As a collector of Swiss stamps I enjoy the unique issues of Switzerland. This country has been very innovative with its stamp issues.
Switzerland has issued ‘different’ types of stamps, including an embroidered stamp, a wooden stamp, one with braille so sight impaired people can read the value, stamps that smell (chocolate) and others. There are also many ‘Soldier stamps’ that many philatelists would call Cinderellas.
The subject of this post is the unique and official issues by Swiss post.
The Embroidered Stamp
On 21st June 2000 an embroidered stamp was issued. This was a CHF5 value and had a blue pattern embroidering. See picture.
Embroidered stamp
The blue coloured polyester thread was custom-dyed for this issue and used solely for it. The fabric is also high quality polyester.
The Chocolate Stamp
The swiss are famous for their chocolate so on 9th May 2001 a block of stamps were issued. Each stamp had a value of CHF0.90 and if gently rubbed the stamp released the sweet smell of chocolate.
The chocolate block
The issue was released to mark the 100th birthday of the Association of Swiss Chocolate manufactures.
The Braille Stamp
To commemorate the centenary of the Swiss National Association for and of the Blind and the Swiss Library for the Blind and visually impaired, Swiss post issued a CHF0.70 value stamp. This stamp was embossed with raised dots.
The wooden stamp
The stamp is quite fragile and can be easily split along the grain.
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Serious collectors of Switzerland might like to join the American Helvetia Society (http://www.swiss-stamps.org/). They publish TELL, an informative bi-monthly magazine.