the league of nations in leticia!

VOL. XLII, NUMBER 1

JANUARY 2016

American Helvetia

Philatelic Society

The League of Nations in Leticia!

by George Struble

Leticia is a town in the far southern tip

of Colombia. In the 1930s, jungles and

mountains made it almost completely

inaccessible from the rest of Colombia, but it

had strategic importance to Colombia because it

was on the Putumayo River, a navigable

tributary of the Amazon, and therefore had

access to Brazil and the Atlantic Ocean. Leticia

was much more accessible from Peru than from

the rest of Colombia. In fact, the town was

mostly settled by Peruvians, but a 1922 treaty –

unpopular in Peru – recognized Colombian

ownership. Some Peruvian hoodlums, followed

by a unit of the Peruvian Army, took over the

town in September of 1932. The difficulty of

sending troops there put Colombia at a major

disadvantage in defending its territory. It tried to send a few gunboats around the coast and up the

Amazon, but that was unsuccessful. However, the SCADTA airline (Sociedad Colombo-Allemana de

Transportes Aereos) was contracted to transport some troops to the area. SCADTA did not need an

airfield, since its seaplanes could use the Putumayo. The Peruvians were shocked and routed when planes

arrived with soldiers in early 1933; however, neither side could win decisively, so conflict continued. This

was the only time in SCADTA’s existence when it played a military role. (Continued on page 17)

Contents The League of Nations in Leticia! by George Struble 1

President's Column by Roger Heath 2

World Stamp Show -- NY 2016 by George Struble 2

SANDICAL AHPS Friday Dinner Plans by Bruce Marsden 3

Helvetia philatelic Society Anniversary Event by Neville Nelder 3

Book Review: Swiss Razor Blade Postmarks by Charles LaBlonde 4

Christmas 1939 -- Wartime Drumbeats by Bruce Marsden 5

Touring Switzerland through its Pictorial Cancels -- Flüeli-Ranft

by Richard T. Hall 6

Matterhorn Meanderings by Richard T. Hall 8

What Elsa is Going On? by George Struble 10

AHPS Auction 163 by Gerry Diamond 11

Index for TELL Volume 41: 2015 15

AHPS Auction 162 Prices Realized 17

An Interesting Letter to Toronto by Charles LaBlonde 19

2 TELL January 2016

President's Column by Roger Heath

Sindelfingen 2015

I decided to visit the annual stamp show in

Sindelfingen, Germany after it became apparent

the book I co-authored was being released at the

show. Hans Zinken, the Editor, invited my wife

Judy and me to visit him in Hamburg prior to the

show. We were graciously hosted by Hans and his

wife Christa. We were shown around Hamburg,

walking and driving, and one evening attended the

theater.

After a short side trip to Berlin to visit

friends of my wife, we headed by train to Stuttgart

and nearby Maichingen, where each year the Arge-

Schweiz collectors society gathers for lodging and

dinners. It was a wonderful experience and all

German and Swiss members who had travelled to

the show were very friendly and enthused about

my trip to Germany from the US. Moreover, the

hotel staff was superb as was the food served at

breakfast and dinner each evening. The highlight

was the Friday dinner where over 50 Swiss collec-

tors, many with their spouses, gathered for a talk

by Arge-Schweiz President Dr. Peter Greipel and a

slide show presentation by Robert Bäuml about

Swiss Hotel Posts.

The Sindelfingen show itself was great,

with an emphasis on postal history. There were

many frames of superb exhibits along with so

many dealers booths that I had to make certain I’d

walked all the aisles. Many societies had their

specialty booths, including Arge-Schweiz where

the new razor cancel book was selling like hot-

cakes. More than 25 copies sold during the first

day, and the book is being reprinted due to high

demand.

On a side note Hans Zinken drove me, Ju-

dy, and Peter Schlatter of Basel to the Porsche

Museum for a half day excursion. It was worth the

short drive and it was very easy for this collector to

see himself driving a 917 down the Mulsanne

Straight at 250mph. The cars look fast sitting in a

museum!

World Stamp Show --

NY 2016! by George Struble

As part of our publici-

ty of the New York 2016

World Stamp Show, we have

been showing philatelic

items that tie Switzerland to

New York. This is not hard;

almost all mail from Switzer-

land to the US passes

through New York! This

month's cover was supplied

by our good friend Steve Turchik. It is a first day

cover of the 1934 definitive set, mailed on July 2,

1934 to California, but of course by way of New

York. It was flown from New York to Los Angeles;

backstamps show transit through New York on

July 11 and receipt in Los Angeles on July 12.

Please understand that the oblong shape is pro-

duced by holding a camera at an angle to the cover.

A reminder -- see the November TELL --

that AHPS plans a roundtable show

& tell on May 30 (Memorial Day)

followed by beer and a meal at a

German restaurant. Tell Bruce

Marsden that you are coming.

Hans Zinken -- seated, in the blue shirt -- in the Arge-Schweiz booth pointing out details on a page in the new Rasier-klingenstempel book to fellow society members

January 2016 3 TELL

SANDICAL AHPS

Friday Dinner Plans by Bruce Marsden

All AHPS attendees and their guests at our

2016 annual convention at SANDICAL are invited

to gather together for a Society Dinner at the

Kaiserhof German Restaurant and beer garden in

San Diego on Friday, January 22. The weather is

expected to be sunny and balmy. El Niño may

surprise us but there will be NO SNOW – I guar-

antee it. We will plan to gather at the lobby of the

Hampton Inn (show hotel) at 6:00 p.m. as the

stamp show closes and carpool to the restaurant,

an easy 10 mile drive away to make a 6:30 p.m.

reservation.

We will have choices of soup or salad and

two side dishes along with a selection of individual

entrees and pitchers of German draft beer for a

fixed price of $40 per person including tax and tip.

A $5 rebate will be available for any non-beer

drinkers.

In order to allow the restaurant to plan for

us, please let me know of your plans to attend as

soon as possible ahead of the show. I have already

spoken to the restaurant and they are expecting us

but I will need to give them a pretty solid head-

count a week before our visit. Please alert me to

your coming by email to [email protected] or

by telephone/voicemail to 973-432-6163.

Payment is not required until we meet at

the show; cash or check payable to AHPS is pre-

ferred. Let’s have fun!

Please refer to Mike Peter's comprehensive

article about other aspects of SANDICAL in the

November TELL.

HELVETIA PHILATELIC SOCIETY

OF GREAT BRITAIN

Founded 1946 President: Claude Mistely

ANNIVERSARY EVENT

We are celebrating our 70th Anniversary in Lucerne next year, 8th -10th June. We plan to have keynote philatelic displays over the first two days involving speakers from Switzerland in addition to a number of smaller displays from the Society and local societies, with a celebratory dinner on the first evening. The third day will be taken up with a visit (optional) to the Museum of Com-munication in Berne.

If any AHPS member is interested in joining us please let me know by 15th January and we will see if you can be accommodated.

