The origins of the Swiss post

Autor(en): Rawnsley, E.J.

Objekttyp: Article

Zeitschrift: The Swiss observer : the journal of the Federation of Swiss Societies in the UK

Band (Jahr): - (1984)

Heft 1815

PDF erstellt am: 27.09.2021

Persistenter Link: http://doi.org/10.5169/seals-689256

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http://www.e-periodica.ch SWITZERLAND'S postal history in the days before the country became unified in 1848 is extremely complicated. There were, from 1291 to 1531, only 13 cantons - Uri, Schwyz, Un- The terwalden, Lucerne, Zurich, origins Berne, Glarus, Zug, Fribourg, Solothum, Basle, Schaffhausen and Appenzell, which comprised the Old Confederation or the "Thirteen Ancient Places", of the together with a number of subject or adherent areas. Each canton had its own currency - at one time there were some 250 or more different ones - which must have caused much Swiss post confusion. Zurich, for instance, used Rappen, Schillings and Florins, while Geneva used Sols and Francs. Mail at first was mostly between By E.J. Rawnsley cantonal administrations or large merchant houses who used the cantonal messengers, set up in the fifteenth century, who travelled on foot, then by mule or horse. Men of the highest integrity, (for internal post) or if going to as a female figure - France - with Switzerland derived from the they wore costumes of the another country "Suisse" or "De outstretched arms welcoming the period of occupation was the cantonal colours and carried their Suisse", then with town names young Switzerland shown as a gradual introduction of a more letters in cylinders of wood or until around 1807 by which time child. comprehensive postal system, metal. As protected persons they the French Revolution had When Napoleon was defeated and after 1815 things began to had to be allowed to travel freely broken out. further chaos resulted, but with settle down. throughout the country and on In 1798 Geneva and other the Act of Mediation in 1803 the In 1828/29 France made five occasions as far as Lyon in France territories adjacent to France were cantons under a governor known treaties with Switzerland covering or to southern Germany. To harm annexed, such as Geneva which as "Le Landamann de la Suisse" postal matters with Basle, Berne, or kill them could lead to became part of the "Département were given some measure of Vaud, Zurich and Neuchâtel, with diplomatic incidents. 99" as did Bienne, Porrentruy and sovereignty, including the right to responsibility for other areas being There were no official postal others. run their own postal services. shared between them. markings since there was no Consequently mail from these In the large towns this con- Neuchâtel, however, because of central postal system. Geneva, areas, even up to 1815, bore what tinued to develop along the lines its allegiance to the Kingdom of however, had many links with were actually French postmarks already in existence, but a number Prussia, which retained some France which, being a kingdom, and are much sought after by both of private or semi-private postal authority, does not seem to have had a good postal system, and Swiss and French collectors. The services, including the famous cooperated to the same extent as gradually western Switzerland country as a whole was under Fischer Post of Berne and to some the other cantons. began to adopt the French French occupation for the five extent those of Thum and Taxis, Under these treaties a system of method of marking letters with the years 1798-1803 and known as were also in operation. Exchange Offices - Bureaux town of despatch, from which the the Helvetic Republic. Then in 1815 the Congress of d'Exchange - was set up at points charges for delivery, payable by A circular of November 15, Vienna took place - the famous along the frontiers of France and the recipient, could be calculated. 1798, first mentions the use of "Dancing Congress" as it was Switzerland, from Basle to Somehow a method was engraved postmarks giving an in- called because of the magnificent Geneva, through which mail created whereby letters going out- dication of posting times. balls among which it was held. At would be routed to and from both side Switzerland were assessed so Private posting does not the Congress much of Europe was countries. The sending country that each country through which appear to have been prolific divided up, while Switzerland was required to indicate the the letters passed received its during the Helvetic Republic and regained its old status, with the distances that letters travelled so share of the final cost due for the period is better known for the addition of recently added that the amount of charge for the transit. elaborate headings to the letters, cantons making up the 22 which journey could be calculated in The first known postmarks, the revolutionary form of address, lasted until 1978 when Jura broke Kreuzer, this having been agreed dating from around the beginning "Au citoyen and the cachets away from Berne to become the upon as a uniform measure of of the eighteenth century, were from the various authorities, often 23rd canton. currency. simple straight-line town names of a pseudo-patriotic nature such The only benefit that A series of "transit" marks then 8 came into use, at first large framed even handed to a passing altogether, which can pose developing fast and regulations often three-lined marks, i.e. diligence for conveyance to the puzzles unless the inside of the were not always observed. At the "Suisse/par/Ferney" or "Suisse/ nearest post office and there folded sheet shows the date on end of 1850, when the use of par/Belfort" - this being the only franked with the town cancel and which the letter was written. adhesive stamps became com- exchange office to be situated the route, i.e. "Route de Envelopes had not yet come pulsory, there were more than some considerable distance from Sumiswald", "Route de Payerne" into use to any great extent as they 1,000 post offices and over three the border. or "Birwil Route", again providing added weight. times as many so-called Later came smaller straight-line a means of assessing the charges. Swiss accountancy marks were postmarks of all types and sizes, marks such as "L.G.8 K." or "L.Z. Large circular postmarks, generally applied at main towns or with hitherto unknown ones still 10 Kr." - (Lettre Bernois 8 already adopted by the French at the Swiss exchange offices, coming to light when old collec- Kreuzer or Lettre Zürichoise 10 post office, came into use in while France added a figure, tions come onto the market. Kr.") and so on, the figures being Switzerland in 1833, when, usually in red but occasionally in Even after 1850 the newly increased in steps of two Kreuzer according to the records, the black, of '2' or '3' decimes, being established postal administration according to distance. Postal Department of Berne the amount refundable to tried out several more types of These were eventually ordered 28 dated cancellers from Switzerland for conveyance to the cancellations before a more or less simplified to "T Z" or "T B" - a Paris engraver at a cost of 20 exchange points. uniform system was instituted. "Transit Zurich" or "Transit gold francs each, an exceedingly The Federal Constitution was It is no wonder that the task of Berne". Part of the great interest high price at that time. formed in 1848 and all private trying to arrange these covers in in collecting early covers lies in the They were quite decorative, posts were then taken over, which any sort of logical sequence is study of the various postal and having a cantonal coat-of-arms took time, so that there is a extremely difficult, but therein lies ancillary markings which were and a posthorn or other oma- tremendous amount of overlap- the fascination of collecting postal used. mental design at the base. ping in the types of postmarks and history. For mail within Switzerland, Although in use for a number of the period of their use. Ticino, for Mrs E.J. Rawns/ey is an where the postal needs were also years they were found to be too example, continued to use eminent postal historian and expanding, a facility of "Route expensive and were gradually "stampless" as opposed to "pre- /ounder member o/ the Heluetia Marks" appeared. Mail from small replaced by smaller modified stamp" covers well into the late Philatelic Society. She gat/e a talk towns and villages without a post types. 1870s, long after the use of adhe- on Swiss postal history to the office was carried by messengers, Some were simplified to the sive stamps was legally required. E/e/uetic Society in London on first on foot, then by horse and extent of omitting the year The postal service was by then May 3.

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