103.11.2012

THE BEGINNINGS OFPHILATELIC LITERATURE

IN SWITZERLAND

1864 - 1925

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / 2012

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1. PRICE LISTS2. PERIODICALS3. COVERS AND POSTAL CARDS4. EXHIBITIONS5. HANDBOOKS6. PRICE CATALOGUES7. AUCTION CATALOGUES

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1. PRICE LISTS

1864 - The "catalogue" issued by Georg (publisher in Basle and Geneva) is the oldest piece of Swiss philatelic literature.

The "Georg" is a small booklet (9 x 14 cm) of 99 pages. Stamps are not illustrated.

We learn that a Basle Dove was offered for 2 Swiss Francs, that is twice the price of the catalogue.

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1. PRICE LISTSJ. Chapalay Fils, Geneva, publishes a series of price lists in 1864-1865. These are as scarce to find as the Georg catalogue.

No Swiss literature sounds being published during the period 1865-1875.

As from the 1880’s each philatelic professional issues its own price list mostly illustrated.

French speaking Switzerland is well-represented, especially Vaud and Geneva. Here Meystre, Yverdon / Vaud, 1892.

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1. PRICE LISTS

Price lists are issued for purchase too. Noverraz in Geneva (1880) offers 1.50 franc for a Basle Dove and 5 francs for a Double Geneva.

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Later (1907) the Zumstein company launches its periodical price list which still exists today.

The Philatelic Market News is the forerunner of the current Berner Briefmarken-Zeitung (BBZ).

The publication was and remains a mix of Price Lists and specialised articles.

1. PRICE LISTS

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2. PERIODICALS

First attempt of a monthly publication in 1875-1876: seven issues of the Schweizerische Briefmarken-Zeitung , then Internationale Briefmaken-Zeitung were published by Eduard Riesen.

July 1879 is the starting point of an almost uninterrupted publication until today.

Its publisher Robert Deyhle (20 years old) is considered as being the most well-known forerunner of Swiss philately.

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2. PERIODICALS

Deyhle (1859-1933), Bern, published the SBZ until 1887. He then encountered a serious lack of collaboration.

He was one of the very first Swiss exhibitors, presidents of philatelic society, traders and experts.

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2. PERIODICALS

As from 1880, a more attractive cover is adopted and the name becomes "Schweizer illustrirte Briefmarken-Zeitung"

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2. PERIODICALS

First article written in French in the 3rd number of 1880, reflecting the multilingual culture of Switzerland.

The layout however remains basically in German.

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2. PERIODICALS

First advertising page in 1881. Most advertisers are German philatelic companies.

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2. PERIODICALS

Hans Kirchhofer – active in Lausanne and Geneva – takes over the discontinued SIBZ in 1888.

First Swiss publisher to produce bilingual writings in philately.

Produces the first Special Catalogue of Postal Stamps of Switzerland in 1889 and 1894.

Publishes specialised works of Otto Pfenninger about cantonal and first federal issues including cancellations.

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2. PERIODICALS

The 1st issue of the SBJ is considered as being the birth of the current SBZ (Schweizer Briefmarken-Zeitung)

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2. PERIODICALS

Many local periodicals were isued as from 1884 such as:- Courrier Philatélique (St-Imier);- Vereins-Mitteilungen Zürich;- Le Commerçant de Timbres-poste (Geneva);- Le Philatéliste Universel (Porrentruy);- Die Briefmarken Börse (Geneva);- Revue Philatéliste (Geneva);- Le Philatéliste Suisse (Geneva);- Internationaler Postwethzeichen-Anzeiger (Zurich);- Revue Philatélique Suisse (Geneva);- …….

Their lives extended from one month to several years. Most died out before the end of the century.

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3. COVERS & POSTAL CARDS

1879 - Trilingual advertising from the store of R. Deyhle, Bern.

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3. COVERS & POSTAL CARDS

1880 – R. Deyhle advises its clients and partners for special commercial insertion prices in the SIBZ.

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3. COVERS & POSTAL CARDS

1881 – Wrapper for shipping the SIBZ to Sweden

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3. COVERS & POSTAL CARDS

1887 – When Hans Kirchhofer and Adrien Champion were associated to publish "Die Briefmarken Börse".

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3. COVERS & POSTAL CARDS

1895 – For the annual feast menu of the Philatelic Society Geneva.