Neville Nelder

Secretary to HPS – [email protected]

Swiss Postal Stationery Collectors Society

Inquiries or Membership:

Albrik J. Wiederkehr, Rue du Carroz 5, CH-1278 La Rippe E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.ganzsachen.ch

mailto:[email protected]



4 TELL January 2016

Book Review: Swiss “Razor Blade Postmarks” Handbook Swiss “Razor Blade Postmarks”: Frederic deCoppet and His Invention of Cancelers with Flexible Heads by Roger Heath, Rudolf Inger, Peter Schlatter, Erwin Steinbrűchel, Hans Zinken; Hamburg 2015 - German and English, 145 Pages; Ordering information see TELL November 2015, p. 4

Most Swiss collectors will have encountered at one time or

another a postmark in the shape of an old fashioned Gillette razor

blade. Perhaps you were curious about the shape, at a time when

nearly all Swiss postmarks were circular. This excellent book, as-

sembled by a team of experts in Switzerland, Germany and the

USA, tells the story of the razor blade cancelers as well as the man

who invented flexible postal marking devices and why he did so.

As the story goes, a friend of Frédéric de Coppet would

complain after work about a sore arm from using the Swiss stand-

ard rigid postal marking devices all day long. De Coppet took this

as a challenge and invented several examples of cancelers with

flexible heads.

The book provides an excellent overview of the great man

himself, from birth to his death certificate and biography published

on 28 July 1930.

His first patent was recorded at the Swiss Patent Office in

1889 as Number CH251. He also had a British Patent in 1903 and

a US Patent in 1905.

In September 1889 de Coppet’s prototype cancelers were

approved by the Swiss PTT for test operations in Bern and Lausanne. The early tests showed that the basic

principal was on target but that the cancelers needed to be more robust to survive a day of banging at a

post office window.

The book does a superb job of following the day to day interplay between de Coppet and the Swiss

PTT, as his products matured. When operational the devices showed weaknesses de Coppet was already

thinking ahead of the situation with new and improved models. By 1898 the PTT was ready for a final test

and they ordered 11 cancelers for the main post offices. By 1903 the de Coppet cancelers were approved for

use.

But the real heart of the book is aimed at the collectors of these most interesting postal markings.

Razor blade devices have been used for mail departure, mail in transit and arriving mail. In the book one

finds extensive tabular data on the use of the de Coppet devices over the years, in each of the post offices

where they were in use. First days, last days, countries whose mail has been marked with de Coppet devic-

es. Again the team earns very high marks for interest, for presentation of their data and for completeness.

Because of the way the de Coppet devices were randomly employed, broken, taken out of service,

repaired, redelivered and modified the actual periods of use of the various devices are quite complex. The

team has collected masses of actual data on periods of use. The valuation scheme for the various dates of

use will entice many collectors to do some digging in their holdings.

The story carries forward with the work of de Coppet for foreign postal administrations It also

clearly documents the transition from the hands on work of de Coppet himself to other Swiss manufactur-

ers as his workload became too much.

The book concludes with a complete day by day summary of the actual records of de Coppet’s close

and sometimes frustrating interaction with the Swiss Post Office. Many years ago this handwritten infor-

mation was discovered deep in the dusty Swiss PTT archives by Michael Rutherfoord and myself. Some of

our early notes conclude the book.

Overall this is a publication of exceptional quality, from the standpoint of both content and cosmet-

ics. It should be used as the example for others who are thinking about writing a philatelic book.

Charles J. LaBlonde

January 2016 5 TELL

Christmas 1939 - Wartime Drumbeats International use of domestic postal card – Fun on the Internet

by Bruce Marsden

Postal cards with private imprints represent an

arcane but interesting collecting byway. My eye was

caught by a domestic rate 10 cent illustrated postal

card (Fig. 1) sent from Vevey to Paris on December 21,

1939. Usually foreign destinations called for the addi-

tion of a regular 10 cent stamp to make the interna-

tional postcard rate (Fig. 2). In this case the sender

had pre-printed the "Drucksache ..." notation on the

face of the card, which qualified it for the 10 cent inter-

national printed matter rate.

The fun begins on the reverse of the card (Fig.

3) consisting of a preprinted greeting in English,

French, and German, reading “May an American

Christmas Greeting, in Peace and Goodwill, cross all

frontiers, and pass all censors.” Accompanied by a pine bough, bells, and candles typeset border on the top

and left edges and signed by Reginald, Penelope, and Alice Orcutt, a Google search revealed that Mr.

Orcutt had been the American representative of the Mergenthaler Linotype Company in Europe between

World Wars I and II and had published a memoir titled “Merchant of Alphabets”. This explains his ready

access to a friendly printer to make up the cards.

I easily acquired a copy of the book thanks to abebooks.com and learned that the Orcutt family was

indeed based in Switzerland at the Hotel d’Angleterre in Vevey in late 1939 through July 1940 when war-

time conditions suggested that they return to the US by travelling through France, Spain, and Portugal

before catching a steamer home. Reminiscent of “Casablanca”.

In his book, Orcutt mentions the receipt of a large quantity of Christmas mail on December 21,

1939 which suggests that this card was hurriedly addressed to one of his family's correspondents and

dropped at the Vevey post office where it was cancelled between 5:00 and 6:00 PM – indicated by the 17-18

at the top of the CDS portion of the postmark.

But you can’t believe everything you read. From page 178, “At the post office, the Christmas

stamps, sold with a surtax and marked “pro juventute” – for the young people – brightened the backs of let-

ters…” I have to say, the only Pro Juventute stamps I have seen on the backs of letters were from the

stamp dealer Sekula who deliberately created philatelic frankings for his customer mailings. I think Mr.

Orcutt was confused and projected the American practice of placing Christmas seals on the backs of

Christmas card envelopes onto his memories of Switzerland.

No matter. I had fun, and I hope you do too!

Fig. 3. Message side of the postal card of Fig. 1

Fig. 1. Christmas postal card sent as printed matter

Fig. 2. More common international use.

6 TELL January 2016

Touring Switzerland through its

Pictorial Cancels – Flüeli-Ranft by Richard T. Hall

Flüeli-Ranft is located in Canton Obwalden

on the slopes above the eastern side of the Sarner

See (Figure 1). It lies at 2388 feet at the entrance to

the Melchtal (Figure 2). With a population of 1726,

Flüeli-Ranft is a hamlet of Sachseln. Its post office

was closed on December 29, 2001.

Flüeli and the Ranft Gorge are adjacent to

one another. Flüeli’s claim to fame is as the birth-

place of Niklaus von Flüe. Ranft’s is as the site of

his religious retreat as Brother Claus. Brother

Klaus was canonized in 1947. The story of Niklaus

von Flüe/Brother Claus is familiar to some but is

summarized here for those unfamiliar with it.

