Types and varieties of Swiss postage stamps: Sitting Helvetia 1862-1881.

 

Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia paper types
Paper types:
(1.) white wove paper,
(2.) granite paper.

Stamps were printed in combined letterpress and relief prints. Stamps of 1881 were printed on granite paper with blue and red silk threads, preceding issues on white wove paper.

Embossed watermark “cross in oval”, impressed after the paper was manufactured is present on both types of papers. There are cases of very strong impressions that have damaged the paper.

 

1. Constant varieties

 

Issues of 1862-1864, white wove paper
5 cents, dark brown Field number
I Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: double impression Double impression, one of them inverted. ?
Issues of 1867-1878, white wove paper
10 cents, carmine Field number
I Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: lower inscriptions double impressed Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: lower inscriptions double impressed Lower inscriptions double impressed. ?
II Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: 40 instead of 10 40 instead of 10 in the lower left denomination box. ?

 

 

2. Possible constant varieties (not mentioned in literature)

 

Issues of 1862-1864, white wove paper
5 cents, dark brown Field number
I Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: Left borderline thick Left borderline thick, the upper part split. ?
II Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: Left borderline damaged Left borderline damaged. ?
III Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: Left borderline thick and split in the center Left borderline thick and split in the center. ?
10 cents, blue Field number
I Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: HELVFTIA The second letter E in HELVETIA damaged (HELVFTIA). ?
II Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: Vertical borderline to the left thicker Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: Vertical borderline to the left thicker Vertical borderline to the left thicker. ?
20 cents, orange Field number
I Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: Double borderline to the left Double borderline to the left. ?
Issues of 1867-1878, white wove paper
2 cents, bister brown Field number
I Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: Thick vertical borderline to the left Thick vertical borderline to the left. ?
10 cents, carmine Field number
I Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: White dot in denomination between 1 and 0 White dot in denomination between 1 and 0. ?
II Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: Borderline to the left thick Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: Borderline to the left thick Borderline to the left thick. ?
III Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: Bottom borderline split Bottom borderline split. ?
25 cents, blue green Field number
I Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: Damaged plate in the upper right area Damaged plate in the upper right area. ?

 

 

3. Coincidental varieties

 

Issues of 1862-1864, white wove paper
10 cents, blue
1 Traces of print blocks, colored smudges on borders Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: colored smudges on borders
2 Two vertical borderlines to the left (probably traces of print block). Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: colored smudges on borders
Issues of 1867-1878, white wove paper
2 cents, bister brown
1 Colored smudge in the upper right corner. Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: colored smudges on borders
2 Double vertical borderline to the left (probably trace of print block). Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: traces of print block
10 cents, carmine
1 Colored smudges on corners and traces of print blocks. Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: traces of print blocks Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: traces of print blocks Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: traces of print blocks Switzerland, Sitting Helvetia, stamp error: traces of print blocks

 

Bibliography

  1. Michel Schweiz/Liechtenstein-Spezial 2003/2004, Schwaneberger Verlag, GMBH, München. ISBN 3-87858-365-6