Stamps of Switzerland: Landau Messenger (2014)

The Lindau Messenger,or Milan Messenger, was the name given to the a transalpine courier service employing late-mediaeval communication, trade and transport technology as of the first half of the 14th century. At this time, regular messenger services were set up on the unsafe and irregular terrain of the transit routes between key locations,in this case between Lindau on Lake Constance and Milan. The Lindau Messenger was not a stagecoach driver, nor was he a carter or a pack-horse driver. He operated instead as a sort of trusted confidant. The prices of the messenger services were high, and the position was lucrative for a long time. The first part of the journey involved two hours on a boat to Fussach. Following a five-hour journey, the messenger reached Feldkirch and the next day travelled to Chur via Luzisteig. In the late 18th century, these stages of the journey were relocated to the western side of the Rhine valley via Altstätten and Ragaz. Up to this point the journey was possible using small wagons in the summer. But from Chur, the messenger had to go on foot, on horseback or with pack animals. The third overnight stay was spent in Splügen, while the fourth was spent in Chiavenna. In between the two was the Splügen Pass, which was very difficult to cross at this time. The second boat journey took the messenger across Lake Como. A final, seven-hour stage followed, ending at the “Tre Re” guest house close to the Porta Romana, one of Milan’s city gates that still survives today.
The first recorded delivery by the Lindau Messenger took place in the early 16th century, although the messenger had been running since the 14th century. The era of the Lindau Messenger came to an end when a completely new generation of roads were built over the main Alpine passes, allowing stagecoaches to cross them, which made travelling easier and safer and the messenger service superfluous.
Source: WOPA Stamps
Released September 23, 2014