Niklaus von Flüe was born in

1417 in Flüeli in a time in Switzerland

of wars, corruption, and bribery. He

was self-educated, there being no priest

or church service in the parish of near-

by Sachseln. He became a farmer, built

a home, married, and had ten children

(five boys and five girls). He was a

councilor and judge with a special gift

of arbitrating differences between

quarreling parties. At the age of 40 he

brought a lawsuit on behalf of his fellow villagers against a

priest who was demanding too much tribute. At age 45 he arbi-

trated between the people of Stans and the cloister at

Engelberg. In his role of councilor and judge he realized that

bribes were rampant amongst his fellow councilors and judges.

This caused him great personal anguish and resulted in his

withdrawal from all civil posts.

He was torn between his duties to his family and his

desire to relinquish all earthly goods. His wife Dorothee un-

derstood his dilemma and gave her permission to the latter

choice. On October 16, 1467, he left his home and farm and, in

penitential robes, set off toward Basel. At Liestal outside Basel

he came upon a town in flames. A peasant told him to serve

God at home, not abroad. That night he was struck by light-

ning and decided to return home. He was found by woodsmen

near his home, having had no food nor drink. A sign was given

Fig. 1. Flüeli-Ranft location in Switzerland

Fig. 2. Flüli-Ranft region

Fig. 3. Nicklaus von Flüe’s home in Flüeli

Fig. 4. The Upper Chapel of Brother Claus in Ranft

January 2016 7 TELL

him that he should retreat to a place on his own prop-

erty on the bank of the stream in the deep gorge of

Ranft. He spent the winter there in cold and poverty.

The next year peasants built him a small cell and a

chapel and he became Brother Claus.

As Brother Claus he became widely known for

his sage advice. People from all walks of life came to

him for advice, including the Dukes of Austria, Milan,

and Venice, and the leaders of the Swiss cantons. He

was held in the highest moral authority in a time of

intrigues and rivalries. The victory of the Swiss over

Burgundy at the Battle of Grandson in 1476 brought

the Confederation to the brink of civil war because of

the rich booty from the battle and political rivalry. At

this point Brother Claus stepped in and counseled the

cantons to settle their differences in peace. As a result of his counsel, the cantons signed the Treaty of

Stans in 1481, permanently enshrining Brother Claus as a national hero. The 5 fr value of the 1938/1955

high value definitive set shows Brother Claus at the Diet of Stans. Brother Claus died on March 21, 1487.

The von Flüe birthplace and home (Figure 3)

still stand in Flüeli, the birthplace being considered

the oldest timber building in Switzerland. Figure 4

shows a vintage postcard with a picture of the chapel

in Ranft built by the peasants for Brother Claus in

1468. It was rebuilt after an earthquake in 1693-

1701. Brother Claus’ original hermit cell can also be

seen adjacent to the chapel in Figure 5.

Flüeli-Ranft has had two K-cancels, the first

of which, K 48 (Figure 6), was put into service on

June 16, 1947, (the year of Brother Claus’ canoniza-

tion) and continued to be used until September 21, 1966. It was replaced by K 413 (Figure 7) on September

22, 1966. That cancel continued in use until December 28, 2001, when the post office was closed. Both

cancels show Brother Claus’ head with a halo.

References Ernst Schlunegger, Die Motive der Schweizer Werbestempel, Schriftenreihe des Schweizerischen

Motivsammler-Vereins Nr. 3, 1969.

Wikipedia, “Flüeli-Ranft”

www.BruderKlaus.com

Switzerland, A Phaidon Cultural Guide, compiled by Niklaus Flüeler, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs,

NJ, 1985.

Fig. 7. K 413

Fig. 5. The Upper Chapel showing Brother Claus’ hermit cell attached to the chapel

Fig. 6. K 48

8 TELL January 2016

Matterhorn Meanderings by Richard T. Hall, C.Ph.H.

As promised in my last column, here are the quantities issued of the 2013 issues.

Zumstein # Denomination Subject Quantity Issued 1451 100 Swiss Faces 1,300,000

1452 100 Lötschberg Railroad 130,000 sheetlets of 10

1453 85 Civil Defense 1,100,000

1454 100 Gottlieb Duttweiler 1,000,000

1459 various Alpine Club souvenir sheet 283,000 sheets

1460 85 bpa 1,000,000

1461 100 Appenzell 1,200,000

1462-63 100 Ernst Kreidolf 2,100,000 sheet and booklet stamps

1464-65 100 Europa - Postal vehicles 1,600,000

1466 100 White Stork 1,300,000

1467 100 Venice Biennale 100,000 sheetlets of 10

1470 100 Hockey Championships 190,000 sheetlets of 10

1471 600 Gold Vreneli souvenir sheet 361,000 sheets

1472-73 100 Smurfs 2,500,000 sheet and booklet stamps

1474-76 100 Natural restoration 1,600,000 total

1477 85 Chicks 1,500,000

1478 100 Calves 1,500,000

1479 140 Lambs 800,000

1480 190 Piglets 700,000

1481 100 Bern 1,100,000

1482 100 Lausanne 1,000,000

1483 100 Winterthur 1,000,000

1484 85 Christmas - Fox 8,200,000*

1485 100 Christmas - Deer 8,300,000*

1486 140 Christmas - Owl 2,600,000*

1487 190 Christmas - Squirrel 1,800,000*

1488 85 Aarau Day of the Stamp 484,000 souvenir sheets

1489 100 Polo Hofer 1,200,000

1490 200 Zermatt Valley souvenir 299,000 sheets

PJ 409 85+40 Red Arrow locomotive 2,800,000

PJ 410 100+50 Crocodile locomotive 2,800,000

PJ 411 100+50 Ae 6/6 locomotive 2,800,000

PP 321 85+40 Village museums - Wohlen 1,000,000

PP 322 85+40 Einsiedeln 600,000

PP 323 100+50 Bagnes 1,000,000

PP 324 100+50 Liechtensteig 800,000

GLABRA - Näfels postal card 12,140

Aarau Day of the Stamp postal card 16,064

* Total for both paper types

Dick Martino asked me a question which I could not answer. Maybe

one of you can. He is looking for “templates” to mark retouches, etc. on the

Standing Helvetia and 1900 UPU issues. I think he means those gray prints

on card stock which I have seen but have no idea where they came from.

Any help?

In these times where more and more small post offices with K-cancels

are closing, large offices are still creating new ones. Case in point: the post

office at the Zürich airport, 8060 Zürich 60, began using a new K-cancel,

K255d, on January 11, 2016 (Figure 1). For jet plane topicalists this cancel

is a must. Its predecessor, K255c, was last used on January 10, 2016.

Fig. 1. K-cancel K255d

January 2016 9 TELL

There are a lot of year-end post office closings.

