Press releases

"Golden treasure", cities and Smurfs on stamps

Young farm animals add a cuteness factor to the latest stamp issue. But it’s not just the cute young animals that are a cause for delight. Presented in a miniature sheet, the Goldvreneli itself adds a certain shine to the current collection. The cities of Lausanne, Berne and Winterthur are shown off in their best light on their own individual special stamps as part of the "Cities of Switzerland" series. These special "restoration" stamps look less urban and more colourful, just like in nature. And furthermore, the Smurfs have found their way into the world of Swiss stamps.

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Farm animals are often dismissed simply as livestock. But they are also amazingly intelligent. If a hen finds a source of food, it lets the other hens know using different sounds, depending on the type of food. Cows have a good long-term memory and interact in a social way with one another. Pigs can remember and recognise symbols. Sheep can remember up to 50 fellow members of their flock. The graphic artist Judith Brennwald pays tribute to our undervalued farm animals on four special stamps.

What glitters really is gold

The 20 franc Vreneli is probably Switzerland’s best-known coin. Once a valid form of payment, then a popular gift for god-children and a collector’s item, most of them are now just gathering dust in a safe. Swiss Post is giving the Goldvreneli a new shine in a miniature sheet. Real gold leaf was used for the Vreneli pictured on the miniature sheet. The stamp is shaped like a coin and perforated. The embossing gives the stamp the appearance of a real coin.

Back to nature

Restoring streams, rivers and lakes to their natural state creates valuable habitats for flora and fauna. Humans also benefit from this rehabilitation since unspoilt water landscapes make for attractive recreational areas and protect against flooding. With the three "Butterfly", "Bird" and "Fish" special stamps, Swiss Post is showing its support for restoration projects in Switzerland.

Lausanne, Berne and Winterthur take centre stage

Following on from Zurich, Basel and Geneva in 2012, this year it’s the turn of Lausanne, Berne and Winterthur to make their grand appearance on a stamp. These three cities are the second part of a three-year stamp project undertaken by the Basel School for Design on behalf of Swiss Post. The aim is to give the nine largest Swiss cities a fresh, modern, urban look in the form of a stamp. In 2013 the young graphic artists Lorena Falivene, Eveline Maio and Selina Locher whisk stamp enthusiasts away to the shores of Lake Geneva, to the capital and to the gateway to Eastern Switzerland.

Smurfs take over stamps

Peyo, the Belgian comic artist whose real name was Pierre Culliford, invented the Smurfs by chance in 1958. When he asked for the "smurf" instead of the salt cellar at dinner and a colleague said he would smurf it to him, the Smurfs were born. Since then, there’s been no stopping them. Even after the death of their creator Peyo in 1992, the Smurfs live on. New Smurf stories are appearing all the time, and since August they are even appearing in 3D in Swiss cinemas. The long-lasting success of the little blue gnomes is reason enough for Swiss Post to immortalise them on two special stamps.

Subjects of the 3/2013 stamp issue – valid from 5 September 2013

  • "Farmyard animals" – Special stamps: "Chicken" CHF 0.85, "Cow" CHF 1.00, 
  • "Sheep" CHF 1.40, "Pig" CHF 1.90
  • "Goldvreneli" – Miniature sheet with stamps at CHF 6.00 each
  • "Restoration" – Special stamps: "Butterfly" CHF 1.00, "Bird" CHF 1.00, "Fish" CHF 1.00.
  • "Cities of Switzerland" – Special stamps: "Lausanne" CHF 1.00, "Berne" CHF 1.00, "Winterthur" CHF 1.00.
  • "The Smurfs" – Special stamps: "Kiss" CHF 1.00, "Papa Smurf" CHF 1.00.

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

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"Farmyard animals" – Special stamps: "Chicken" CHF 0.85

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"Farmyard animals" – Special stamps: "Cow" CHF 1.00

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"Farmyard animals" – Special stamps: "Sheep" CHF 1.40

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"Farmyard animals" – Special stamps: "Pig" CHF 1.90

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"Goldvreneli" – Miniature sheet with stamps at CHF 6.00 each

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"Restoration" – Special stamps: "Butterfly" CHF 1.00

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"Restoration" – Special stamps: "Bird" CHF 1.00

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"Restoration" – Special stamps: "Fish" CHF 1.00

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"Cities of Switzerland" – Special stamps: "Lausanne" CHF 1.00

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"Cities of Switzerland" – Special stamps: "Berne" CHF 1.00

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"Cities of Switzerland" – Special stamps: "Winterthur" CHF 1.00

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"The Smurfs" – Special stamps: "Kiss" CHF 1.00

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"The Smurfs" – Special stamps: "Papa Smurf" CHF 1.00

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