Stamps
150 years Rigi Railways
The Rigi is one of Switzerland’s leading tourist attractions. Located in the center of the country, the Queen of the Mountains can be reached by several railways nowadays. Europe’s first mountain railway opened 150 years ago.
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The idea was pursued doggedly by its creator Niklaus Riggenbach, the engineer who designed the railway. After patenting his invention of running trains up inclines using a cogwheel system in France in 1863, more and more people put faith in his plan. On 21 May 1871, the Vitznau-Rigi Railway was officially opened as Europe’s first mountain railway.
The special stamp created to mark the 150th anniversary shows the famous view from the Rigi over Lake Lucerne and the magnificent peaks of Stanserhorn, Bürgenstock and Pilatus. Traction unit no.1, depicted in red, is typical of Rigi Railways’ rolling stock and is travelling on the anniversary route. The designers from “Büro Nord” in Küssnacht am Rigi were able to gain inspiration for their design literally by looking out of the window.



Technical information
Sales
Philately: from 29.4.2021 to 30.6.2022 or while stocks last
Branches: from 6.5.2021 to 30.6.2022 or while stocks last
Validity
Unlimited from 6.5.2021
Printing
Offset, 4-colour; Joh. Enschedé, Haarlem, Netherlands
Sizes
Stamps: 28 × 33 mm
Sheetlet: 192 × 115 mm
(2 rows of 5 stamps)
Paper
White stamp paper with optical brightener, matt gummed, 110 gm²
Perforation
14¼:14
Design
Philip Bernhard and Kilian Suter, Küssnacht am Rigi