1. On October 9, 2015, the following post offices were closed:

8765 Engi (canton Glarus) [assumed by 8762 Schwanden]

1941 Vollèges (canton Valais) [assumed by 1934 Le Châble]

2. On October 30, 2015, the post office at 1231 Conches (canton Vaud) was closed

[assumed by 1225 Chêne-Bourg]

3. On November 13, 2015, the following post offices were closed:

6830 Chiasso 3 Boffalora (canton Ticino) [assumed by 6850 Mendrisio]

[K-cancel K998 was last used on that date]

4118 Rodersdorf (canton Solothurn) [assmed by 4118 Rodersdorf]

7028 St. Peter (canton Graubünden) [assumed by 7050 Arosa]


1906 Charrat (canton Valais) [assumed by 1926 Fully]

5466 Kaiserstuhl-Fisibach (canton Aargau) [assumed by 5330 Bad Zurzach]

6317 Oberwil bei Zug (canton Zug) [assumed by 6346 Baar] [K-cancel K569 was last used on that date]

5. On November 20, 2015, the post office at 3928 Randa (canton Valais) was closed

[assumed by 3924 St. Niklaus]


8427 Rorbas-Freienstein (canton Zürich) [assumed by 8424 Embrach]

[K-cancel K756 was last used on that date]

6575 S. Nazzaro (canton Ticino) [assumed by 6595 Riazzino] [K-cancel K835 was last used on that date]

7077 Valbella (canton Graubünden) [assumed by 7078 Lenzerheide/Lai]

[K-cancel K342a was last used on that date]


3421 Lyssach (canton Bern) [assumed by 3400 Burgdorf]

7149 Vrin (canton Graubünden) [assumed by 7130 Ilanz]

8967 Widen (canton Aargau) [assumed by 8965 Berikon] [K-cancel K994 was last used on that date]


8335 Hittnau (canton Zürich) [assumed by 8330 Pfäffikon]

6300 Zug 1 (canton Zug) [assumed by 6346 Baar] [K-cancel K1562 was last used on that date]

6302 Zug 2 Baarerstrasse (canton Zug) [assumed by 6346 Baar]

6304 Zug 4 Bahnhof (canton Zug) [assumed by 6346 Baar]

9. On November 30, 2015, the following post offices changes were made:

8965 Berikon 1 (canton Aargau) was closed and reopened on December 1, 2015, as 8965 Berikon-Widen.

A new post office at 6302 Zug Laubenhof was opened.

It is very interesting that the three Zug post offices that were closed on November 28 were assumed by 6346

Baar rather than this Zug post office.

10. On December 5, 2015, the following post offices were closed:

8442 Hettlingen (canton Zürich) [assumed by 8472 Seuzach] [K-cancel K1083 was last used on that date]

8315 Lindau (canton Zürich) [assumed by 8307 Effretikon]

11. On December 18, 2015, the post office at 8423 Embrach-Embraport (canton Zürich) was closed

[assumed by 8424 Embrach]

12. On December 31, 2015, the following post offices were closed:

1299 Crans-près-Céligny (canton Vaud) [assumed by 1297 Founex]

4206 Seewen (canton Solothurn) [assumed by 4206 Seewen] [K-cancel K966 was last used on that date]

13. On January 9, 2016, the post office at 8835 Feusisberg (canton Schwyz) was closed

[assumed by 8808 Pfäffikon] [K-cancel K962 was last used on that date]

The idea is to die young as late as possible..

-- Ashley Montagu

10 TELL January 2016

What Else is Going On? by George Struble

The Second Edition of Philately of Switzerland

was entered in the literature competition at

CHICAGOPEX this fall. It earned a Gold award!

Some of the evaluation remarks:

Sets a high bar for books to attract collec-

tors to a single country.

Excellent resource for new and intermedi-

ate collectors.

The appendices for French and German

terms into English, and the abbreviations

are nice features.

Excellent images that can be enlarged and

remain clear.

Congratulations and thanks to Dick Hall,

who has so ably shaped both the first and second

editions!

Cheryl Ganz wrote from Basel in late Octo-

ber: " I am in Basel where Laeckerli Huus is sell-

ing the famous Basel cookies in a tin with the

Basel dove holding a cookie, instead of a letter, in

its beak!"

The July-August Smith-

sonian reports that Swiss Post,

partnering with Swiss World-

Cargo and the Silicon Valley

company Matternet will start

flying drones through some au-

thorized air corridors to deliver

parcels of up to 1 kilogram. The

drones fly at 165 to 330 feet above the local terrain

at about 30 mph, getting up to twelve miles on a

battery charge. Switzerland is a good test location

because Switzerland is more drone-friendly than

the FAA regulations in the US.

The Matternet entrepreneurs are looking to

expand their operations to third-world locations

where drone technology may be cheaper than

building roads. Do I hear a "yes, but ..."?

reprinted with the gracious permission of Mort Walker

BUYING / SELLING QUALITY U.S. AND

WORLD COINS Specializing in coins and medals of

SWITZERLAND

Appraisal and Purchase of Coin Collections and Estates

Craig Keplinger Keplinger World Coins

P O Box 5123 CORALVILLE IA 52241

Website: www.numiswiss.com PH: (319)331-1739; FAX: (319)339-9465

Email: [email protected]

January 2016 11 TELL

AHPS Auction 163 This auction offers a great variety of Swiss stamps and covers that should appeal to all of our mem-

bers. Listed below are some great Strubels and Service issues. The first catalog number in the description

is generally Zumstein, followed by Scott (S ) as appropriate. Values are from the 2012 Zumstein. Airmail

covers are listed and valued per the 2000 Schweizerisches Luftpost-Handbuch where appropriate. Catalog

values are converted to dollars at the rate CHF 1 = US$ 1.00.

Most lots are scanned and shown on the internet via the AHPS web site www.swiss-stamps.org. A

few lots are illustrated on page 14 to whet your appetite, but you can enlarge them on the website.

Closing date for bids in this auction is February 20, 2016. Please send bids to auction manager Ger-

ry Diamond by one of the following means;

-1233. E-mail bids are preferred and will be quickly

acknowledged.

When emailing your bids, please remember to include your address.

Sellers: Contact me in advance so that we can discuss any material that you wish to submit

Regards………..Gerry

Lot

#

Description Cat.

Val. $

Min.

Bid $

Swiss Catalogs and Philatelic Literature – All will be sent via media mail

1 Grosses Handbook der Abstemplungen auf Schweizer Marken 1843-1907

by Andres and Emmenegger. 8 Volumes, 1968 Edition. Brand new condi-

tion.

$150.00 $50.00

2 Stehende Helvetia, Helvetia Debout 1882-1907, by Guinand, Valco,

Doorenbos & Hertsch, 1982 Edition, Like new condition.

60.00 25.00

3 Handbook Werbedatumstempel Schweiz K Stempel. First edition 1976.

1980 & 81 supplements included. New condition.

40.00 15.00

4 1969 Jaggi. Suisse-Schewiz-Liechtenstein. Full color, Hard copy. Like

new.

15.00 5.00

5 Zumstein SpezialKatalog. Schweiz & Liechtenstein. 1978 hard cover edi-

tion. Like new.

3.00

6 Same as above, 1982 hard cover Edition. Like new. 3,00

7 Tanner Spezial-Katalog, Switzerland & Liechtenstein. Hard cover, loose

leaf 1981 edition

2.50

8 Michel Schweiz/Liechtenstein Spezial 2003 edition, F-Vf condition 2.00

9 Same as above, 2005 edition. Vf condition. 3.00

Strubels -- priced at CV.

