Nomenclature: In German and English, though not in French, stamps produced for Swiss military units are known as 'Soldier Stamps' (Soldatenmarken in German). The use of the word 'soldier' naturally brings the Army to mind but many stamps were also produced for the Air Force and a few stamps recognize the relatively small number of boat service personnel in the Swiss armed forces. The French terminology, Timbres Militaires, is more inclusive. We have used the German-language military unit headings for this article.
Switzerland remained neutral during both world wars but kept many men at arms watching their borders throughout these conflicts. Swiss soldiers on active duty during both wars had free franking rights on mail home. However, many divisions and sub-divisions of the army were given authority to produce their own stamps, which soldiers often chose to affix to their mail. Although they had no franking value, these stamps are also found on non-military mail, effectively serving as patriotic vignettes.
In the Great War, the number of different designs was relatively small but some of the designs had blank fields which were inscribed with a very large number of military units. In the Second World War, many more regiments produced their own designs but controls were applied to limit strictly the number of stamps, and variants of stamps, that any unit could produce.
There are probably more than 1500 different designs of Swiss Army stamps, but we have only identified 24 designs which have, or probably have, railway interest. Many of the designs are not geographically identified and some may well owe more to artistic imagination than to topographical reality. Where we have been able to identify the location, this information is given. In other cases, we have had to make a balanced judgement on the possible railway merits of a scene. If, for example, a river scene in a rural area shows two bridges close together, it seems very reasonable to assume that at least one bridge would be for a railway, especially in the 1930s and 1940s. If any reader can identify a specific location for us, please let us know.
.
World War I
.
1914/18 2. Division : Reg. Inf. 7 : Soldier on Locomotive.
The small scans show the wide-spaced and narrow-spaced stripes of rank on the NCO's wrist.
There are two distinct versions of the soldier stamp above, commonly called coarse and fine printings:
Coarse Printing (left pair): Two cab gauges (circles) below smoke in cab; widely-spaced bars of rank on NCO's wrist.
Fine Printing (right pair): One cab gauge glass only; narrow spacing of bars of rank on NCO’s wrist.
Examples of the stamp printed on the three different papers.
This is the only railway-related design known to us from the World War I issues. We have also shown an Italian poster stamp of 1905 commemorating the Simplon Tunnel. One wonders whether the designer of the Swiss Soldier stamp took inspiration from it, such are the similarities between the two. The so-called 'fine printing' of the design comes from the bottom right-hand corner of the sheet.
This stamp exists Perf and Imperf on three different papers, often described in catalogues as White, Greenish-Yellow and Bluish-Green. The colours differences are more easily distinguishable to the human eye when looking at the backs of the stamps and we prefer to describe them as White (slightly toned paper), Pale Yellow and Pale Greyish-Green.
Locomotive on WHITE paper : Coarse Printing (two gauges) Perf [ . ]
- ditto - Imperf [ . ]
Locomotive on WHITE paper : Fine Printing (one gauge) Perf [ . ]
- ditto - Imperf [ . ]
Locomotive on PALE YELLOW paper : Coarse Printing (two gauges) Perf [ . ]
- ditto - Imperf [ . ]
Locomotive on PALE YELLOW paper : Fine Printing (one gauge) Perf [ . ]
- ditto - Imperf [ . ]
Locomotive on PALE GREYISH-GREEN paper : Coarse Printing (two gauges) Perf [ . ]
- ditto - Imperf [ . ]
Locomotive on PALE GREYISH-GREEN paper : Fine Printing (one gauge) Perf [ . ]
- ditto - Imperf [ . ]
.
.
World War II
.
General Note: Catalogues for Swiss Soldier Stamps usually divide issues into six basic types, as follows:
Single PERFORATED Stamp
Sheetlet (usually of 4) Perforated stamps, WITHOUT marginal inscriptions
Sheetlet (usually of 4) Perforated stamps, WITH marginal inscriptions
Single IMPERFORATE Stamp
Sheetlet (usually of 4) Imperf stamps, WITHOUT marginal inscriptions
Sheetlet (usually of 4) Imperf stamps, WITH marginal inscriptions
This distinction with regard to marginal inscriptions rarely touches on the issues of railway interest. Please note that many of our scans of the sheetlets/4 below have been reduced in size in order to provide better presentation.
