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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 2

SWITZERLAND 1882-1906

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1882 Numeral, Inscription 'Helvetia franco'

12 c blue 

  2 c brown
  3 c grey
  5 c brown
  5 c green
  10 c red
  12 c blue
  15 c yellow
  15 c brown

As the stamps of the previous issue, these stamps have an impressed watermark 'Cross in an ellipse', or 'Cross' (1907):


(watermark 'Cross in an ellipse' seen from the backside of a 15 c yellow stamp)

These stamps exist issued on paper with small silk threads, example:


(paper with silk threads)

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
Watermark 'Cross in an ellipse', perforated 11 1/2, normal paper (1882)
2 c RR R  
5 c brown RR ***  
10 c RR ***  
12 c R ***  
15 c yellow RR R  
Watermark 'Cross in an ellipse', perforated 11 1/2, paper with silk threads (1882)
2 c * vc  
3 c * *  
5 c brown * c  
5 c green * vc  
10 c * vc  
12 c ** c  
15 c yellow *** **  
15 c brown ** c  
Watermark 'Cross', paper with silk threads (1907)
2 c * c  
3 c * *  
5 c green * c  
10 c * c  
12 c * c  
15 c brown *** *  

Forgery:


Forgery of the 2 c value, pretending to be the rare value on normal paper. The forger has whitened the silk threads.

 

1882 Standing Helvetia, inscription "HELVETIA FRANCO FRANCO"

Type 1 Type 2 50 c blue 50 c green 

  20 c orange
  25 c green
  25 c blue
  30 c brown
  40 c grey (2 types,'40' different)
  50 c blue
  50 c green
  1 F red-lilac
  1 F red (1903)
  3 F brown

As the numeral issue of 1882, this issue exists on paper with small silk threads (see there for an example).

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
Watermark 'Cross in an ellipse', normal paper (1882)
Perforation ranging from 9 1/2 to 12
20 c *** c  
25 c green *** c  
25 c blue *** c  
30 c *** c  
40 c *** c 2 types, '40' different (see above), second type: **
50 c blue *** *  
50 c green *** *  
1 F red-lilac *** c  
1 F red *** *  
3 F R *  
Watermark 'Cross', normal paper (1905)
20 c ** c Specialists distinguish between original and retouched stamps
25 c blue *** * Specialists distinguish between original and retouched stamps, differing in the words 'FRANCO'.
30 c ** c  
40 c *** c second type
50 c green *** *  
1 F red *** *  
3 F RR ** Specialists distinguish between original and retouched stamps
Watermark 'Cross', paper with silk threads (1907)
20 c ** *  
25 c blue *** c  
30 c ** *  
40 c *** * second type
50 c green *** *  
1 F red *** *  
3 F RR **  

I have seen some imperforate 'Paris reprints' in different colours: 25 c red, 25 c light green, 25 c dark green, 25 c olive, 40 c orange, 40 c bluish grey, 40 c red, 40 c violet, 40 c dark green, 40 c light green and 40 c brown (all the 40 c values with closed upper part of the '4'). Sometimes they are also referred to as 'proofs'.


'Paris reprints'

In https://www.franceandcolonies.org/philatelist/116.pdf it is explained that the printer of these stamps, Max Girardet from Bern, was allowed to keep the printing plates after his contract with the Swiss postal authorities had finished in 1907. He went to Paris were with the help of a dealer, they made 'Paris proofs' of the 25 and 40 c value in a variety of colors.


Mystery item, no value inscriptions and imperforate, some kind of proof?


Some mute cancels, large pattern of squares and smaller pattern of squares. I don't know where these mute cancels were used.


Fournier forgery of the 50 c in blue; I believe Fournier only used this 'forgery' to illustrate his pricelists. Nevertheless, it can be found in 'The Fournier Album of Philatelic Forgeries'. See also the Fournier Album of Philatelic Forgeries for more information.


A very small sized 20 c stamp, probably some kind of cut out from a souvenir card? Next to it a normally sized stamp.

 

1900 Jubilee of the UPU, inscription 'JUBILE DE L'UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE 1875-1900', no country name

 

  5 c green
  10 c red
  25 c blue

I have seen postcards in the above design in the values: 5 c green and 10 c red. These stamps have perforation 11 1/2, the watermark is 'Cross in an ellipse'. Specialists distinguish between normal printed stamps and finely engraved stamps.

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
5 c * c  
10 c * c  
25 c *** **  

 

Switzerland issues from 1907-1920

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer