The Churfirsten is a mountain range that rises majestically and precipitously to 2,306 metres above the Walensee. In contrast, the mountain ridges level off gently on the northern side towards the Toggenburg. There is a spectacular view from Flumserberg. This is the perspective chosen by the graphic artist Bernadette Baltis for the “Churfirsten” panoramic special stamp consisting of four stamps. Bernadette Baltis is an experienced stamp designer. She previously created a number of stamps for Swiss Post including another panorama, featuring the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, which was voted Europe’s best stamp in 2007. Her latest work on the back of the sheet consisting of three panoramas is extraordinary. It shows a section of the drawing “The mountains to the north of Walensee, Speer-Mattstock-Churfirsten, 1:15,000.” 

Special stamps for major Swiss events

Further highlights of the stamp issue are the Festival del film Locarno which celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2017 and the Unspunnen festival of traditional Swiss costume and alpine herdsmen. This took place for the first time in 1805 and has been held every 12 years in Interlaken since 1946. The special stamps with surcharge from the Pro Senectute and Pro Patria foundations are part of the latest issue. A special stamp is also dedicated to the “ch Stiftung” to mark its 50 years of commitment to federal cooperation. The new collection is rounded off by a special stamp for Brienz’s Rothorn railway which went into operation 125 years ago and was the highest steam cog railway at the time. As it does every year, Swiss Post is also entering the competition for the best Europa stamp in 2017. This year’s theme is castles. Two special stamps featuring the three “castelli” of Bellinzona are in the running.

As with the first issue of 2017, the new stamps provide additional interactive information when scanned with the Post-App.

You can find more information about the stamps in the “Focus on stamps” magazine at www.magazine-focus-on-stamps.ch.

Motifs of the 2/2017 stamp issue – available and valid from 11 May 2017

• Churfirsten – special stamps “Selun-Frümsel” at CHF 0.85, “Brisi-Zuestoll” at CHF 0.85, “Schibenstoll-Hinderegg” at CHF 0.85, “Chäserrugg” at CHF 0.85
• Unspunnen – special stamp at CHF 1.00
• 70th Festival del film Locarno – special stamp at CHF 1.00
• 125 years of Brienz’s Rothorn railway – special stamp at CHF 1.00
• Europa castles – special stamps “Sasso Corbaro and Montebello” at CHF 1.00, “Castelgrande” at CHF 1.00  
• 50 years of ch Stiftung – special stamp at CHF 1.00
• 100 years of Pro Senectute – special stamp with surcharge at CHF 1.00+0.50
• Pro Patria – fortresses and castles of Switzerland – special stamps with surcharge “Schloss Oberhofen” at CHF 1.00+0.50, “Castello Visconteo” at CHF 0.85+0.40