Any premiums for condition, cancels etc. should be considered when you bid.

10 Z 16 II, S 8. 10 Rp. Rayon II, Type 13, Plate E-RU. 4 frame lines, light

blue grill cancel. Berra-Gautshey photo authentication

130.00 50.00

11 Z 21G, S 35. 2 rp. Strubel with central Wohlen 20 Sept 62 cancel. 4 frame

lines. Just touching at LL.

700.00 75.00

12 Z 22Aa, S 14. 5 Rp. Red/brown Strubel. 3 frame lines, in at bottom. Light

grill cancel. Very slight thin. Von der Weid photo attestation accompa-

nies.

2100.00 550.00

13 Z 22C, S 20. 5 Rp. Strubel with light central 13 line grill cancel. 4 frame

line margin copy.

150.00 30.00

14 Z 22F, S 32. 5 Rp. Strubel margin copy. 4 frame line, just touching at LL.

Central Chur 17 Apr 58 cancel.

1300.00 200.00


15 23Ca, S 27. 10 Rp Strubel. Margin copy with central Sursee 3 May 56

cancel. 4 frame lines, Just in at LL.

65.00 10.00

16 23G, S37. 10 Rp Blue Strubel on small piece. 4 frame lines, just touching

at LL. Kussnacht 20 Jul 60 thimble cancel.

30.00 10.00

17 Z 24B, S 22. 15 Rp Rose Strubel. 4 large margins with central grill cancel.

Von der Weid Photo attestation accompanies.

140.00 42.00

18 Z 24G, S 38. 15 Rp Strubel with Baden 9 Oct 61 central thimble cancel. 4

frame lines.

75.00 15.00

19 Z 25F, S 34. 20 Rp. Orange Strubel. 2 very large frame lines, close at bot-

tom & left. Central Geneve date cancel. Von der Weid photo attestation

accompanies.

340.00 85.00

20 Z 25F, S 34. 20 Rp orange Strubel with frame lines of 2 adjoining stamps.

Canceled with Boxed Luze(rn) 26 Se(p) railway station cancel. Close at

bottom.

340.00 50.00

21 Z 26Aa, S 18. 40 Rp Yellow/green Strubel. 3 margins, in at bottom. Cen-

tral grill cancel. Von der Weid photo attestation accompanies.

1650.00 390.00

22 Z 26G, S 40. 40 Rp. Green Strubel. 4 margins with light circular Lau-

sanne central cancel.

120.00 20.00

23 Z 27C, S 31. 1 Fr. Gray Strubel. 3 Full margins, 4th is close at bottom.

Light central diamond cancel. Von der Weid photo attestation accompa-

nies. A very nice copy

1300.00 350.00

Regular and semi postal issues

24 Z 33, S 46. 30c vermilion Sitting Helvetia, Used, Fine with central cancel. 60.00 15.00

25 Z 34, S 47. 40c green Sitting Helvetia, Used, VF with central Geneve full

date cancel.

80.00 20.00

26 Z 39, S 54. 15c Lemon Sitting Helvetia, White paper with 17 IX 76 cancel.

Nice copy

55.00 15.00

27 Z 43, S 59. 50c Lilac Sitting Helvetia. White paper. VF used copy. 70.00 17.70

28 Sitting Helvetia – Seven 2c and Seven 25c nice used copies. Unchecked for

types & shades.

8.00

29 Z 56, S 80. 12c Cross & Numeral white paper. Fine used with full cancel. 40.00 12.50

30 Z 63Ab, S 75. 15c Yellowish Cross & Numeral with 23 VI 85 Burgdorf can-

cel.

40.00 10.00

31 Z 63A, S 75. 15c Yellow Cross & Numeral. Fine used copy with central

Geneve cancel

45.00 12.50

32 Z 58B – 64B, S 69-76. Stock card with mint & used Cross & Numeral.

Nice cancels on the used, LH for the mint. Unchecked for types and

shades.

20.00

33 10c Red Cross & Numeral. 16 very nice unchecked canceled copies 5.00

34 Z 76F, S 85. 40c gray Helvetia, Mint, NH, fine centering 60.00 15.00

35 Z 77-79a, S 98-100. 1900 UPU set of 3. Mint with first hinge. 25c nicely

centered

120.00 35.00

36 Z 77a/b – 79a/b, S 98-100. 6 5c, 5 10c, & 3 25c used UPU. Check scans

for condition. All are lightly canceled.

175.00 30.00

37 Z 79a, S 100. 25c blue UPU. 4 fine used copies. 260.00 35.00

38 Z WI 4-6, S B4-6. 1916 Pro Juv. VF used set. Each stamp has matching

central cancel

170.00 35.00

39 Z WI 7-9, S B7-9. 1917 Pro Juv. Mint, VF, VLH. 60.00 20.00

40 Z F1, S C1. 30c first air. Mint, VF, NH. APS photo certificate accompa-

nies.

400.00 100.00

41 Z F1, S C1. Stamp is genuine but 8 IV 19 cancel is forged. A great refer-

ence copy.

20.00

42 Z F2, S C2. 50c airmail with side tab. Mint, VF, NH. Signed 130.00 40.00

43 Z 107, S 136a. 40c red violet “Designers name on rock”, Used, VF with cen-

tral cancel

120.00 30.00

44 Z 135.2A.01, S 189. 80c on 70c Helvetia with sword, Mint, Hinged, fine

centering. Broken 8 variety.

140.00 35.00


45 Z 177, S 209. 3 Fr. Orange /brown Mythen. Mint, VF, NH. 160.00 40.00

46 Z 179, S 185. 10 Fr. Green Jungfrau. Mint, VF, Lightly hinged. Right side

tab.

300.00 80.00

47 Z 216V-218V. S 244-46. 1938 Symbolic Builders on green paper. Mint, VF,

LH

150.00 50.00

48 Z F 26, S C 36. 1938 Pro Aero. VF, Used with central Bern first day cancel 12.00

49 Z 243-51, S 270-78. 1941 Historic Builders set, Mint, VF, NH, bottom tabs. 70.00 20.00

50 Z WI 163-182. S B257-61, B267-71, B277-81 & B298-302. 1959-59 Pro

Juv. sets. All are Mint, VF, NH. All have different language bottom tabs.

15.00

51 Z WII 123-27, 133-37, WI 215-19, S B345-49, B355-59 & B360-64. 1965 &

1969 Pro Pat + 1966 Pro Juv. 3 Used sets with PTT fancy central first day

cancels

100.00 22.00

52 Z 412-17, 19-20, 22, S 440-45, 47-48, 50. 1968 Buildings issue, Used with

central PTT First day cancels. Right tabs on all stamps.

12.50

53 Z MH 56. Stamps from 1979 booklet. Many positions with central first

day cancels.

12.50

First Flight and Flown covers

54 Air card “Monoplane over Lausanne” with 16 11 11 Lausanne cancel on 5c

Tell boy. VF.

25.00

55 SLH SF 24.1.I. 13 IV 24 Flugtag Grenchen. VF cover with violet/orange

vignette. Franked with F5 & 20\25 Sitting Helvetia.

