Los sellos suizos más valiosos

5 Rp. Rayon I stamp, 1850

5 Rp. Rayon I stamp, 1850 is one of the first issues presented by Switzerland. This item features a horn above a red shield bearing the white Swiss cross.  5 Rp. Rayon I stamp was one of the first countrywide stamps to be put into circulation after cantons adopted the federal constitution in 1848. The items with completely framed cross are thought to be the rarest among these issues. One of the finest specimens of 5 Rp. Rayon I stamps, printed on blue (shades), wove paper, was auctioned for $293,000 by Rapp auction house in November, 2008. This extremely high price reflects both the importance and the beauty of this impressive philatelic item in particular.

Basel Dove stamp, 1845

Basel Dove is the world's first tri-color stamp issued by Switzerland in 1845. During this period in Swiss history, each canton issued their stamps. This issue is unique as it is the first in various ways: it is the only stamp issued by the Canton of Basel, the first item to combine engraving and embossing, and it was the first stamp to depict a bird.

Created by the architect Melchoir Berry, Basel Dove features three colors: blue, crimson, and black. However, such a design wasn’t appreciated by the local populace and was soon withdrawn. Nowadays, the Basel Dove is considered to be one of the most beautiful classical stamps in the world. A «dream pair» of these exceptional items was sold by Rapp auction house at a price of $109,878 on 26th November, 2014.

10-rappen Rayon II stamp, 1850

1850 10-rappen yellow with complete frame around the cross is exceedingly scarce, unlike its similar counterpart with no frame around the center cross in the design. This bright item printed on Yellowish (shades), wove paper was issued October 1, 1850. The variety, with complete frame lines, is really unique, with only a couple authenticated examples being known. The yellow 1850 Rayon II 10 rappen was issued for letter postage beyond the cantonal borders and for nationwide use. This issue later became valid for letter communication beyond Switzerland when the new Swiss Federal post signed postal agreements with foreign postal authorities, especially the German-Austrian-Postal-Union (GAPU). The finest specimen of this remarkable stamp was auctioned for $89,807 at Rapp auction in November, 2008.

2½ rappen Winterthur stamp, 1850

A bright Swiss stamp known as “Winterthur” was issued in 1850 by Zürich postal administration. The item with a 2½ Rappen value was released to pay reduced postage for local mail in the important towns of the cantons Zürich, Zug, Schaffhausen and Thurgau. An unusual feature of this item is the ornamental design placed between the stamp subjects. The issue also features the Swiss federal cross and a posthorn. This philatelic item was in use for a very short time, as the Federal local appeared generally throughout Switzerland on April 5, 1850. A set of two Winterthur stamps in a very fine condition was sold by Rapp auction house at a price of $75,984 in November, 2014.

Double Geneva stamp, 1843

A rare Double Geneva of 1843 is the third oldest European stamp issue after the Zurich 4 and 6 (1842), and the British Penny Black and Two penny blue, (1840). This is unusual early issue from Geneva, Switzerland, that is really two stamps in one. It is printed in black on yellow-green paper and its design comprises twin coats of arms, each surrounded by the words “Poste de Geneve/5 C/Port local” within a square. The interesting fact about this item is that its half was only used within the city, whereas the whole stamp paid the rate to other towns in the Geneva canton. One of the specimens of this notable Swiss stamp brought $34,500 at Cherrystone sale that took place in March, 2015.  

5-rappen blue stamp, 1854

Swiss 5-rappen blue from 1854 is one of the most unusual stamps in Swiss postal history. The items issued within this series are also known as the Strubels. They got such a nickname because from the olive wreath on the head of the allegorical Sitting Helvetia figure depicted on them. Her frizzy, unkempt appearance is reminiscent of the title character in Der Struwwelpeter (“Shockheaded Peter”), a somewhat horrific collection of 19th-century German stories about misbehaving children.

It is known in philatelic circle that the 5r value was actually issued in various shades of brown. However, there are 24 examples of Swiss 5-rappen stamps that were printed in blue. These items have an error of colour. One of such specimens was offered by Heinrich Koehler Auctions in September, 2016. The stamp fetched $16,000.

Vaud 4 stamp, 1849

Vaud 4 stamp is one of the key rarities of early Switzerland, with a few superb examples being incredibly challenging to locate. The 4-centime stamp labeled "Local Taxes" was intended for letters within a city, while the 6-centime item labeled "Cantonal Taxe" used for letters abandoned and delivered in the Canton of Zurich. The reason why the stamp is called the “Vaud 4” is unknown. But some philatelists explained it by the fact that it was used in Geneva and the district of Nyon in Canton Vaud. The stamp was issued in sheets of 100, but the total number of items that was printed is also unknown. It was made obsolete in a year due to the December 1849 currency law, thus making Vaud 4 really scarce. One of the finest examples of this great philatelic item was sold for $14,000 by Robert A. Siegel on 13 May, 2000.

Zurich 4r black stamp, 1846

In 1843 the Canton of Zurich decided to issue stamps to prepay postage. These were issued in two denominations: the 4-rappen for local letters, and a 6-rappen value for use on letters to other cantonal districts. With these issues the canton of Zurich became the pioneer in continental Europe, and the second government in the entire world, to issue postage stamps. If you take a look at the design of this issue, you may clearly see that the artist used a famous Penny Black of Great Britain as a model.  There is a fundamental similarity in the side and top panels, the corner squares and in the background, while the large figure of value takes the place of the Queen’s head.

Zurich 1846 4r black, featuring black Rosette cancel of Winterthur, was sold for $12,650 by Cherrystone auction in July, 2013.

Swiss Pro Aero stamp, 1938

Swiss Pro Aero stamp was issued in 1938 to promote the Pro Aero Campaign, held throughout Switzerland from May 21 through May 22, 1938. This day special Air Mail flights were made to thirteen Swiss cities, with the letters being franked by Swiss Pro Aero stamp. The interesting fact is that the unused copies were not sold separately; they were affixed to Air Mail letters by the postal clerks.  That is why the mint examples are difficult to find. Such a scarce version of Swiss Pro Aero stamp in mint never hinged condition, with a good colour and strong centering, was sold for $9,000 by US philatelic auction house in December, 2012.

William Tell 20c pair, 1932

William Tell is a folk hero of Switzerland, whose legendary exploits were first recorded in a late 15th century Swiss chronicle. Many early Swiss stamps of the 20th Century picture this famous character or his son. Unperforated gutter pairs of the 20c carmine William Tell with grilled gum were unknown until 1989. The uncut booklet sheet was discovered by a Swedish technician when he was involved in studying the Swiss methods of coil and booklet production. Some 60 years later the sheet became available for sale in Sweden. Unfortunately, it had been stored so carelessly that five of the ten gutter pairs were destroyed. The best of the remaining five examples was sold for $4,130 by Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions in February, 2016. The pair offered at this auction was used to illustrate an article in the Swiss philatelic press at the time of the discovery.