Pro Patria Swiss stamps generate funds to benefit social and cultural charities that are in the country's national interest. Pro Patria, the Latin phrase from where we get our English word "Patriotism", means "for one's country" or "for the fatherland".
Unless stated otherwise, the surtax amounts on all these Swiss stamps benefited the Swiss National Fund or the Red Cross.
Most of the Pro Patria surtaxed stamps issued between 1972 and 1979 feature the themes of Archeology or Castles.
For the first four centuries of the Christian Era, what we know as Helvetia, up to the Southern side of the Rhine River, was the Northern Frontier of the Roman Empire. This border was heavily fortified by the Romans. There were major Roman cities, Roman military encampments, and also indigenous population settlements along the Rhine River of present-day Switzerland which have yielded an abundance of archeological artifacts and impressive Roman Imperial structures.
On the Northern side of the Rhine River were the tribal civilizations of Lower Germania. The Roman legions spent hundreds of years trying to subjugate the Germanic peoples of Northern Europe, yet they failed. In fact, it would be these same Germanic civilizations that would conquer the Western Roman Empire during the 6th Century.
The first four sets of Pro Patria Swiss stamps shown below feature some of the incredible archeological artifacts of Switzerland's early history.
The four archeology-themed Pro Patria stamps shown above (Zu. WII #154-57, Mi. #971-74, Sc. #B406-09) were issued on June 1, 1972.
Their designs are as follows:
The four archeology-themed Pro Patria stamps shown above (Zu. WII #158-61, Mi. #996-99, Sc. #B414-17) were issued on May 29, 1973.
Their designs are as follows:
The four archeology-themed Pro Patria stamps shown above (Zu. WII #162-65, Mi. #1031-34, Sc. #B422-25) were issued on May 30, 1974.
Their designs are as follows:
The four archeology-themed Pro Patria stamps shown above (Zu. WII #166-69, Mi. #1053-56, Sc. #B430-33) were issued on May 30, 1975.
Their designs are as follows:
The four castles-themed Pro Patria Swiss stamps shown above (Zu. WII #170-73, Mi. #1075-78, Sc. #B439-42) were issued on May 28, 1976.
Their designs are as follows:
The four castles-themed Pro Patria stamps shown above (Zu. WII #174-77, Mi. #1096-99, Sc. #B447-50) were issued on May 26, 1977.
Their designs are as follows:
The four castles-themed Pro Patria stamps shown above (Zu. WII #178-81, Mi. #1130-33, Sc. #B455-58) were issued on May 26, 1978.
Their designs are as follows:
The four castles-themed Pro Patria Swiss stamps shown above (Zu. WII #182-85, Mi. #1156-59, Sc. #B463-66) were issued on May 25, 1979.
Their designs are as follows:
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Swiss Stamps - Pro Patria Issues of 1972-1979