Page 2 - Celebrating Swiss Independence

Celebrating Switzerland’s Independence

Stamps & Postal Stationery issued by the Schweizerisches Bundesfeier-Komitee 1910-1960

Since 1891, Switzerland’s National Day has been celebrated each year on the first day of August. The significance of this
event relates to the historic alliance concluded in 1291 by representatives of the three central cantons of Uri, Schwyz and
Unterwalden. Their alliance was formed against the powerful Habsburg dynasty, whose intentions were to strengthen their
strategic position in the region by controlling the trade routes leading to the Gotthard Pass. This act of solidarity by the
cantons was to become the focal point around which independent Switzerland evolved over the next 600 years.

The display is set against a backdrop of Switzerland’s struggle for independence, comprising a selection of stamps, covers
and postal stationery presented in the order in which they were issued by the Bundesfeier Committee during the first fifty
years of its existence.
The Bundesfeier Committee
In 1909, a group of influential Swiss businessmen gathered in Berne for the inaugural meeting of the Bundesfeier (National
Festival) Committee, with the purpose of organising annual National Day celebrations and a nationwide collection of funds for selected charities,
such as the elderly, the poor, the sick and handicapped. It was agreed that special postal stationery cards, with designs
created by Swiss artists, should be sold each year to supplement these funds.
Bundesfeier Postal Cards
In 1910 the Committee received permission from the Swiss PTT to produce the first official postal card, with imprinted
postage stamp. The card was sold at Swiss post offices with a surcharge collected by the Festival Committee. Between
1910 and 1937 a total of 85 separate postal card designs were produced, with a variety of surcharges. As postage rates
increased so did the surcharge. During this period the sale of postal cards, plus the sale of badges, became the main
contributors to funds.

The picture side of these Bundesfeier cards depict historic events, patriotic scenes, and subjects with a National Festival
theme. The designs were mainly by Swiss artists commissioned by the Committee, and their signatures can often be found
on the cards. Different printing firms were involved, and their names can also be found on the face side of many cards.
The difficulty for collectors of these attractive cards is which side to display: the picture side or the postal side? I collect
both!

The cards were available at all major post offices, and sold for domestic use. Between 1928 and 1931 additional cards were
produced for the airmail rates. Dates of issue vary. Originally intended for release on 1 August, cards soon became available
throughout the month of July. Cards postally used and cancelled on 1 August are highly sought after. The total number of
cards sold exceeded 14 million, of which 130,000 were for airmail purposes.
Pro Patria Stamps
In 1938, due partly to declining sales of the postal cards, the Bundesfeier Committee decided to issue postage stamps,
with surcharge, to raise additional funds for their worthy causes. The early stamps, from 1938 to 1951, were inscribed
‘Confœderatio Helvetica’, the official name of the country, but in 1952 the Committee changed its name to the Pro Patria
Foundation and standardised the inscription on their charity stamps to ‘Pro Patria’ (For the Homeland)
The stamps were produced in photogravure by Courvoisier S.A., La Chaux-de-Fonds, with a few exceptions recess printed
by the PTT Printing Works in Berne.
Bundesfeier cards continued to be issued between 1938 and 1960 without an imprinted postage value. These cards are
collected with or without a Pro Patria adhesive from the corresponding year.
I first became interested in the Bundesfeier in 1982 when I joined the Helvetia Philatelic Society of Great Britain, and have
spent the last 35 years building up a complete collection of stamps and postal history on the subject. I am honoured to
have been given the opportunity to display this material to Fellows and Members of the Royal Philatelic Society London.

I hope you enjoy viewing this display as much as I have enjoyed collecting it.

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Fred Hoadley FRPSL 1 August 2017