Page 78 - Celebrating Swiss Independence

1938-39 Charity Stamps

With declining interest in the postal stationery cards, and the popularity of Pro Juventute charity stamps, the
Bundesfeier Committee decided in 1938 to issue postage stamps to celebrate the country’s National Day. With a few

exceptions, all the issues between 1938 and 1998 were printed photogravure by Courvoisier S.A., La Chaux-de-Fonds

On sale between 15 June 2,480,450 were printed on
and 15 August 1938, the smooth chalky paper with
stamp remained valid blue and red silk fibres. A
until 15 November. further 160,000 were
printed on grilled paper

Tell’s Chapel and Lake Lucerne

The first issue features Tellskapelle on the shore of Lake Lucerne, with the Uri Rostock in the background. The chapel was built in
1368 but demolished in 1879 and rebuilt in its original form in 1880. Tradition says that at this spot in 1307, Wilhelm Tell leapt
ashore from the boat in which he was being taken as a prisoner to Castle Kussnacht.

On sale between 15 June 2,903,929 were printed
and 15 August 1939, the on smooth chalky
stamp remained valid paper with blue and red
until 15 November. silk fibres.

Castle of Laupen

The Castle of Laupen, erected in 930 and rebuilt in 1648, is of Burgundian origin. The stamp issued in 1939 commemorates the
600th anniversary of the Battle at Laupen, and the victory gained by the Bernese under Rudolph von Erlach on 21 June 1339, against
an army from Fribourg and the allied nobility of Savoy, Burgundy and the Habsburg territories.

The stamps, each with a 10c surtax, were available for sale at all post office counters. The additional
charge was distributed, in 1938 to Swiss Charities Abroad, and in 1939, to Destitute Mothers