105.00 27.00

56 SLH SF 24.6.a. 31.8.24 “Les Rangiers” vignette on uprated 10c card with

F5. VF

65.00 20.00

57 SLH RF 25.8.a. Basel to Manheim 28 1X 25. F4 on uprated 20 postcard 35.00 12.00

58 SLH SF 26.6.a. Lysen first flight cover 31 X 26 franked wiith c3 and 5c

Tell boy. Dewit route label on front.

25.00 10.00

59 SLH RF 28.6,b. Zurich to St Gallen 14 V 28 franked with F4. Minor stain

on front not effecting stamps or postmarks.

250.00 70.00

60 SLH SF 35.5.c. 1935 Glider flight to Meiringen on hotel postcard. All can-

cels present and franked with F 12z, 1 Fr. Allegory.

50.00 15.00

61 SLH SF 38.2.a. Ballon Post Aarau to Hornussen franked with Aarau S\S

& F12z.

80.00 25.00

62 SLH SF 38.4.a. Zurich to Stockholm. Backstamped Kopenhagen on large

registered envelope. Nicely franked

50.00 17.50

63 SLH SF 39.5.g. 1939 Europaflug West on 20c imprinted Pavilion card.

Franked with 1 Fr. Peace (Z 190) & 30c Cross and Bow issues.

60.00 h20.00

64 SLH SF 39.5.f. 1939 Europaflug West Zurich to Barcelona. Nicely franked

with F 13z and F 22.

40.00 15.00

Service Issues

65 Z D 11 55-63, S O28-36. 50c – 2Fr. Officials, Used with light cancels 65.00 17.50

66 Z D II 37z – 45z, S 010-O18. 50c – 2 Fr. Officials with grilled gum, Mint,

VF, LH

20.00 7.50

67 Z D III 9z, 11z, 12z, 21z, 24-25z. S 2022a, 2024a-26a, 2032a-33a. Nice as-

sortment of Used grilled SDN issues. All are VF with light corner cancels

69.00 17.00

68 Z D III 13, S 2027. 3 Fr. Red SDN. Used, VF with light corner cancel 45.00 15.00

69 Z D III 42- 46, S 2042-46. 3c – 30c SDN Landscapes, Used, VF. All have

corner cancels

27.50 9.00

70 Z D III 57–60, S 2057-60. 20c – 1 Fr. SDN 1938 issue. Used, VF. All have

corner cancel

21.60 7.00

71 Z D III 65-67, S 2065-67. 1939 SDN high values, Used, VF with corner

cancels

65.00 20.00

72 Z D III 71Y-79Y, S 2070-78. 3c-40c SDN Used, VF. All with corner can-

cels.

12.50 5.00

73 Z D III 80-88, S 2079-87. 50c – 2 Fr. SDN. Used, VF. All with corner can-

cels.

50.00 15.00

74 Z D IV 63-80, S 3062-79. 3c – 2 Fr. BIT. Mint, VF, NH 60,00 22.50


75 Z D V 11, 111, & 1V. 1940 Pestalozzi BIE. Mint, VF, VLH 17.50 7.50

Regular issues and Semi Postal issues on cover

76 Z WII 19, S B119. 1942 Pro Pat. S\S on 1942 registered air letter to Cana-

da. 5 other stamps accompany. Condition of cover is fine, stamps are VF.

500.00 100.00

77 Z 246-251, S 273-78. 1941. 6 Historic Builders issues on cover. Zurich to

Munich.

45.00 12.00

78 Z WII 27-29, + 209. S B 147-149 + 236. Very nice registered cover 20 VIII

45 from Chaux de Fonds to NYC with pairs of 1945 Pro Pat and pair of 40c

landscape. Center crease not effecting stamps and hardly noticeable.

110.00 27.50

79 Z WIII 31, S B178. 1948 IMABA S\S on cachet cover with show cancel. 120.00 30.00

80 Z 298//308, S 329//39. 9 different 1950 Technic issues on cover from Zurich-

Munich.

30.00 7.50

81 Z WI 133-37, S B196-200. 1950 Pro Juv. on registered first day cover to

NY. Italian “Berna” cancel. VF and rare.

650.00 100.00

82 Same set on PTT sheetlet with Bern Briefannahme first day cancel. 10.00

83 Z WI 138-42. S B207-11. 1951 Pro Juv on PTT sheetlet with French

“Berne” FD cancel.

12.50

84 Z WIII 35, S 352a. 1955 Lausanne Expo S\S on show cachet cover with

Expo cancel.

150.00 30.00


Index for TELL Volume 41: 2015 Author Index

Barrett, John

"What Is Gutta-Percha?," January 2015, p. 7

Blaney, Rick

"Lake Steamer Mail on Lake Constance," July 2015, p. 15

Domenjoz, Florian

"Conclusions from the Survey 'Nachrichten von der Task Force', published in SBZ 9/2013,"

January 2015, p. 3

Donithorn Richard

"The Printers of Swiss Stamps", March 2015, p. 9

Emmenegger, Jean-Louis

"Postal Museums: Discover the History of Postal Services," May 2015, p. 3

Gattiker, Werner

"Good to Know! The Rayon Types: Part A. Introduction," March 2015, p. 1

"Good to Know! The Rayon Types: Part B. Rayon I (Zumstein 15 and 17)," May 2015, p. 4

"Good to Know! The Rayon Types: Part C. Rayon II (Zumstein 16)," July 2015, p. 6

"Good to Know! The Rayon Types: Part D. Rayon III (Zumstein 18, 19, and 20)," September 2015, p. 4

"Good to Know! The 40c. Helvetia with Sword 1908-35," November 2015, p. 1

Geissman, Christian

"Reinhard Stutz: 4 June 1938 - 20 May 2015," September 2015, p. 19

Hall, Richard T.

"Descriptive Tabs on 21st Century Stamps," November 2015, p. 8

"Matterhorn Meanderings"

January 2015, p. 6

March 2015, p. 6

May 2015, p. 8

July 2015, p. 12

September 2015, p. 13

November 2015, p. 11

"Touring Switzerland through its Pictorial Cancels - Ste-Croix," May 2015, p. 6

"Touring Switzerland through its Pictorial Cancels - Arlesheim," September 2015, p. 6

Heath, Roger

"An 1882 Swiss Postal Card to Trinidad," September 2015, p. 11

LaBlonde, Charles

"The Anatomy of a Cover," January 2015, p. 1

"What Happened in Lisbon?," July 2015, p. 10

"What is the Value of a Censor Mark?" September 2015, p. 8

Medland, Bob

"A Cover via New York -- to Kenya," November 2015, p. 15

Meylan, André

"A Block of Four Forgotten by the Catalogs: the 301RM," September 2015, p. 10

Pichione, John E.