.
Kommandostäbe : 9.Division : Railway Tunnel
Kommandostäbe : 9.Division : Railway Tunnel Perf [ . ]
- ditto Sheetlet/4 [ . ]
As above but overprinted in Black: Dist. / Campicoltura:
Kommandostäbe : 9.Division : Railway Tunnel, OVERPRINTED [ . ]
- ditto Sheetlet/4, OVERPRINTED [ . ]
Varieties / Proofs : The overprint is known in other colours and stamps are also found with inverted overprint.
.
.
Kommandostäbe : K.K. 9.DIV : Top of Electric Locomotive (of the Crocodile class, as popularly known.)
This stamp was not officially issued either Perf or Imperf but, when encountered, is usually imperforate. Perforated examples are scarce.
'Crocodile Loco' Imperf [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet/4 without marginal inscription [ . ]
'Crocodile Loco' Perf [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet/4 without marginal inscription [ . ]
.
.
Kommandostaebe : Br. 9. Mont : Possibly the arches of the Locarno-Orselina Funicular Railway next to the Madonna del Sasso Sanctuary.
Design Note: The funicular from Locarno on Lake Maggiore runs up towards the monastery on arches similar to those shown on the stamp, although we do have reservations about the funicular being located at the point where the arches on the stamp are drawn, immediately to the side of the monastery. The stamps are multicoloured but the blue colour varies and we describe only that colour below.
Possible Funicular, in DEEP Blue, Perf [ . ]
- ditto - in pair with stamp showing a steel helmet [ . ]
Possible Funicular, in PALE Grey-Blue, Perf [ . ]
Possible Funicular, in DEEP Blue, IMPERF [ . ]
- ditto - Colour Shift [ . ]
- ditto - Green Omitted [ . ]
- ditto - in pair with stamp showing a steel helmet (scarce in Imperf) [ . ]
Possible Funicular, in PALE Grey-Blue, IMPERF [ . ]
Numerous Progressive Proofs, always imperforate, exist.
.
.
Artillerie : Lst. Kan. Kp. 20 : Guard & Railway Truck
Note: The two stamps on the left are on yellow paper, the depth of this colour being more pronounced than appears in the scan.
Perforated Issues:
Guard & Railway Truck on YELLOW paper, Perf [ . ]
- ditto - tęte-bęche Pair [ . ]
Guard & Railway Truck on YELLOW paper, Perf sheetlet/4 (without tęte-bęche arrangement) [ . ]
- ditto - but sheetlet with tęte-bęche Pairs [ . ]
Guard & Railway Truck on WHITE paper, Perf [ . ]
- ditto - tęte-bęche Pair [ . ]
Guard & Railway Truck on WHITE paper, Perf sheetlet/4 (without tęte-bęche arrangement) [ . ]
- ditto - but sheetlet with tęte-bęche Pairs [ . ]
Imperforate Issues:
Guard & Railway Truck on YELLOW paper, Imperf [ . ]
Guard & Railway Truck on YELLOW paper, Imperf Perf sheetlet/4 (without tęte-bęche arrangement) [ . ]
Guard & Railway Truck on WHITE paper, Imperf. [ . ]
- ditto - tęte-bęche Pair [ . ]
Guard & Railway Truck on WHITE paper, Perf sheetlet/4 (without tęte-bęche arrangement) [ . ]
- ditto - but sheetlet with tęte-bęche Pairs [ . ]
.
.
Fliegerabwehr : Flab. Gr.129 : Electric Train
This Fliegerabwehr (Air Defence) stamp is the only design for an Air Force unit with railway interest.
Electric Train on Bridge, Perf [ . ]
- ditto - sheetlet/4 without marginal inscription [ . ]
.
.
Grenztruppen : Grenzbrigade 5 : River Landscape with 3 Bridges
Note: The colours of the propellers shown in the scans above do not all match the catalogue descriptions.
