Press releases

Christmas spirit with woodland animals and Bernese rock music

Foxy the Fox, Bambi the Deer, Emma the Owl and Jerry the Squirrel are the subjects of Swiss Post’s special Christmas stamps this year. The latest stamps also have a musical vibe: this year’s celebrity stamp was created by Polo Hofer, founder and father of Bernese dialect rock music.

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Swiss Post is getting into the festive spirit this year with Christmas-themed stamps. The four special stamps were designed by illustrator Steffy Merz, who comes from Berne. She has created a stylish Christmas scene with local woodland animals: Foxy the Fox, Bambi the Deer, Emma the Owl and Jerry the Squirrel. Foxy and Bambi are available not only as stamps, but also in a set with matching Christmas cards.

Celebrity stamp by Polo Hofer

To some people Polo Hofer is the founder and father of Bernese dialect rock music, while to others he is simply “Polo National”. He has won the most prestigious music and community prizes, his name has been immortalized in Amman-Hofer-Platz in Interlaken, and it is impossible to imagine Switzerland’s cultural scene without him. Now Polo Hofer has also received his own stamp with a face value of one franc. As a trained lithographer, he designed the stamp himself, proving that his artistic gifts extend beyond music to paper. A swan whose neck is a guitar fretboard and the light blue background symbolize the key moments in Polo Hofer’s life as a musician, living right next to Lake Thun, where he enjoys feeding the swans. This year Swiss Post is giving an extraordinary artist the opportunity to design a special stamp. By doing so, they are honouring personalities who have gained prominence and recognition in their field of work.

Historical locomotives immortalized

Swiss Post has issued Pro Juventute stamps every year since 1912. With the proceeds from the sales of these stamps, Pro Juventute supports important children’s projects. This year’s special stamps feature detailed reproductions of SBB’s historical locomotive models.

And another highlight at the end of the year: the Year Book of Swiss Stamps. The book contains all 46 original stamps issued by Swiss Post in 2013. Readers can also learn many interesting facts all about these stamps in the background stories and illustrations.

Subjects of the 4/2013 stamp issue – valid from 14 November 2013

  • “Christmas” – Special stamps: “Fox” CHF 0.85, “Deer” CHF 1.00, “Owl” CHF 1.40, “Squirrel” CHF 1.90
  • “Polo Hofer” – Special stamp: CHF 1.00
  • “Pro Juventute” – Special stamps with premium: “Red Arrow” CHF 1.25 (0.85+0.40), “Crocodile” CHF 1.50 (1.00+0.50), “Ae 6/6” CHF 1.50 (1.00+0.50)
  • “Matter Valley” – miniature sheet of typical Swiss countryside: CHF 2.00
  • “Stamp Day”, Aarau – miniature sheet: CHF 0.85

Available from www.swisspost.ch/philashop and Swiss philatelic sales points and post offices.

Detailed articles on the postage stamp issue can be found in the current edition of the magazine “Focus on stamps”

Downloads

“Christmas” – Special stamps: “Fox” CHF 0.85

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“Christmas” – Special stamps: “Deer” CHF 1.00

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“Christmas” – Special stamps: “Owl” CHF 1.40

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“Christmas” – Special stamps: “Squirrel” CHF 1.90

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“Polo Hofer” – Special stamp: CHF 1.00

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“Pro Juventute” – Special stamps with premium: “Red Arrow” CHF 1.25 (0.85+0.40)

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“Pro Juventute” – Special stamps with premium: “Crocodile” CHF 1.50 (1.00+0.50)

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“Pro Juventute” – Special stamps with premium: “Ae 6/6” CHF 1.50 (1.00+0.50)

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“Matter Valley” – miniature sheet of typical Swiss countryside: CHF 2.00

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“Stamp Day”, Aarau – miniature sheet: CHF 0.85

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