Stamps
125 years Chimney Sweeper Switzerland
This year, the Chimney Sweeper Switzerland association is celebrating its 125th anniversary. The special stamp issued to mark the occasion features a scratch-off coating: the sender or recipient can clean the chimney on the stamp!
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A master chimney sweepers’ association was founded as a cooperative back in 1897, but it was disbanded shortly afterwards. The association that exists to the present day was later founded in 1917. Through their work, chimney sweeps (30 percent of whom are women) help to protect the environment, ensure fire safety and better air quality.
The special stamp is an illustration of a woman and a man in traditional costume with the typical tools of the trade. The chimneys that can be seen on the rooftops are grey but can be scratched clean. The clover leaf brings luck on the roofs – with or without soot. The sheet also contains self-adhesive lucky charms. In addition to the chimney sweeper’s top hat, the charms also include a ladybird, a 1-centime coin and a four-leaf clover.
As long ago as the Middle Ages, chimney sweepers were seen as bringers of good fortune, because they protected people from poisoning and fire by unblocking their chimneys. They also evidently had no fear of dark chimneys, where spectres were believed to live. Touching a chimney sweeper was believed to bring good luck in the New Year.
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Why a top hat?
Damp wood was often burned during the 17th and 18th centuries. This created more soot and heat, which increased the risk of fire. The sweepers had to clear the soot regularly. While at work, they had the opportunity to see how people lived and what possessions they owned. To remind them not to gossip about what they had seen, they were given top hats, which were actually reserved for the upper classes at that time. Due to this history, chimney sweepers take great pride in the trust that was and still is placed in them.
Technical information
Sales
Philately: from 24.2.2022 to 31.3.2023 or while stocks last
Branches: from 3.3.2022 to 31.3.2023 or while stocks last
Validity
Unlimited from 3.3.2022
Printing
Offset, four-colour and scratch-off coating; Joh. Enschedé, Haarlem, Netherlands
Sizes
Stamps: 33 × 28 mm
Sheet: 100 × 198 mm (open), 100 × 99 mm (folded)
(5 rows of 2 stamps)
Paper
White stamp paper with optical brightener, self-adhesive, on backing paper, 196 gm²
Perforation
Serpentine cut (4 sides)
Design
Andreas Güntensperger, Baden