Stamp Day 2016 in Oberaargau Yello Joint issue Switzerland – A courtly venue for philately Internationally renowned Dominican Republic in Aarwangen Swiss musicians Stepping from winter into summer 4/2016 Focus on stamps The Collector’s Magazine Numismatic letter Solar Impulse Editorial and contents iStockphoto Fotolia Jan Riephoff From the Dominican Republic, to schoolchildren at play and Swiss pop duo Yello – our fourth issue in 2016 covers a wide range of topics. Dear Reader If you are reading these words, then I’d like to thank you. Thank you for being a loyal customer and taking an interest in our stamps. How enthu- siastic are you? Do you simply like individual stamps and use them to adorn your letters, or per- Contents haps you have been an avid collector for 10, 20 or 50 years already? Knowledge and News 4 We are well aware that customer loyalty is by no means a given, and I can assure you that we will Yello 5 continue to do everything in our power in future to ensure that you, dear reader, can go on enjoying Christmas 6–9 exclusive motifs. So while you’re relaxing with this stimulating read, we are already working hard on planning the next stamp year. Swiss railway stations 10 –11 We hope you enjoy this issue and are looking for- Pro Juventute 2016 – Schooldays 12–13 ward to Christmas: Scan the Christmas stamps with your smartphone from 11 November 2016 to find a surprise. You’ll find more information on this Joint issue on page 6 and in the online version of Focus on Switzerland – Dominican Republic 14–15 Stamps: postshop.ch/focusonstamps Stamp Day 2016 Oberaargau 16–18 50th Aerophilately Days 18 Photo: ThomasPhoto: Rathgeb 2016 year book of Swiss stamps 19 Solar Impulse 20–21 Other products 22 Roman Heini Head of Stamps and Issuing programme and Philately events calendar for 2017 23 Cover page: Aarwangen Castle. 3 Knowledge and News A thank you to our subscribers Swiss Post would like to thank all its stamp and postmark sub- If you would like one of these desirable collector’s items scribers for their long-standing loyalty with a gift of an attrac- but do not yet have a standing order, then don’t delay – take tive high-quality folder. out a standing order today and you will receive the exclu- The exclusive folder contains the original “Laser cut” miniature sive folder as a gift. sheet as featured in issue 3/16 published on 8 September 2016. A limited edition of this sheet was produced. It was presented in Our Customer Service would be happy to help. Focus on stamps 3/16. Tel.: +41 (0)848 66 55 44, e-mail: [email protected] The subscription gift will be sent out with issue 4/16 or with the 2016 annual order as applicable. This folder is not available to We hope you continue to enjoy collecting Swiss stamps. buy! Stamp counter moving from the Fraumünster to the Sihlpost From 10 October 2016, you will find the stamp counter with our Take advantage of attractive opening hours in a central location comprehensive range of services at the Sihlpost post office: directly next to Zurich main station. Kasernenstrasse 97, 8004 Zurich. The stamp counter at the Fraumünster post office will remain open until 6 October 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 “Focus on stamps” is a free accepted by each customer who sends an magazine, published in order. German, French and Italian. Total print run These Terms and Conditions can be ordered English: 100 000 copies by telephone (+41 [0]848 66 55 44) or by e-mail swisspost.ch/focusonstamps ([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. 4/2016 Post Offices & Sales j E-mail: [email protected] Copy deadline: 31.8.2016 Stamps & Philately Wankdorfallee 4 j Website: swisspost.ch Distribution: from 7.10.2016 3030 Berne, Switzerland j Shop: postshop.ch Stamp issue: 17.11.2016 4 Special stamp Yello 37 years making Swiss musical history and still going strong Dieter Meier and Boris Blank: Two men who achieved worldwide fame with their music. Sound experiments in an automobile test pair received the Art Prize of the City of prise listeners. For their new album TOY lab marked the birth of the band Yello in Zurich, and in 2014 they were presented to be released on 30 September 2016, the 1979, and albums like “Stella” revolution- with