If this stamp is based on a real geographical location, we have yet to identify it, although it has some loose resemblance to the confluence of the Rhone and Arve Rivers in Geneva. It seems improbable that at least one bridge in this scene, real or imaginary, would not carry a railway and/or tramway.
This is quite a complex issue to list, so we have listed each colour of stamp in turn. Other than with the varieties listed below, all the stamps have the shield in Blue & Black in addition to the principal stamp colour. We have only given this principal colour below:
Stamp in Deep Brown :
River Scene : Normal Stamp, PERF. [ . ]
- ditto - on Transparent Paper [ . ]
River Scene : Overprinted with a Red Propeller [ . ]
River Scene : Normal Stamp, IMPERF. [ . ]
- ditto - on Transparent Paper [ . ]
- ditto - on Thick Paper [ . ]
.
Stamp in Red-Brown :
River Scene : Normal Stamp, IMPERF. [ . ]
.
Stamp in Carmine :
River Scene : Normal Stamp, PERF. [ . ]
River Scene : Overprinted with a Violet Propeller [ . ]
River Scene : Normal Stamp, IMPERF. [ . ]
- ditto - On Thick Chamois Paper [ . ]
- ditto - Black & Blue omitted from Shield [ . ]
.
Stamp in Green :
River Scene : Normal Stamp, PERF. [ . ]
River Scene : Overprinted with a Red Propeller [ . ]
River Scene : Normal Stamp, IMPERF. [ . ]
- ditto - Black & Blue omitted from Shield [ . ]
- ditto - On Yellow Paper [ . ]
- ditto - On Thick Paper [ . ]
In addition to the varieties listed above, there are a number of colour shifts, and some significant shade variations in this issue. Shown below are the two values which are found with missing Black & Blue and an example of a major misperf.
.
.
Grenztruppen : Grenzbrigade 6 : Riverscape with 2 Bridges
Design Note : A further example of an unidentified, or possibly imaginary, location. The higher bridge seems likely to carry a railway. Stamps from normal sheets (of 25, arranged 5x5) are perforated, whereas stamps from the sheetlets are rouletted. On the bottom row of single stamps above, the stamps at left and right are rouletted, the central stamp perforated.
Dated 1939 :
Guard above Bridge in BLUE etc., Perf [ . ]
Guard above Bridge in GREEN etc., Perf [ . ]
- ditto - Imperf (from sheets/25) [ . ]
Guard above Bridge in GREEN etc., Rouletted [ . ]
- ditto - In sheetlet/4 with marginal inscription [ . ]
Dated 1940 in Grey-Green below 1939 :
Guard above Bridge in GREEN etc., Perf [ . ]
Guard above Bridge in GREEN etc., Rouletted [ . ]
- ditto - In sheetlet/4 with marginal inscription [ . ]
.
.
Hilfdienst(HD) – Baudienst : H.D. Baudet. 7/II : Tipper Trucks on rails.
Without overprint date 1941 :
Tipper Truck, Perf [ . ]
- ditto - On Art Paper [ . ]
Tipper Truck, Perf, Sheetlet of 5 values [ . ]
Tipper Truck, IMPERF [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet of 5 Values Imperf [ . ]
With overprint date 1941 :
Tipper Truck, Perf, overprint in Red, almost vermilion [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet of 5 values [ . ]
Tipper Truck, Perf, overprint in Brown-Red [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet of 5 values [ . ]
Tipper Truck, Perf, overprint in Brown-Red, overprint DOUBLE [ . ]
- ditto - In sheetlet of 5 Values [ . ]
.
.
Hilfdienst (HD) – Bewachungsdienst : Cp.surv. 1.2.3. Fribourg : Fribourg Railway Viaduct.
Design Note : This is a true representation of the railway viaduct in Fribourg.
