Swiss Stamps
Commemoratives of 1946-1953
Commemorative Swiss stamps of 1946 to 1953 highlight achievements in transportation and communications.
When one considers that all the stamps on this page were issued over a period of eight years, it is instantly obvious that Switzerland does not issue very many commemorative postage stamps each year! This is much appreciated by Switzerland stamp collectors, considering the overwhelming volumes of commemorative stamps issued every year by other European countries. This practice also makes the collecting of modern Swiss stamps easier and more affordable than those of neighboring European countries!
The four Swiss stamps shown above (Zu. #277-80, Mi. #484-87, Sc. #308-11) were issued on August 6, 1947 to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Opening of the first Swiss Railroad between Zurich and Baden in 1847.
The designs are as follows:
- 05 C. - First Swiss steam locomotive.
- 10 C. - Modern Swiss steam locomotive.
- 20 C. - Electric Gotthard Express train.
- 30 C. - Electric trains passing on a bridge.
The four stamps shown above (Zu. #281-84, Mi. #496-99, Sc. #312-15) were issued on February 27, 1948 to commemorate the 300th Anniversary of the Recognition of the Old Swiss Confederacy, the 100th Anniversary of the Neuchâtel Revolution, and the 100th Anniversary of the Federation of Switzerland.
Their designs are as follows:
- 05 C. - Johann Wettstein (1594-1666).
- 10 C. - Neuenburg Castle, Neuchâtel.
- 20 C. - Allegory of "Helvetia".
- 30 C. - Symbols of the Swiss Federal State.
Johann Rudolf Wettstein (1594-1666) was a Swiss statesman and one-time mayor of Basel. He achieved fame through his diplomatic skills, culminating in Swiss independence from the Holy Roman (Hapsburg) Empire in 1648.
The Neuchâtel Revolution. Following the fall of Napoleon I and the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the Principality of Neuchâtel was awarded to the Prussian Empire. The Prussian Empire later allowed the principality to join the Swiss Confederation, then not yet an integrated federation, but a confederacy, as a full member. Thus, Neuchâtel became the first and only monarchy to join the otherwise Republican Swiss Cantons. The "peaceful" Neuchâtel Revolution of 1848 established the principality as a republic. In the same year, the modern Swiss Confederation was transformed into a federation, with Neuchâtel as a member Canton.
The souvenir sheet shown above (Zu. #31, Mi. Block 13, Sc. #312-15) was issued on August 21, 1948 for the International Philatelic Exhibition in Basel. The 10 C. and 20 C. denomination stamps in the souvenir sheet are identical to the 05 C. denomination Johann Wettstein commemorative stamp of February 27, 1948.
The souvenir sheet measures 110 x 61 mm., and it sold for 3 Francs. The proceeds from the sale of the souvenir sheets benefited the exhibition and other charities.
The three Swiss stamps shown above (Zu. #291-93, Mi. #519-21, Sc. #325-27) were issued on May 16, 1949 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Federation of Switzerland Postal Service in 1849.
The designs are as follows:
- 05 C. - Post Horn.
- 20 C. - Horse drawn mail coach.
- 30 C. - Post Bus with trailer.
Universal Postal Union Monument in Bern
From: Wikipedia -- Uploaded By: Baikonur
The three stamps shown above (Zu. #294-96, Mi. #522-24, Sc. #322-24) were issued on May 16, 1949 to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
The designs are as follows:
- 10 C. - Allegory of the UPU - The five continents uniting to transmit messages around the globe.
- 25 C. - Globe, letter, and inscribed ribbon.
- 40 C. - Globe and pigeons.
The four Swiss stamps shown above (Zu. #309-12, Mi. #566-69, Sc. #340-43) were issued on February 1, 1952 to celebrate "A Century of Communications".
Their designs are as follows:
- 05 C. - Symbolism of the telegraph.
- 10 C. - Symbolism of the telephone.
- 20 C. - Symbolism of the radio.
- 40 C. - Symbolism of the television.
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Swiss Stamps - Commemoratives of 1946-1953
The 10 C. denomination stamp shown above (Zu. #275, Mi. #469, Sc. #306) was issued on January 12, 1946 to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of 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 40 C. denomination stamp shown above (Zu. #313, Mi. #585, Sc. #344) was issued on August 29, 1953 to celebrate the Opening of Zurich-Kloten Airport.
The design features a view of the Zurich Airport and the tail of a Swissair plane.
The two stamps shown above (Zu. #314-15, Mi. #586-87, Sc. #345-46) were issued on October 8, 1953 to celebrate Alpine Postal Bus Service.
The two designs depict a Postal Bus with a Winter background and with a Summer background. These stamps were only sold on the Postal Buses.
The buses provide mail processing services and passenger travel to remote villages that are not easily accessible by railway.