"Exciting Discoveries for a Cancel Collector," November 2015, p. 7

Ruoss, Hugo

"Open Questions Regarding Some Pioneer Airs and New Revelations," May 2015, p. 1

"Open Questions Regarding Some Pioneer Airs and New Revelations (Conclusion)," July 2015, p. 1

Struble, George

"Follow-up: Lake Steamer Mail (not!) on Lake Constance," September 2015, p. 1

von Kanel, Daniel

"The Scouting Stamps of Liechtenstein," November 2015, p. 5


Subject Index

Airmail

Ruoss, Hugo, "Open Questions Regarding Some Pioneer Airs and New Revelations,"

May 2015, p. 1

Ruoss, Hugo, "Open Questions Regarding Some Pioneer Airs and New Revelations (conclusion),"

July 2015, p. 1

Cancels

Pichione, John E., "Exciting Discoveries for a Cancel Collector," November 2015, p. 7

Designers

Hall, Richard T., "Matterhorn Meanderings," November 2015, p. 11

Engineering and Landscapes

Meylan, André, "A Block of Four Forgotten by the Catalogs: the 301RM," September 2015, p. 10

Gutta-Percha

Barrett, John, "What Is Gutta-Percha?," January 2015, p. 7

Helvetia with Sword

Gattiker, Werner, "Good to Know! The 40c. Helvetia with Sword 1908-35," November 2015, p. 1

Lake Steamer Mail

Blaney, Rick, "Lake Steamer Mail on Lake Constance," July 2015, p. 15

Struble, George, "Follow-up: Lake Steamer Mail (not!) on Lake Constance," September 2015, p. 1

Liechtenstein

von Kanel, Daniel, "The Scouting Stamps of Liechtenstein," November 2015, p. 5

Obituaries

"Hugo Ruoss 1932-2015," July 2015, p. 9

"Rolf Rölli 1936-2015," September 2015, p. 2

"Reinhard Stutz: 4 June 1938 - 20 May 2015," September 2015, p. 19

Postal Museums

Emmenegger, Jean-Louis, "Postal Museums: Discover the History of Postal Services,"

May 2015, p. 3

Printers

Donithorn, Richard, "The Printers of Swiss Stamps", March 2015, p. 9

Pro Juventute

Richard T. Hall, "Matterhorn Meanderings," January 2015, p. 6

PTT Library

"A New Location for the Historical Archive and the PTT Library," January 2015, p. 5

Quantities Issued

Hall, Richard T., "Matterhorn Meanderings," May 2015, p. 8

Rayons

Gattiker, Werner, "Good to Know! The Rayon Types: Part A. Introduction," March 2015, p. 1

Gattiker, Werner, "Good to Know! The Rayon Types: Part B. Rayon I (Zumstein 15 and 17) ,"

May 2015, p. 4

Gattiker, Werner, "Good to Know! The Rayon Types: Part C. Rayon II (Zumstein 16)," July 2015, p. 6

Gattiker, Werner, "Good to Know! The Rayon Types: Part D. Rayon III (Zumstein 18, 19, and 20),"

September 2015, p. 4

Hall, Richard T., "Matterhorn Meanderings," May 2015, p. 8

SBZ (Schweizer Briefmarken Zeitung)

Domenjoz, Florian, "Conclusions from the Survey 'Nachrichten von der Task Force',

published in SBZ 9/2013," January 2015, p. 3

Scouting

von Kanel, Daniel, "The Scouting Stamps of Liechtenstein," November 2015, p. 5

Tabs

Hall, Richard T., "Descriptive Tabs on 21st Century Stamps," November 2015, p. 8


TELL Index

"Index for TELL Volume 40: 2014", January 2015, p. 12

Touring Switzerland

Hall, Richard T., "Touring Switzerland through its Pictorial Cancels - Ste-Croix," May 2015, p. 6

Hall, Richard T., "Touring Switzerland through its Pictorial Cancels - Arlesheim," September 2015, p. 6

World War II Mail

LaBlonde, Charles, "The Anatomy of a Cover," January 2015, p. 1

LaBlonde, Charles, "What Happened in Lisbon?," July 2015, p. 10

LaBlonde, Charles, "What is the Value of a Censor Mark?" September 2015, p. 8

The League of Nations

in Leticia! (Continued from page 1)

Meanwhile, a new strong-

man took control in Peru. He was a

close friend of the Colombian presi-

dent, and the Letician “war” was an

embarrassment to him, though pop-

ular with a large segment of the Pe-

ruvian population. His face-saving

solution was to allow the League of

Nations to mediate a settlement, the

only time the League of Nations was

successful in resolving a conflict.

The League of Nations negotiated a

cease-fire in May 1933; the League

did make a finding and awarded Leticia back to

Colombia in June 1934.

During this process, the League of Nations

had a peace-keeping presence in Leticia. The cover

shown on page 1 – official correspondence of the

League of Nations – was addressed to Mr. Garcia-

Palacios, the Secretary of the Leticia Commission,

whose official stamp on the back of the envelope –

shown above – confirms receipt. The cover was

mailed March 23, 1934 in Geneva, sent by ship to

New York, then flown by Pan American Airways

(this was during the disastrous period when the

United States Air Corps was flying US mail, but

Pan American contracts were not affected), arriv-

ing in Barranquilla, on the Colombian coast, on

April 2. Regular SCADTA air service flew the let-

ter to Bogota on April 3. I believe SCADTA must

have flown it to Leticia too; while Leticia was an

important issue in Colombia, SCADTA would have

made trips there, perhaps once a week. The four

days between Bogota and Leticia are consistent

with waiting for the next flight, but I believe is too

short a time period for the letter to be carried over-

land. The letter was received by the Commission

on April 7.

Swiss international postage was 30 Rp.

There were two choices for airmail surcharge to

Colombia; to fly by SCADTA in Colombia would be

80 Rp. for 10 grams. But for 200 Rp. the cover

could be flown by Pan American from New York as

well as by SCADTA in Colombia, and the League

of Nations did pay for that. The

airmail etiquette shows that this

was a well-planned routine.

Until 1932, mail to be flown

by SCADTA required special stamps

purchased from SCADTA, since

SCADTA did not have a government

mail-carrying contract – or subsidy!

– and was thus outside the UPU

umbrella. But on January 1, 1932,

SCADTA was awarded a govern-

ment contract, so its postage could

be paid by stamps of the originating

country. Since this cover was official correspond-

ence of the League of Nations, its postage was paid

by League of Nations stamps.

