15-11-2018

Swiss Post is launching the fourth and final stamp issue of 2018. The emphasis of the new collection is placed firmly on the winter season, and particularly on Christmas and fondue. Another highlight of the fourth stamp issue is the reintroduction of steel engraving: as a treat, the stamps on the “Medicinal plants” miniature sheet have been produced using the traditional incision technique. All the new stamps in this issue are available in all Swiss Post branches and in Swiss Post’s online shop from 15 November 2018.

Thanks to its Christmas stamps, Swiss Post will bring pleasure to letter writers, collectors and stamp enthusiasts during the festive season again this year. In 2018 the postal festive spirit is ensured by four photographic motifs from Berne photographer Martin Mägli. They all depict Swiss buildings in a wintry dream-like landscape. The Christmas stamps are also available as a set with Christmas cards.

Especially for the winter season, Swiss Post is devoting two special stamps in its fourth stamp issue to Switzerland’s national dish, “Fondue”. The specially designed sheet with the “Fondue pot” and “Cheese” motifs, as well as a list of ingredients, immortalizes this piece of Swiss culture. The rustic motif with warm colours conveys the homely atmosphere of an Alpine hut to senders and recipients.

Unusual printing technique
The “medicinal plants” miniature sheet depicts four plants which are inspired by the book of herbs by the Italian doctor and botanist Pietro Andrea Mattioli (1501−1577). The stamps are particularly remarkable because they were printed using steel engraving – a traditional incision technique. Special stamps appear each year as a limited edition. They are often surprising because they are made using an unusual production technique. Collectors and stamp enthusiasts were not the only ones who were delighted by the “Goldvreneli” in 2013 (gold embossing), “Record” in 2014 (special lacquer with audio), and “Quince scent” in 2017 (perfumed stamp). The miniature sheet is available exclusively from branches with a stamp counter or Swiss Post’s online shop.

Stamp Day
At the end of the year, the Pro Juventute foundation is launching a new stamp set on the subject of “Happy childhood” with two stamp motifs. The proceeds from the surcharge go to projects supported by Pro Juventute. The Swiss philatelist association is also benefiting from a special stamp. The activities connected with Stamp Day from 23 to 25 November 2018 will take place in Allschwil (BL) and attract stamp enthusiasts, collectors and interested visitors from all over Switzerland. The Allschwil landscape painter Kevin Hill has illustrated a special stamp for the occasion, featuring Allschwil village square with its famous half-timbered houses. Meanwhile, the final journey of the “Swiss railway stations” definitive stamp set takes us to Berne main station in the Swiss capital.

Swiss Post is presenting the year book of Swiss stamps 2018 just in time for Christmas. The 57 stamps issued over the course of the year take readers on a journey of over a hundred pages through Swiss culture, its stories, institutions, traditions and people.

Source: Swiss Post

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