Stamps

EUROPA – Endangered national wildlife

The woodland brown and the scarce large blue – two butterflies that could hardly be more different. But they do have one thing in common: both are classified as endangered species in Switzerland.

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The topic selected by PostEurop for this year’s EUROPA stamps is “Endangered national wildlife”. Switzerland’s contribution was produced by the highly dedicated scientific illustrator Nina Schwarz from Bern. The designs are of the woodland brown (Lopinga achine) and the scarce large blue (Phengaris teleius) – because insects are also classified as wild animals. The illustrations seek to highlight the delicate nature of these animals through a highly detailed and lifelike style. The meticulous presentation and vibrant background colours aim to catch the eye and emphasize the fact that the animals are under threat. Pro Natura provided invaluable expert advice during the creative process.

Special sheet of 8 stamps
Special sheet of 8 stamps

Rich Content Section

Tips for a butterfly-friendly garden

Butterflies need diversity. Make sure you plant mainly indigenous shrubs, wild flowers and meadow herbs and follow organic principles to cultivate your garden. Lawns full of flowers, areas with tall grass and a corner for nettles and thistles provide sources of food and a place of refuge for many caterpillars and butterflies. Finally, being a bit lazy about working in the garden is actually very helpful: piles of branches, dry shrubs and infrequently mowed lawns provide vital habitats. Further details and tips on creating a butterfly-friendly balcony can be found at:

pronatura.ch/de/schmetterlingsfreundliche-gaertenTarget not accessible

Buying stamps
All stamps can be found at postshop.ch

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, 5-colour; Gutenberg AG, Schaan, Liechtenstein

Sizes

Stamps: 40 × 32.5 mm

Sheet: 190 × 162 mm

(4 rows of 4 stamps)

Paper

White stamp paper with optical brightener, matt gummed, 110 gm²

Perforation

12

Design

Nina Schwarz, Bern