the German Echo Lifetime Achieve- studio was transformed into the magical ized electronic music in the early eight- ment Award to honour their 35 years in world of a children’s playroom. Yello are to ies. Worldwide hits including “The Race”, the business. Boris Blank is the duo’s sound play live for the first time ever at Berlin’s “Oh Yeah” and “Bostich” garnered the architect. Using sophisticated sampling Kraftwerk on 26, 28, 29 and 30 October musical duo Dieter Meier and Boris Blank techniques, he builds up soundscapes 2016. major chart successes in the USA, Ger- that form the backdrop for Dieter Meier’s Swiss Post Ltd many, UK and Switzerland. In 1997 the unmistakable voice and constantly sur- Yello Order using the enclosed order form or at postshop.ch CHF 1.00 Sheet Single stamp Block of four of 20 stamps Unstamped A115 150 w A115 160 w A115 111 w cover C6 A115 550 ( A115 560 ( A115 511 ( A115 700 CHF 1.00 CHF 4.00 CHF 20.00 Key w = mint ( = cancelled CHF 0.90 Block of four Folder/collection sheet Single stamp on first day cover C6 on first day cover C6 A115 640 w A115 580 ( only CHF 1.90 A115 630 ( only CHF 4.90 A115 650 ( CHF 1.80 Sales Paper Philately: From 10.11.2016 to 31.12.2017, White stamp paper with optical while stocks last brightener, matt gummed, 110 gm² Post offices: From 17.11.2016, while stocks last Perforation Validity 13¼:13½ Unlimited from 17.11.2016 Design Printing Yello, Zurich Offset, 4-colour; Cartor Security Printing La Loupe, France Sizes Stamp: 33 × 28 mm First day cover motif Sheetlet: 194 × 140 mm (4 rows of 5 stamps) (blind embossing) First day cancellation 5 Special stamps Christmas Four stamps for the festive season The first miracle had already happened: snow had started falling just in time for Christmas Eve. But that’s not all … Right after she awoke, Anna looked out the window to find the meadow behind the house was covered in a deep blanket of snow. “That’s at least 10 centimetres!”, she gleefully exclaimed. She then happi- ly helped her mother make the last batch of Christmas cookies that morning. They were baking cinnamon stars and Mailän- derli cookies, topped with snowy white icing. At lunchtime Anna couldn’t help From 11 November 2016 taking another look at the splendid white our Christmas stamps expanse behind the house. The snow was will be coming to life! still there of course. But then Anna More information at couldn’t believe her eyes. What were postshop.ch/lupe those marks in the snow – a little Christ- mas tree, a snowman, an angel and a sledge? A smile crept across her face. It must have been Sven, her pal from school who lived next door. And if it had been him, the message could only be meant for her. She took the Christmas tree to mean good wishes for a happy Christmas, the angel was a compliment to her (she did tend to be a little vain sometimes), while the snowman and the sledge were an in- vitation to play during the holidays. And, even after getting all her other Christmas presents, she still thought these were the best gifts of all … His Matschers Voice 6 Order using the enclosed order form or at postshop.ch Christmas CHF 0.85 Christmas tree • CHF 1.00 Snowman • CHF 1.50 Angel • CHF 2.00 Sledge Sheet of 10 stamps Set Set of blocks of four 0.85 Christmas tree 1.00 Snowman 1.50 Angel 2.00 Sledge A118 150 w A118 160 w A118 361 w A118 362 w A118 363 w A118 364 w A118 550 ( A118 560 ( A118 381 ( A118 382 ( A118 383 ( A118 384 ( CHF 5.35 CHF 21.40 CHF 8.50 CHF 10.00 CHF 15.00 CHF 20.00 Single stamp on first day cover C6 Block of four on first day cover C6 Set on first day cover C6 (4 covers) (4 covers) A118 580 ( only CHF 6.25 A118 600 ( only CHF 8.95 A118 630 ( only CHF 25.00 Unstamped cover C6 A118 700 CHF 0.90 Christmas cards with covers and stamps* Christmas cards with covers and stamps* Set of 4 A6 double cards with the motif “Christmas Set of 4 A6 double cards with the motif “Snow- tree”, 4 C6 covers and 4 “Christmas tree” Christmas man”, 4 C6 covers and 4 “Snowman” Christmas stamps (CHF 0.85) (not affixed) stamps (CHF 1.00) (not affixed) Folder/collection sheet A118 951 w only CHF 9.20 A118 952 w only CHF 9.80 A118 640 w A118 650 ( CHF 6.15 * These articles are not delivered as part of a standing order.