New Swiss stamps were introduced beginning in 1907, replacing the Numeral and Standing Helvetia definitive postage stamp types that had been in use since 1882. These new lower-denomination definitive postage stamps featured a profile portrait of Helvetia, and the new higher-denomination postage stamps featured the popular Seated Helvetia with Sword design.
Most collectors prefer to collect all these stamps together in sets, arranged by denomination. That is the way the Scott catalog list them, and that is the way they are all presented on this page. There were many printings of these stamps over a period of some 26 years, and in the Zumstein and Michel catalogs, they are listed in the years that they were actually issued. For one focusing only on these particular types, these catalog listings can be very difficult to follow. Thus, following each section below, I will include a table containing the year of issue, the Zumstein number, and the Scott number for each of the stamps illustrated in that section. The color descriptions used are those from the Zumstein catalog.
The new 10 C., 12 C., and 15 C. denomination defintive stamps, featuring the half-length portrait of Helvetia, were issued along with the Tell Boy stamps, in order to replace the Numeral definitive stamp issues of 1882-1906.
The three Helvetia Type definitive Swiss stamps shown above were issued on November 11, 1907.
The 10 C. denomination was also issued in booklets.
The catalog listing details follow:
Modified designs of the three lower-denomination Helvetia Type definitive Swiss stamps were issued during 1909.
All three of these denominations were issued in sheets and in coils, and the 10 C. denomination was also issued in booklets.
These Helvetia stamp denominations were replaced by those of the new William Tell definitive postage stamps in 1914.
During 1915, some of the 12 C. denomination stamps of this series were re-valued to 13 C. An example is shown above.
The catalog listing details follow:
![]() |
![]() |
Beginning in 1930, many Swiss stamps were treated with a light grilling process, applied with the gumming, to prevent the stamps from curling. As shown above, it resembles a faint grill of vertical and horizontal ribs covering the entire back of the stamp. This effect can usually be seen, even after the gum has been removed.
The new 20 C. through 3 F. denomination definitive stamps, featuring the Seated figure of Helvetia with a Sword, were issued to replace the Standing Helvetia definitive postage stamp issues of 1882-1907.
These Swiss stamps are referred to in the catalogs as the "Helvetia mit Schwert" or "Helvetia with Sword" Issues.
The sixteen Helvetia with Sword type definitive Swiss stamps shown above were issued between 1908 and 1934.
A few of these denominations were issued both in sheets and in coils. The 25 C. denomination, in deep blue, was also issued in booklets.
The 40 C. denomination stamps come in two types, as illustrated above and described below.
Here are the catalog listing details for all the sheet-format Helvetia with Sword definitive Swiss stamps shown above.
Grilled gum (see description above) varieties:
![]() |
![]() |
The 80 C. on 70 C. re-valued Swiss stamp shown above, at the left, was issued in 1915.
The 20 C. on 25 C. re-valued Swiss stamp shown above, at the right, was issued in 1921. This stamp was issued both in sheets and in booklets.
Here are the catalog listing details:
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.
Return to Switzerland Stamps from
Swiss Stamps - Definitives of 1907-1933 (Helvetia Types)