AHPS Auction 162

Prices realized

Lot

#

Selling

price $

Lot

#

Selling

price $

Lot

#

Selling

price $

1 14.00 28 13.00 48 18.50

2 13.50 31 46.00 49 18.50

4 47.50 32 21.00 50 13.50

5 12.00 33 41.00 51 14.50

6 19.00 34 41.00 52 26.00

8 16.00 35 126.00 54 12.50

9 16.00 36 41.00 55 14.50

11 83.00 37 31.00 56 10.00

12 73.00 38 12.00 57 14.50

14 21.00 39 13.00 58 18.50

16 13.50 40 5.00 60 18.50

17 2.50 41 11.00 61 86.00

18 10.00 44 14.00 62 85.00

19 26.00 45 3.50 65 102.50

21 6.00 46 20.00 66 57.50

22 22.00 47 20.00 68 5.00

25 41.00


American Helvetia Philatelic Society Elected Officers 2015-16 Appointed Officers

President

Roger Heath

2535 Ivy Street

Port Townsend, WA

98368

Home: 360-302-1006

[email protected]

Past President

Robert Zeigler

9122 Behner Brook Court

Indianapolis, IN 46250

317-576-9020

[email protected]

Vice-President

Charles LaBlonde

15091 Ridgefield Lane

Colorado Springs, CO 80921

[email protected]

Secretary & Librarian

Richard T. Hall

P.O. Box 15053

Asheville, NC 28813

Home: 828-681-0581

[email protected]

Treasurer Bruce Marsden 20 Whitney Road Short Hills, NJ 07078 Home: 973-218-9774 Cell: 973-432-6163 [email protected]

Regional Trustee West

Dana Nielsen

18133 Snohomish Ave.

Snohomish, WA 98296

360-668-2699

[email protected] Regional Trustee Central

Michael Peter

P O Box 50256

St. Louis, MO 63105

314-725-6800

[email protected]

Regional Trustee East

Gerry Diamond

60 Silver Birch Lane

Pearl River, NY 10965

845-623-3159

[email protected]

TELL Editor George Struble 210 18th St. NE Salem, OR 97301-4316 503-364-3929 [email protected]

TELL Associate Editor

Open

Circuit Sales Manager

Emil L. Tobler P.O. Box 26 Bradford RI 02808 Home: 401-377-2238 [email protected]

Auction Manager

Gerry Diamond (see column 2) Publicity Chairman Open

Awards Chairman

Michael Peter

(see column 2)

Audio-visual

Programs Chair

Dana Nielsen (see col. 2)

Webmaster

Bruce Marsden

(see column 2)

REPRESENTATIVES

Union of Swiss

Philatelic Societies

Michael Peter

(see column 2)

American Philatelic

Society

Ernest L. Bergman

1940 Cliffside Drive

State College, PA 16801

814-238-0164

[email protected]

Liechtenstudy Group

Paul Tremaine

410 SW Ninth St.

Dundee, OR 97115-9731

[email protected]

Copyright 2016, The American Helvetia Philatelic Society

(AHPS). TELL (ISSN 1042-2072) is the official journal of the

American Helvetia Philatelic Society, affiliate #52 of the

American Philatelic Society and a member of the Union of Swiss

Philatelic Societies. TELL is published bimonthly

(Jan/Mar/May/Jul/Sep/Nov).

Opinions expressed in this journal are those of the authors and

are not necessarily endorsed by AHPS or the Editor.

Letters and articles on Swiss, Liechtenstein, UN Geneva

and related philately are welcome and should be sent to the

Editor. Whenever possible, submit material by e-mail in as a

Microsoft Word attachment. Illustrations may be submitted as

image files; or we can copy/scan your originals (please consult the

Editor before sending actual stamps, covers, etc.). Please include

your name, address, email address, and telephone number.

Subscriptions for 2016 include AHPS dues: United States,

$23, which includes first class postage; Canada and Mexico $26;

overseas air delivery, $31. Request membership applications

from the Secretary or download from

Web page. Change-of-Address

should be sent to the Secretary.

Commercial advertising copy

and rate inquiries should be sent to

the Editor. Advertising deadlines:

Feb. 1, Apr. 1, June 1, Aug. 1, Oct. 1,

Dec. 1.

Printed by Short Run Printing,

Scottsdale, AZ.

AHPS Website: http://www.swiss-stamps.org

The American Helvetia Philatelic Society

(AHPS) is a non-profit educational organ-

ization with IRS 501(c)3 status. AHPS is

dedicated to the advancement of Swiss

philately and building a community of

members who share an interest in Swiss

philately.

TELL is the primary means of communication

among AHPS members. The goals of TELL

are

inform its readers about Swiss philately

support the activities of AHPS

provide publishing opportunities for

research in Swiss philately

serve needs of AHPS members

Plan to attend/exhibit at these AHPS

conventions and shows:

January 2016: SANDICAL, San Diego, CA;

Contact: Michael Peter

March 2017: St. Louis, Mo.; Contact: Michael

Peter

September 2018: SEAPEX, Seattle, WA








An Interesting Letter to Toronto by Charles J. LaBlonde CPhH, FRPSL

When collecting the Swiss mail of

World War II (WW II) it is quite easy to

become a bit complacent and assume that

everything of interest has already been

seen, understood and explained. I was

feeling just a little that way but then the

letter shown here appeared on eBay and

later on my desk.

The letter was posted at the Lau-

sanne Main Post Office on 12 November

1942. It weighed 3 grams and thus re-

quired only the minimum postage of 30

centimes for the letter plus 70 centimes

air mail surcharge making a total of 100

centimes or one franc.

Mail for Canada at the time was

bagged at the Geneva 1 Post Office and

sent to Barcelona via unoccupied France

by rail every day at 0933. The Swiss es-

tablished this route, which took a little

longer, to avoid Nazi censorship of North

American mail. (Note that Swiss airmail

could have been sent via Swissair to

Stuttgart then via Lufthansa to Berlin

and on to Lisbon).

At Barcelona, Iberia Airlines col-

lected the Swiss mail and flew it to Lis-

bon via Madrid. Pan American Airways then brought the mail to North America.

Since our letter was postmarked in Lausanne at 1000, it missed the 0933 departure of 12 November

and might have gone somewhere on 13 November, but other factors were in play at that time.

The Axis was nervous about an Allied landing in North Africa, from which an attack on southern

France could have been launched. So, between 8 and 12 November 1942, the Germans occupied Vichy

France. This blocked the censor-free Swiss postal route noted above. Switzerland was not quite sure what

to do and outbound North American mail was suspended until the problem could be resolved.

Mail in transit was returned to sender as we can see on our letter. But here is the mystery.

Why/how/where was the letter “suspended” twice? The two suspended markings are quite different, in

their makeup and in their obliteration.

The Swiss PTT plan was to resume sending letters to the west just as soon as possible, and this

took place on 22 January 1943. At that time mail that had been suspended could be remailed and, on our

letter, we see a postmark of Lausanne 5 Mousquines of that date. The difference was that the outbound

mail now had to transit Germany and be censored there. The left edge the letter shows the closer tape of

the Berlin Censor Office, Code “b”. The blue number 6870 is characteristic of Berlin censorship and prob-

ably was some sort of file number. And, of course, the letter was censored upon arrival in Canada by Cen-

sor DB/483.

I do not have a rational explanation for the two suspensions and the two suspension marks with

very different obliterations. Is it possible that the sender got anxious and attempted to repost the letter

before the PTT suspension was actually lifted, thus getting his letter slapped with another suspension

mark? The Swiss were very exacting about such matters and I have never seen another letter with two

suspension markings. But then, I have not yet seen it all. Opinions/explanations welcome.

the league of nations in leticia!

Documents