Fribourg Viaduct, multicoloured, printed on WHITE Paper, Perf. [ . ]
- ditto - IMPERF [ . ]
Fribourg Viaduct, multicoloured, printed on BROWNISH-YELLOW Paper, Perf. [ . ]
- ditto - IMPERF [ . ]
Fribourg Viaduct, multicoloured, printed on GREY-BROWN Paper, Perf. [ . ]
Fribourg Viaduct, multicoloured, printed on RED Paper, Perf. [ . ]
- ditto - IMPERF [ . ]
Fribourg Viaduct, multicoloured, printed on GREEN Paper, Perf. [ . ]
- ditto - IMPERF [ . ]
Fribourg Viaduct, multicoloured, printed on BLUE Paper, Perf. [ . ]
- ditto - IMPERF [ . ]
.
.
Hilfdienst (HD) – Bewachungsdienst : H.D. Bew. Kp. 1-8 : Viaduct, probably railway.
Unidentified location; the style and shape of the brickwork are strongly suggestive of a railway viaduct.
Viaduct Brickwork, without overprint, Perf [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet/4 [ . ]
Viaduct Brickwork, without overprint, IMPERF [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet/4 [ . ]
Viaduct Brickwork, Overprinted 1941 1942 in Black, Perf [ . ]
.
.
Hilfdienst (HD) – Bewachungsdienst : H.D. Bw. Kp. 4 AG : Railway Viaduct.
Above : Stamps in the only issued colours.
Above: Some Proofs, which exist in various colours. We are unsure whether the two blue stamps are different shades, or stamps of the same colour inaccurately reproduced by different scanners.
Guarding Electrified Railway, UNDATED, Perf [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet/4 without inscriptions [ . ]
Guarding Electrified Railway, Overprinted 1943, Perf [ . ]
Guarding Electrified Railway, Overprinted 1943 1944, Perf [ . ]
Guarding Electrified Railway, Overprinted 1944, Perf [ . ]
Proofs exist, some of which are illustrated above.
.
.
Hilfdienst (HD) – Bewachungsdienst : HD Bew. Kp. 6 AG : Viaduct. & Tunnel, probably Railway.
Viaduct & Guard, Perf [. ]
- ditto - Sheetlet/4 [ . ]
Viaduct & Guard, IMPERF [ . ]
Imperforate proofs exist in various colours.
.
.
Infanterie : Bat. Fus. 3 : Viaduct & Tunnel, probably railway.
The stamps are inscribed for different army corps within the battalion, BAT.FUS.3.
Railway Viaduct, Cp. E. M. in Deep Blue, Perf. [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet/4 [ . ]
Railway Viaduct, Cp. E. M. in Deep Blue, Imperf. [ . ]
Railway Viaduct, Cp. I/3 in Pale Sage-Green, Perf. [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet/4 [ . ]
Railway Viaduct, Cp. I/3 in Pale Sage-Green, Imperf. [ . ]
Railway Viaduct, Cp. II/3 in Deep Violet, Perf. [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet/4 [ . ]
Railway Viaduct, Cp. II/3 in Deep Violet, Imperf. [ . ]
Railway Viaduct, Cp. III/3 in Yellow-Brown, Perf. [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet/4 [ . ]
Railway Viaduct, Cp. III/3 in Yellow-Brown, Imperf. [ . ]
Railway Viaduct, Cp. mitr. IV/3 in Deep Burgundy, Perf. [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet/4 [ . ]
Railway Viaduct, Cp. mitr. IV/3 in Deep Burgundy, Imperf. [ . ]
.
.
Infanterie : Bat. 61 : Eisenbahnbrücke über hohe Rhein; Railway Bridge over the Upper Rhein at Schaffhausen.
These stamps were printed both in full sheets in strips of the 6 different types and also in single stamp sheetlets and in sheetlets/6 containing one of each type. The six stamps comprise one without a Corps (Kp) identity and five for individual army corps, inscribed near the top of the stamp. We shall describe the normal sheet stamps first:
Railway Bridge, Without Kp inscription, Perf. [ . ]
- ditto - Imperf [ . ]
Railway Bridge, inscribed I. Kp. Perf. [ . ]
- ditto - Imperf [ . ]
Railway Bridge, inscribed II. Kp. Perf. [ . ]
- ditto - Imperf [ . ]
Railway Bridge, inscribed III. Kp. Perf. [ . ]
- ditto - Imperf [ . ]
Railway Bridge, inscribed Mitr. Kp. Perf. [ . ]
- ditto - Imperf [ . ]
Railway Bridge, inscribed Stabs Kp. Perf. [ . ]
- ditto - Imperf [ . ]
Railway Bridge, strip/6 stamps above from normal sheets, Perf. [ . ]
- ditto - Imperf [ . ]
.
