Gottardo 2016 Swiss wrestling Nocturnal animals Base tunnel links north and south The sport that gets Swiss hearts Our night, their day beating faster Gottardo 2016 special stamps with real powdered stone from the Gotthard tunnel 2/2016 Focus on stamps The Collector’s Magazine Editorial and contents Dear Reader A certain breakthrough is opening up new per- spectives and connections: the first weekend in June will see the grand opening of the Gotthard Base tunnel and, with it, completely new pros- pects for north and south. At 57 kilometres in length, it is a world-record-breaking tunnel. 28,200,000 tonnes of rock were excavated during the construction process – particles of which you can find on the special stamps with a gutter. At the end of August, our champion Swiss wres- Alptransit AG tlers will be offering up fierce battles in the saw- dust, fighting for the coveted laurel wreath in Estavayer-le-Lac. A special sheet of stamps with a vignette in the centre pays tribute to the tradi- tional Swiss sport. While we humans sleep the sleep of the just, it’s time for four of our animal friends to come out to play: the “Nocturnal animals” set presents crea- tures that few of us are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of in the wild. This year’s combination print whisks us off to north-eastern Switzerland – to the beautiful, idyl- lic region of Lake Constance. The motif is sure to put you in a holiday mood. Preview of The new set of Pro Patria stamps (with surcharge) the diverse topics covered in this showcases fortresses and castles. Picture your- issue of “Focus on self as a damsel or a noble knight, strolling stamps”. Photo archive Estavayer2016 through the ancient buildings. This year’s Europa stamp is dedicated to the topic “Think Green”, prompting us all to take care of the natural world and to be more aware of the conse- Contents quences of our actions. Photo: AlptransitPhoto: AG Issuing programme 2016 4 Please note the survey on page 5 of this issue. Why not take part and help us to continue opti- mizing our offering and service? Thank you! Knowledge and News 5 I hope you enjoy browsing through our magazine. Gottardo 2016 6–9 Swiss wrestling 10–12 Pro Patria 13 Nocturnal animals 14–15 Kind regards Lake Constance 16–17 Carina Ammon Europa – Ecology in Europe 18 Head of CM Stamps & Philately Other products 19 Construction of the crosscut galleries in the Gotthard base tunnel. 3 2016 issuing programme: Stamps and postal stationery from Swiss Post The second half of the year and still going strong It’s full steam ahead for the new “Swiss 50-year anniversary, Swiss Post is dedi- And there might just be a few other sur- railway stations” definitive stamp set, cating a special stamp with a surcharge prises in store for you too. which is due to replace all existing defini- to a dark period of Swiss history. Subject to changes and additions. tive stamps (Vegetable blossoms, Tradi- The stamp offering for 2016 will be You can always find the latest version at tional handicrafts and Mushrooms). rounded off with a celebrity stamp fea- swisspost.ch/stamps. Highly developed production technology turing music stars, Christmas stamps, a enables a perfect presentation of delight- new set of Pro Juventute stamps, a minia- ful motifs, and another classic Swiss ture sheet for Stamp Day in Oberaargau landscape transports us to beautiful Tici- and a joint issue with the Dominican Re- no. While aerophilately is celebrating its public. Day of issue: 8 September 2016 Day of issue: 17 November 2016 Presented: postshop.ch/lupe Presented: postshop.ch/lupe No. Value Description No. Value Description No. Value Description No. Value Description 4 5.35 Definitive stamps 1 1.50 Special stamp 1 1.00 Special stamp 1 2.50 Postal card Swiss railway stations with surcharge Celebrity stamp: Yello Stamp Day 2016 0.85 Brig Compulsory social Oberaargau 1.00 Lucerne measures and forced 2 2.75 Special stamps 1.50 Bellinzona fostering with surcharge 4 5.35 Special stamps 2.00 Geneva Pro Juventute – Christmas 1 1.00 Special stamp At school 0.85 Christmas tree 2 2.00 Miniature sheet 50th Aerophilately Days 0.85+0.40 Breaktime 1.00 Snowman Laser cut 1.00+0.50 Lesson 1.50 Angel 1.00 Flower 1 2.00 Maximum card 2.00 Sledge 1.00 Butterfly 50th Aerophilately Days 1 1.50 Miniature sheet with surcharge 1 6.00 Definitive stamp 1 2.00 Miniature sheet Stamp Day 2016 Swiss railway stations Typical Swiss Oberaargau 6.00 Basel SBB countryside 2.00 Verzasca Valley We reserve the right to make changes. As at: February 2016 Swiss Post’s General