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3. COVERS & POSTAL CARDS

1896 – During the National Exhibition Geneva, five days after the end of the International Stamp Exhibition.

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3. COVERS & POSTAL CARDS

1899 – Facsimiles of cantonal stamps issued by the forger Henri Goegg, alias Mercier, Geneva.

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4. EXHIBITION ADVERTISING

The first international philatelic exhibition in Switzerland takes place in 1893 in Zurich.

The exhibition catalogue is printed in full in the Schweizer Briefmarken-Journal.

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4. EXHIBITION ADVERTISING

Descriptions are very accurate and give the estimate values of major pieces.

The first item described was then sold 8 times, lastly in 2012 in Zurich.

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4. EXHIBITION ADVERTISING

The second international philatelic exhibition in Switzerland takes place in1896 in Geneva.

The exhibition catalogue is printed in full in the Schweizer Briefmarken-Zeitung.

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4. EXHIBITION ADVERTISING

An award certificate is reproduced.

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4. EXHIBITION ADVERTISING

The Philatelic Society Geneva issues stickers especially dedicated to the event.

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5. HANDBOOKS

With Hans Kirchhofer, Axel de Reuterskjöld belongs to the first Swiss authors of philatelic handbooks.

Both write in 1889-1990 a study about cantonal stamps and their forgeries: "Die Kantonalmarken der Schweiz und deren Fälschungen" including two stamp plates.

The only major former study on Swiss stamps had been produced 10 years before by Adolf Schulze, Zurich: Die Schweizer Kantonal-Marken.

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5. HANDBOOKS

A famous businessman – Paul Mirabaud – is active in banking in Geneva. He loves philately amongst many others.

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5. HANDBOOKS

Paul Mirabaud (1848-1908) and Axel de Reuterskjöld were associated to produce the most costly philatelic handbook ever published: The Postage Stamps of Switzerland 1843-1862.

60 000 Swiss Gold Francs only for its printing.

Needed intensive work from 1891 to 1898.

3 versions (200 F, 150 D, 150 E) of the book are issued in Paris in 1899.

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5. HANDBOOKS

The work is well-known for its colour plates.

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5. HANDBOOKS

It’s the forerunner of the Swiss reference publication exclusively dedicated to cancellations (Andres & Emmenegger, 1936).

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5. HANDBOOKS

Due to its price and small run, the book filled more philatelic society libraries than private ones.

Two reprints were operated:- The Quaterman Edition (USA) in 1975;- The Slatkine Edition (Geneva) in 1983.

The original is today a less sought-after book.

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5. HANDBOOKS

As from the end of the century,Postal history works start to appear.

The History of Geneva Post – published in 1900 - deals with the stampless period (before 1843) i.e. prephilately.

The same author published in 1898 The Cantonal Post of Vaud (1804-1848).

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6. CATALOGUES

Ernst Zumstein creates its stamp shop and trade in 1905.

Zumstein is a stamp expert and a publisher too.

After his death in 1918, the business is taken over by the Hertsch family.

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6. CATALOGUES

1909 - Ernst Zumstein achieves the first detailed and specialised Swiss stamp catalogue.

The 3rd issue in 1924 reaches a so high level of quality and accuracy that it’s still used today.

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6. CATALOGUES

1910 – Zumstein publishes a yearly Europe catalogue.

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7. AUCTION CATALOGUES

1920 - Zumstein launches the first stamp auction in Switzerland.

Results sound disappointing and then Zumstein focuses its business on fixed price sales and catalogues.

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7. AUCTION CATALOGUES

1925 - Luder-Edelmann publishes its first auction catalogue.

Today the oldest Swiss auction company to be still active.

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CONCLUSION

Switzerland has produced philatelic literature of value for the last 150 years.

Swiss publishers used to look firstly at foreign publications before publishing theirs.

No Swiss Stamp-Album before 1941 (Christen) ?

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Sources- SBZ 1879-1889, 1988, 2005, 2009;- Die philatelistische Literatur der Schweiz, A. Abele, 1946;- Messieurs Mirabaud et Cie, I. Chancelier, 2001;- 100 Jahre Zumstein 1905-2005;- Private philatelic library

Aknowledgements- Rémy Berra, expert AIEP;- Christoph Hertsch, Zumstein & Co;- Heinz Glättli, Stiftung Basler Taube, Basel;- Vincent Schouberechts, AEP;- Pierre Kottelat, Schweiz. Vereinigung Postgeschichte