01 September 2017
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Tubli letters stamp from Switzerland
Swiss Post have issued a single stamp and miniature sheet this month marking the 150th anniversary of the nation’s first pre-franked postal envelopes, known as ‘Tübli letters’.
Swiss Post have issued a single stamp and miniature sheet this month marking the 150th anniversary of the nation’s first pre-franked postal envelopes, known as ‘Tübli letters’.
The miniature sheet shows the Zweisimmen first day cover in the background, one of the few remaining pieces from the official first day. It displays all four values of the first issue in a fan arrangement.The 85c value stamp shows 10-centime value of the Zweisimmen letter cancelled on the issue date. A detail of the address written with a quill sends the observer on a journey back in time to the 19th century.
‘Tübli letters’ were federal postal system envelopes pre-franked with a printed stamp and were first issued by Geneva Post Office on 1 July 1867, although covers were sold and cancelled before this date.
A spokesperson for Swiss Post said: ‘The optical quality of the yellowed paper was deliberately chosen as a stylistic medium. The nostalgic aura is subtly enhanced with modern typography. The gold font lends the special stamp the unique characteristic worthy of a 150th anniversary.’
Watch a video about the new stamps below…
The stamp was printed by Cartor Security using off-set four-colour lithography, and was designed by Raphael Schenker, whose name also appears on the stamp.