There are also a number of sheetlets, many of them with small printings:
The single stamp sheetlet shown above is the overprinted version, with 16. Nov. immediately below 'AKTIVDIENST'
Single Stamp Sheetlets :
Sheetlet/1 without Corps (Kp.) Number, un-numbered, Imperf [ . ]
Sheetlet above overprinted 16. Nov. in Black, IMPERF, un-numbered [ . ]
- as above - but ROULETTED [ . ]
Sheetlet/1 overprinted 16. Nov. in Black, Rouletted and NUMBERED [ . ]
- as above - but Overprint Double [ . ]
Sheetlets of SIX Stamps : Where shown below as 'Perf', these sheetlets are nevertheless imperforate between the vertical rows of stamps, as opposed to Imperf sheetlets which are fully imperforate. We are unclear on the stamp arrangement for some of these sheetlets and the listing below needs verification.
Sheetlet Layout as in the scan of sheetlet numbered 0081 above, Perf [ . ]
- as above but Un-Numbered, Perf [ . ]
- as above but Un-Numbered, Imperf [ . ]
Sheetlet Layout as in the scan of sheetlet numbered 0378 above, RED numbering, Perf [ . ]
Other variants of numbering and/or sheetlet layout exist, but from restricted printings. For example, the un-numbered sheet scanned above, which has the same layout as the sheet numbered in Red, is not considered to be a regularly-issued sheetlet. We do not have access to a detailed listing of all such limited-issue sheetlets.
.
.
Mineure : Minengruppe 16 : 3 Bridges
A further example of a design with multiple bridges, at least one of which may reasonably be assumed to carry a railway.
Three Bridges being blown-up, Perf [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet/4 without text, Perf. [ . ]
.
.
Mineure : Minengruppe 17 : Railway Bridge, probably
The lower bridge is a traditional Swiss covered bridge, used for river crossings on many rural roads. The bridge above, whether a true location or an artist's creation, is more likely to be for a railway than for a road.
Probable Railway Bridge over covered bridge, Perf [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet/4 without text, Perf. [ . ]
.
.
Parkdienst : F. Art. Pk. Kp. 22 : Loading Railway Truck
The stamp in Blue, Black & Red (perf and Imperf) and some original artwork of the design.
Three Progressive Proofs and, 4th stamp, probably some printers' waste.
Loading Van, Blue, Black & Red, Perf [ . ]
- ditto - Imperf [ . ]
Loading Van, Grey-Blue, Black & Red, Imperf [ . ]
Loading Van, Greenish-Blue, Black & Red, Imperf [ . ]
Loading Van, Blue, Black & Red, printed on Thin Chamois Paper [ . ]
There are numerous proofs known for this stamp, some of which are illustrated above.
.
.
Sappeure : Stabskp. Sap. Bat. 7 : Railway Trucks.
Railway Trucks, Perf [ . ]
- ditto - sheetlet/4 (of the same design) [ . ]
Railway Trucks, IMPERF [ . ]
Railway Trucks and three other designs in a sheetlet, Outer Edges Perforated [ . ]
- ditto - but fully Imperforate, with text in margins (restricted printing) [ . ]
.
.
Sappeure : Stabs-Kp. Geb. Sap. Bat. 8 : Loading Railway Truck
We do not recall the source of the progressive proofs illustrated, nor do we know whether the stamps were printed only in black, or were in the four colours but have been reproduced using a monochrome scanner.