Terms and Conditions Publisher’s details of Business concerning the purchase of stamps and philatelic items form an integral part of individual orders and are tacitly Author: His Matschers Voice accepted by each customer who sends an “Focus on stamps” is a free order. magazine, published in Total print run These Terms and Conditions can be ordered English, German, French 120,000 copies by telephone (+41 [0]848 66 55 44) or by e-mail and Italian. ([email protected]). They are also available at Customer service swisspost.ch/gtc-phila. Published by j Tel.: +41 (0)848 66 55 44 Post CH Ltd j Fax: +41 (0)58 667 62 68 “Focus on stamps” No. 2/2016 Post Offices & Sales j E-mail: [email protected] Copy deadline: 26.2.2016 Stamps & Philately Wankdorfallee 4 j Website: www.swisspost.ch Distribution: from 1.4.2016 3030 Berne, Switzerland j Shop: postshop.ch Stamp issues: 12.5.2016 4 Knowledge and News Important for you: you decide! Do you have any questions? Tel.: +41 (0)848 66 55 44 @post.ch E-mail: stamps Dear Reader You are holding the latest issue of “Focus our latest stamps. In this case too you can on Stamps”. We are pleased to provide tell us your wishes under “Go to Focus you with regular news and updates from on Stamps online” at postshop.ch/lupe. the world of Swiss philately. We will do “Top-Prospekt” will be delivered to Swiss everything we can in future too to arouse domicile addresses only. your interest in the latest stamp-related And finally, all available philately prod- topics. ucts from Swiss Post can be ordered on- Did you know that since the beginning of line at postshop.ch. Please note the enclosed reply card. We 2016 you can also read “Focus on Stamps” We would like to thank you for your in- would appreciate a response from you. online? The same content as in the print terest and look forward to welcoming The English version of the collector's version is available online at postshop.ch/ you in our online world. magazine will no longer be printed af- lupe. Online we also have the possibility ter the 3/2016 issue but will still be of publishing multimedia articles which, available online. If you wish to contin- besides text, photos and diagrams, can ue receiving a hard copy of “Focus on also include audio and video elements. A Stamps", please select your preferred visit to our new online portal is definitely language. worthwhile. And if you like our online presence and no longer wish to receive the paper version of “Focus on Stamps”, Our questions: you can inform us there under the head- – Read “Focus on Stamps” online only ing “Go to Focus on Stamps online”. – Subscribe to “Top-Prospekt” instead As another alternative to the print ver- of “Focus on Stamps” (see sample sion of “Focus on Stamps” we can also copy) recommend the enclosed “Top-Prospekt” – Continue to receive a hard copy of brochure. The order leaflet enclosed with “Focus on Stamps” it makes ordering even easier and sim- – Select preferred language pler, especially if you are interested in 5 Special stamps Gottardo 2016 Installation of the fixed track in the tunnel.Photo: Alptransit AG The Swiss spirit can move mountains Two special stamps with a gutter document a strengthened sense of togetherness. From time immemorial, the giant Gott- When the mule track was transformed hard has been perched up high on the into a pass road, the mail coaches took Opening ceremony of granite and gneiss of the massif. At least over. A famous painting by Rudolf Koller the Gotthard Base tunnel according to ancient legend. An imposing depicts galloping horses pulling the Gott- On the weekend of 4 and 5 June 2016, figure, he parts the waters, the four winds hard mail coach in Leventina. 15 or more the opening of the world’s longest and the cardinal points and divides cul- coaches travelled in each direction daily. tunnel will be marked by public cele- tures, languages and mentalities, dash- But even this was barely enough. When brations. The festivities will take place ing all human dreams of mobility and the first tunnel opened in 1882 – a mas- at both portals of the 57-kilometre- freedom of movement. There have, of terpiece of railway technology – the long tunnel. course, always been a few stalwart indi- “crocodile” locomotives and spiral tun- To find out more about the festivities, viduals who have somehow succeeded in nels became famous all over the world. please visit postshop.ch/lupe and climbing over the giant’s shoulders. But it 1980 saw the opening of the road tunnel, gottardo2016.ch. was not until 1200 that the attack on the and the story continued.