switzerland-upu-1900

When I was twelve or thirteen years old I received my very first circuit sheets in the post from a philatelic society, which I had recently joined.

On the first page was this U.P.U. 25th Anniversary issue from Switzerland issued in 1900.I had a number of old stamps in my collection and in older albums, which had been donated by various relatives, but most the stamps of this period seemed quite small. I suppose that few of them were commemoratives.

The set was priced at 2/9, far more than the usual penny or twopence most were priced at. I couldn’t resist it. I bought the set! Only today I have been perusing a specialised collection of Switzerland and there was another set. It is worth considerably more than a few shillings now…

Designed by E. Grasset and engraved by F. Florian of Paris. Recess printed by Girardet of Bern.

Perf 11½

Released 1900.