Loading Railway Truck, Perf [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet/4, Perf
Loading Railway Truck, IMPERF [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet/4, Imperf (from restricted printing)
Loading Railway Truck, Perf, Imprint of printers' name omitted (from a restricted printing) [ . ]
Loading Railway Truck, Imperf, on thick Chamois Paper (from a restricted printing) [ . ]
Proofs in addition to those illustrated above probably exist for this design.
.
.
Verschiedenes : Police Zone Frontičre Bas-Valais : Road map, with mention Martigny-Gare
This map is, we think, only a road and river map. We include it here as it includes specifically the name Martigny-Gare, a rather tenuous connection to railways.
Map in Red & Deep-Brown (almost Black), Perf [ . ]
Map in Blue, Red & Black, Perf [ . ]
- ditto - on Varnished Paper (from restricted printing) [ . ]
Imperforate Stamps of this design are usually counted amongst the proofs.
.
.
Verschiedenes : Gr. Destr. 3 : Blowing up Arched Viaduct
Design Note : The stamp shows the destruction of what appears to be a curved viaduct, possibly intended to represent the renowned Landwasser Viaduct on the Albulabahn.
Small Scans above :
Left : Detail of Viaduct
Centre : Example of the THICK sun rays
Right: Example of the THIN sun rays.
Blowing Up Viaduct. NO overprint, Perf [ . ]
- ditto - sheetlet/4 without marginal inscription [ . ]
Stamps with THIN sun rays (aureole) :
Blowing Up Viaduct, overprinted 1942 in Red-Brown : THIN sun rays, Perf [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet/4 without marginal inscription , Perf. [ . ]
Blowing Up Viaduct, overprinted 1942 in Yellow : THIN sun rays, Perf [ . ]
Stamps with THICK sun rays (aureole) :
Blowing Up Viaduct, overprinted 1942 in Red-Brown : THICK sun rays, Perf [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet/4 without marginal inscription, Perf [ . ]
Blowing Up Viaduct, overprinted 1942 in Yellow : THICK sun rays, Perf [ . ]
- ditto - Sheetlet/4 without marginal inscription , Perf. [ . ]
.
.
Verschiedenes : Zerst. Abt. 4 : Blowing up Bridge – Broken rail
In this stamp, a length of rail has been split apart by the explosion. The perspective has been subject to much artistic licence.
Blown-Up length of Rail, Perf [ . ]
- ditto - IMPERF [ . ]
Our scans also show some Progressive Proofs.
.
.
Verschiedenes : S. Zerstör. Det. 59 (as Minengruppe 17 higher up, but optd S.Zerstör. DET. 59)
34 Light-Green, Red & Black Perf [ . ]
- ditto - Imperf [ . ]
Trials of the Overprint are known. Note that the sheetlet/4 shown under Minengruppe 17 is not reported to exist with this overprint.
.
Related Material for World Wars I & II in Switzerland.
International Trains with Swiss Security Guards, 1919/20 : Special Stamps.
A small number of trains from Switzerland to Poland and Romania, containing valuable commercial cargo, were accompanied by Swiss security guards. Stamps were issued for each separate train and they were affixed to mail in the destination countries as evidence of the sender's official purpose for being in that country. Used examples are frequently postmarked alongside Polish or Romanian stamps on covers, using those countries' cancellers.
Also shown, for interest, even though we do not know its purpose or usage, is an Army Police Railway Station tax stamp of the same era for Bahnhof Koblenz, this being the Swiss Koblenz, a town on the German border at the confluence of the Rhein and Aare rivers.
Polenzug 5 [ . ]
This train left Bern on July 22nd, 1919 carrying medicine, footwear and other vital needs for Poland. It reached Warsaw on July 29th, where it remained until August 12th before returning laden with eggs. Printed in sheets/12 stamps.
Rumänenzug 10 [ . ]
This was the first of two trains to Romania for which special stamps were produced. It departed on October 26th 1919 from Bern, carrying farming (and other) machinery and chocolate. The train remained in Bucharest from December 2nd to 13th, finally returning home on January 11th, 1920. Printed in sheets/10 stamps.
