T HE B EGINNINGS OF P HILATELIC L ITERATURE IN S WITZERLAND © J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / 20121

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / P RICE L ISTS 2. P ERIODICALS 3. C OVERS AND P OSTAL C ARDS 4. E XHIBITIONS 5. H ANDBOOKS 6. P RICE C ATALOGUES 7. A UCTION C ATALOGUES 2

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / P RICE L ISTS The "catalogue" issued by Georg (publisher in Basle and Geneva) is the oldest piece of Swiss philatelic literature. The "Georg" is a small booklet (9 x 14 cm) of 99 pages. Stamps are not illustrated. We learn that a Basle Dove was offered for 2 Swiss Francs, that is twice the price of the catalogue. 3

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / P RICE L ISTS J. Chapalay Fils, Geneva, publishes a series of price lists in These are as scarce to find as the Georg catalogue. No Swiss literature sounds being published during the period As from the 1880s each philatelic professional issues its own price list mostly illustrated. French speaking Switzerland is well-represented, especially Vaud and Geneva. Here Meystre, Yverdon / Vaud,

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / P RICE L ISTS Price lists are issued for purchase too. Noverraz in Geneva (1880) offers 1.50 franc for a Basle Dove and 5 francs for a Double Geneva. 5

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / 2012 Later (1907) the Zumstein company launches its periodical price list which still exists today. The Philatelic Market News is the forerunner of the current Berner Briefmarken-Zeitung (BBZ). The publication was and remains a mix of Price Lists and specialised articles P RICE L ISTS

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / P ERIODICALS First attempt of a monthly publication in : seven issues of the Schweizerische Briefmarken-Zeitung, then Internationale Briefmaken- Zeitung were published by Eduard Riesen. July 1879 is the starting point of an almost uninterrupted publication until today. Its publisher Robert Deyhle (20 years old) is considered as being the most well-known forerunner of Swiss philately. 7

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / P ERIODICALS Deyhle ( ), Bern, published the SBZ until He then encountered a serious lack of collaboration. He was one of the very first Swiss exhibitors, presidents of philatelic society, traders and experts. 8

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / P ERIODICALS As from 1880, a more attractive cover is adopted and the name becomes " Schweizer illustrirte Briefmarken-Zeitung " 9

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / P ERIODICALS First article written in French in the 3rd number of 1880, reflecting the multilingual culture of Switzerland. The layout however remains basically in German. 10

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / P ERIODICALS First advertising page in Most advertisers are German philatelic companies. 11

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / P ERIODICALS Hans Kirchhofer – active in Lausanne and Geneva – takes over the discontinued SIBZ in First Swiss publisher to produce bilingual writings in philately. Produces the first Special Catalogue of Postal Stamps of Switzerland in 1889 and Publishes specialised works of Otto Pfenninger about cantonal and first federal issues including cancellations. 12

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / P ERIODICALS The 1st issue of the SBJ is considered as being the birth of the current SBZ (Schweizer Briefmarken-Zeitung) 13

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / P ERIODICALS Many local periodicals were isued as from 1884 such as: - Courrier Philatélique (St-Imier); - Vereins-Mitteilungen Zürich; - Le Commerçant de Timbres-poste (Geneva); - Le Philatéliste Universel (Porrentruy); - Die Briefmarken Börse (Geneva); - Revue Philatéliste (Geneva); - Le Philatéliste Suisse (Geneva); - Internationaler Postwethzeichen-Anzeiger (Zurich); - Revue Philatélique Suisse (Geneva); - ……. Their lives extended from one month to several years. Most died out before the end of the century. 14

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / C OVERS & P OSTAL C ARDS Trilingual advertising from the store of R. Deyhle, Bern. 15

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / C OVERS & P OSTAL C ARDS 1880 – R. Deyhle advises its clients and partners for special commercial insertion prices in the SIBZ. 16

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / C OVERS & P OSTAL C ARDS 1881 – Wrapper for shipping the SIBZ to Sweden 17

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / C OVERS & P OSTAL C ARDS 1887 – When Hans Kirchhofer and Adrien Champion were associated to publish " Die Briefmarken Börse ". 18

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / C OVERS & P OSTAL C ARDS 1895 – For the annual feast menu of the Philatelic Society Geneva. 19

