Stamps
200 years Swiss steamboat travel
On 18 June 1823, the Guillaume Tell, Switzerland’s first steamboat, set off on its maiden voyage across Lake Geneva, heralding the start of a new machine age. There are hardly any images of the ship, but 200 years later, we do now have a stamp in a special format.
Rich Content Section
Measuring 80 × 33 millimetres, the special stamp shows a historical milestone for which there are no photos and very few drawings: the Guillaume Tell, Switzerland’s first steamboat. With a view to creating a retrospective for the anniversary, a dark special colour was chosen for the illustration. Almost as if it was designed all those years ago. Back then, the Guillaume Tell plied its trade between Geneva and Lausanne.
While it was mainly used to transport goods on weekdays, passengers were also welcomed on board at weekends. The success of the paddle steamer gave impetus to local industrialization. Despite initial scepticism, people soon realized that if something works in the water, it can also be used on land. And so the use of steam engine technology soon made its way into industry and rail transport, accelerating Switzerland’s development.
Technical information
Sales
Philately: from 23.2.2023 to 31.3.2024 or while stocks last
Branches: from 2.3.2023 to 31.3.2024 or while stocks last
Validity
Unlimited from 2.3.2023
Printing
Offset, 1-colour; Cartor Security Printing, La Loupe, France
Sizes
Stamp: 80 × 33 mm
Sheet: 188 × 160 mm,
4 rows of 2 stamps
Paper
White stamp paper with optical brightener, matt gummed, 110 gm2
Perforation
12 ¾ : 13 ¼
Design
Janine Wiget, Zurich