible, by a combination of the Zumstein Schweiz Liechtenstein 2010 catalog and the Michel Schweiz / Liechtenstein-Spezial 2008 catalog.

I have run into an organizational problem with some of the special issues and souvenir sheets though, in the way that they fit into my page categories in the right column.  The Zumstein catalog lists the general issues (definitives and commemoratives), then the Pro Juventute stamps (in the "WI" section), and then the Pro Patria stamps (in the "WII section).  Zumstein has a special section, called "WIII", where various souvenir sheets and special issues are listed.  In order to make my link page categories more chronological and less confusing, I have done the following ....

Souvenir sheets and special issues that show regular postage stamps or that are companion issues to regular definitive and commemorative postage stamps will be listed chronologically in either the "Definitive" or "Commemorative" link pages.  Souvenir sheets and special issues that show surtaxed postage stamps or that are companion issues to surtaxed postage stamps will be listed chronologically in either the "Pro Patria" or "Pro Juventute" link pages.

I have received a substantial number of contact-form requests in the last couple years, asking that I assist in determining what the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalog numbers are for various classical Switzerland stamp issues.  As a result, in the very near future, I will be adding Scott catalog number cross-references, where possible, to catalog attributes tables containing only Zumstein catalog numbers.




 

 



eBay Auction and Store Links

Switzerland

The following links feature category-focused affiliated seller listings on various eBay sites worldwide. They may enable visitors to shop for and to buy specific items for the particular collecting subject they've just read about. 

The affiliated eBay seller auction lots provided by eBay, Inc. are not the responsibility of the management of this website.  On high priced material, make sure the lots you are buying are properly authenticated.

Remember that the lots on most of the European eBay sites are priced in EUROS.  The lots on the Switzerland eBay site are priced in SWISS FRANCS.  The Swiss Franc is roughly equivalent to the US Dollar.  Shipping charges may be more, and the lots may take longer to arrive.  Also, make sure the foreign seller ships to your country, before bidding on or buying his lot.










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