A human organ is taking center stage in the latest Swiss Post stamp issue: To celebrate the 56th Art Biennale in Venice, the artist Pamela Rosenkranz, born in the Canton of Uri in 1979, is making skin a theme in the Swiss pavilion in her design for this year’s version of the stamp which has accompanied the Biennale since 2010. The special stamp represents a piece of the largest functional organ in the human body and features a tactile surface, modelled on skin. With a face value of 1 franc, it is available as a single stamp, a block of four or a sheetlet with ten stamps. Swiss Post has issued a stamp to celebrate the Biennale every year since 2010.

Special stamps on Swiss history

The second-youngest cantons of Neuchâtel, Geneva and Valais are celebrating 200 years since they became part of Switzerland. Swiss Post is celebrating too and dedicating a special stamp to each canton.

As part of this year’s Europa stamp on the topic of historical toys, Swiss Post is presenting the well-known tricycle “Helvetia” from 1949 and the Wisa-Gloria company’s famous rocking duck from 1957. Postal administrations from different European countries have been issuing stamps under the umbrella term “Europa stamp” since 1956. The motif or theme for these stamps is always related to Europe.

Swiss Post is dedicating the latest picture postcard to the 150-year anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), whose headquarters are in Geneva. It is a lynchpin for all technological developments in the world of communication. Today, the ITU still ensures that new developments in the telecommunications and IT sectors become usable as quickly and easily as possible.

Stamps on Swiss culture

The sentiment of solidarity between mountains and valleys has been the most significant credo of the Swiss Sponsorship for Mountain Communities for 75 years. Concrete measures to give additional support should mean that remote mountain regions remain inhabitable, can still be cultivated and maintained. Swiss Post is paying tribute to the action taken by the Swiss Sponsorship for Mountain Communities with a special stamp.

Furthermore, the annual Pro Patria stamps will also be issued. The proceeds from the surcharge of 40 or 50 centimes will go to cause-related funds, which in turn support selected projects. The 2015 Pro Patria stamps display collectibles from museums in the Cantons of Appenzell Innerrhoden, Berne, Thurgau and Vaud. This year’s four stamps complete a three-year and twelve-piece special stamp series on the topic of museums.

Subjects of the 2/2015 stamp issue – valid from 7 May 2015

• 200 years of the Swiss Confederation: Geneva, Neuchâtel and Valais – special stamps: “Geneva” at CHF 1, “Neuchâtel” at CHF 1 and “Valais” at CHF 1
• 75 years of the Swiss Sponsorship for Mountain Communities – special stamp at CHF 1
• Europa – Old toys – special stamps: “Rocking duck” at CHF 1 and “Tricycle” at CHF 1
• Pro Patria – Local museums – special stamps with surcharge: “Aigle VD” at CHF 1.25 (0.85 + 0.40), “Appenzell AI” at CHF 1.25 (0.85 + 0.40), “Saanen BE” at CHF 1.50 (1.00 + 0.50) and “Steckborn TG” at CHF 1.50 (1.00 + 0.50)
• 56th Venice Art Biennale – special stamp at CHF 1
• 150 years of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva – picture postcard, face value of CHF 1.90 + CHF 1 for the card

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

You can find detailed information in the current issue of the stamp magazine, “Focus on stamps”: www.swisspost.ch/focusonstamps