Rumänenzug 12 [ . ]
The train set out in late November 1919 but was unable to commence its return journey from Bucharest until March 10th 1920, only reaching home soil in late April. By reason of the extended journey, a few stamps are known overprinted 'Mrz' or 'Apr' for use in March and April respectively, since the stamp's stated official validity expired in February. Printed in sheets/10 stamps.
Heeres-Polizei Bahnhof Koblenz Taxmarke 50 Cts. [ . ]
- ditto - tęte-bęche Pair [ . ]
The stamps were printed in vertical strips/4, the two centre stamps tęte-bęche. All outer edges of the strips/4 are imperforate.
.
.
Postcards produced by military units of the Swiss Army during both World Wars.
These are outside the scope of this article but there are a small number that can be collected that are of railway interest. We show below the front and back of two that we have noticed, one from each world war.
Steam train entering bridge. Handstamped Grenzkomp. R.26. on the message side. One presumes the same card can be found with handstamps for the other three companies for which this card was produced.
.
A second world war design showing tipper trucks on rails, not dissimilar to those seen on the stamps listed higher up under Baudienst: H.D. Baudet. 7/II.
.
Appendix to the Article : Internees in Switzerland : World War I.
Google Headline : During World War I Switzerland accepted 68,000 British, French and German wounded prisoners of war (POW) for recovery in mountain resorts. To be transferred the wounded had to have a disability that would negate their further military service or interned over 18 months and deteriorating mental health.
Wikipedia Headline : From the beginning of the project until the signature of the armistices in 1918, more than 67,000 POWs kept by the Allied and Central Powers were interned in Switzerland. Of these prisoners, just under 38,000 were French; more than 21,000 German; 4,000 Belgian; 4,000 British; and 600 from Austria-Hungary.
Amongst the mail arrangement for the internees were pre-printed envelopes and headed paper, the project supported by the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) / UCJG (Union Chrétienne de Jeunes Gens). Internees were accepted by Switzerland from 1916 onwards. Some stationery provided for them shows an electric train leaving a tunnel with a Latin inscription, initially 'per solem ad vitam' (through the sun to life), later modified to 'per lucem ad vitam' (through light to life).
We have not studied these in depth, so simply show below the few items we have seen, varying in the colour of the train image and of the paper stock, with a brief description. Other combinations almost certainly exist.
Based on an examination of relatively few covers, we have found the envelopes with corner card (electric train image) in blue or in brown are on ordinary paper, whilst all the envelopes with green corner cards are on granite paper.
.
Envelopes inscribed 'PER SOLEM AD VITAM' (seen with 1916 cancel)
Envelopes same size (c. 150 x 120 mms.), one shown reduced by 50%.
Train corner card in Blue on Grey-Blue [ . ]
Train corner card in Blue on Pale Buff. [ . ]
.
Envelopes inscribed 'PER LUCEM AD VITAM' (seen with 1917, 1918 & 1919 cancels).
Envelopes same size (c. 150 x 120 mms.), one shown reduced by 50%.
We have seen several envelopes online which appear to be in different shades of Green, and on different stock, although comparing shades online is not very reliable. The list below is our best approximation, corner card colour first.
Deep Greyish-Green on Greenish [ . ]
Deep Blue-Green on Bluish [ . ]
Green on Greenish [ . ]
Yellow-Green on Buff [ . ]
In addition to the envelopes, writing paper with the same electric train corner card can be found.
.
OFFICIAL Envelope inscribed 'PER LUCEM AD VITAM' (seen with 1918 cancel).
We have only seen one of these envelopes which appears to have been produced solely for use between officials responsible for the project and it identifies an office in Lausanne as an administrative centre. The design includes a YMCA / UCJG logo; there is official text below the corner card and at top right a free frank reading 'Poste de Campagne No 20'.
Official : Chestnut-Brown on Buff [ . ]
.
Postcard inscribed 'PER LUCEM AD VITAM' (with YMCA / UCJG logo).
Postcard : Grey-Green on Pale Buff [ . ] (c. 140 x 90 mms)
The presence of the YMCA logo, otherwise present only on the official envelope above, suggests that this was for use by officials of the organization, rather than internees.