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / C OVERS & P OSTAL C ARDS 1896 – During the National Exhibition Geneva, five days after the end of the International Stamp Exhibition. 20

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / C OVERS & P OSTAL C ARDS 1899 – Facsimiles of cantonal stamps issued by the forger Henri Goegg, alias Mercier, Geneva. 21

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / E XHIBITION A DVERTISING The first international philatelic exhibition in Switzerland takes place in 1893 in Zurich. The exhibition catalogue is printed in full in the Schweizer Briefmarken-Journal. 22

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / E XHIBITION A DVERTISING Descriptions are very accurate and give the estimate values of major pieces. The first item described was then sold 8 times, lastly in 2012 in Zurich. 23

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / E XHIBITION A DVERTISING The second international philatelic exhibition in Switzerland takes place in 1896 in Geneva. The exhibition catalogue is printed in full in the Schweizer Briefmarken-Zeitung. 24

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / E XHIBITION A DVERTISING An award certificate is reproduced. 25

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / E XHIBITION A DVERTISING The Philatelic Society Geneva issues stickers especially dedicated to the event. 26

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / H ANDBOOKS With Hans Kirchhofer, Axel de Reuterskjöld belongs to the first Swiss authors of philatelic handbooks. Both write in a study about cantonal stamps and their forgeries: " Die Kantonalmarken der Schweiz und deren Fälschungen " including two stamp plates. The only major former study on Swiss stamps had been produced 10 years before by Adolf Schulze, Zurich: Die Schweizer Kantonal- Marken. 27

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / H ANDBOOKS A famous businessman – Paul Mirabaud – is active in banking in Geneva. He loves philately amongst many others. 28

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / H ANDBOOKS Paul Mirabaud ( ) and Axel de Reuterskjöld were associated to produce the most costly philatelic handbook ever published: The Postage Stamps of Switzerland Swiss Gold Francs only for its printing. Needed intensive work from 1891 to versions (200 F, 150 D, 150 E) of the book are issued in Paris in

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / H ANDBOOKS The work is well-known for its colour plates. 30

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / H ANDBOOKS Its the forerunner of the Swiss reference publication exclusively dedicated to cancellations (Andres & Emmenegger, 1936). 31

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / H ANDBOOKS Due to its price and small run, the book filled more philatelic society libraries than private ones. Two reprints were operated: - The Quaterman Edition (USA) in 1975; - The Slatkine Edition (Geneva) in The original is today a less sought-after book. 32

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / H ANDBOOKS As from the end of the century, Postal history works start to appear. The History of Geneva Post – published in deals with the stampless period (before 1843) i.e. prephilately. The same author published in 1898 The Cantonal Post of Vaud ( ). 33

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / C ATALOGUES Ernst Zumstein creates its stamp shop and trade in Zumstein is a stamp expert and a publisher too. After his death in 1918, the business is taken over by the Hertsch family. 34

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / C ATALOGUES Ernst Zumstein achieves the first detailed and specialised Swiss stamp catalogue. The 3rd issue in 1924 reaches a so high level of quality and accuracy that its still used today. 35

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / C ATALOGUES 1910 – Zumstein publishes a yearly Europe catalogue. 36

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / A UCTION C ATALOGUES Zumstein launches the first stamp auction in Switzerland. Results sound disappointing and then Zumstein focuses its business on fixed price sales and catalogues. 37

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / A UCTION C ATALOGUES Luder-Edelmann publishes its first auction catalogue. Today the oldest Swiss auction company to be still active. 38

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / 2012 C ONCLUSION Switzerland has produced philatelic literature of value for the last 150 years. Swiss publishers used to look firstly at foreign publications before publishing theirs. 39 No Swiss Stamp-Album before 1941 (Christen) ?

© J. Voruz / AEP - AIJP / 2012 Sources - SBZ , 1988, 2005, 2009; - Die philatelistische Literatur der Schweiz, A. Abele, 1946; - Messieurs Mirabaud et Cie, I. Chancelier, 2001; Jahre Zumstein ; - Private philatelic library Aknowledgements - Rémy Berra, expert AIEP; - Christoph Hertsch, Zumstein & Co; - Heinz Glättli, Stiftung Basler Taube, Basel; - Vincent Schouberechts, AEP; - Pierre Kottelat, Schweiz. Vereinigung Postgeschichte 40