- Basel Dove
Infobox_RareStamps
common_name = Basel Dove
country_of_production =Switzerland
location_of_production =Basel
date_of_production =1 July 1845
nature_of_rarity = Extremely rare
number_in_existence = Unknown
face_value = 2 1/2rappen
estimated_value = CHF 18,000
CHF 37,500 on cover
The Basel Dove ("
Swiss German Basler Dybli" or (older) "Basel Dybli";"German Basler Taube") is a notable stamp issued by the Swiss canton of Basel. It was issued on1 July 1845 with a value of 2 1/2-rappen. At the time each canton was responsible for its own postal service. There were no uniform postal rates for Switzerland until after the establishment of a countrywide postal service on1 January 1849 . The only other cantons to issue their own stamps were Zürich and Geneva.The stamp, designed by the
architect Melchior Berry , featured a white embosseddove carrying a letter in its beak, and was inscribed "STADT POST BASEL". The stamp is printed in black,crimson , andblue , making it the world's first tri-colored stamp.The stamp was not valid for use after
30 September 1854 , by which time 41,480 stamps had been printed. Collectors need to be aware that several forgeries have been circulated. [ [http://klaseboe.club.fr/switzcan.htm] Cantonal-issues (retrieved 6 October 2006)]ee also
*
List of notable postage stamps
*Stamps and postal history of Switzerland References
Literature
* Jean-Paul Bach and Felix Winterstein, "Basler Taube," Reinach, Vlg. Multipress (1995) - in German
External links
* [http://www.ghonegger.ch/english/result.asp?akv=K&katn=Basler Classic Swiss stamps] Honegger philatelie AG
* [http://www.baslertaube.ch Basel Dove stamp illustrations] German language
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