My Switzerland Error

I just picked up a new stamp from the post office that I had won in a recent auction. Its a Switzerland error.

Errors in Swiss philately are pretty unusual. There are plenty of varieties. Varieties based on different papers, water or control marks, gums (grilled or smooth), perforations and the like. But very few out and out errors. Amongst these is Scott 75a or Zumstein 63Ad.

In the 1880s through late 190Xs, Switzerland definitives were covered by two series of stamp design. The low values were the Cross and Numeral series. These ranged from 2 to 15c. Middle to high value stamps were covered by the Standing Helvetia series. These ranged from 20c to 3 Frs.

The Cross and Numeral series were a real "workman" amongst stamp issues and were issued in the many hundreds of millions. Given the large number issued, they are not the most highly prized of Switzerland stamps.

But, let me tell you the story of my new yellow-orange Cross and Numeral of 1888, according to a Sept 1992 article in the journal of the AHPS which is a translation of an article from the German Swiss stamp society.



It seems that the regular yellow color used for the 15c issue was toxic and there were efforts made to produce a variety of this stamp using ink that was not harmful to the printers. They tried a less toxic cadmium yellow, but it was not successful. The ink did not adhere well to the paper. Hence, the 15c went violet as a consequence.

But, along the way, a very small edition of 15c stamps with a yellow orange color were inadvertently put into circulation. The stamps were used exclusively in the vicinity of Zürich and Winterthur from December 1888 to January 1889. One writer estimates that only 60 examples are in existence but others think the number must be higher. There are around 700 example of the Double Geneva, to help put the numbers into perspective.

Mine, as you can see is not a beauty. It is on piece. Stamped Winterthur, December 3, 1888. The perfs are clipped at the bottom and the centering is not great. It is also a perfin. It bears the initials of "GV" or "Gebrüder Volkart" a Winterthur firm. I suppose since it is a bit of an ugly duckling, I got it for a very small fraction of catalog.

Its not often you can get a real error into your collection and I'm glad I got mine and at a good price at that.

-Larry

Hi Larry

Thanks for the info. What was used for the original colour? Does this mean that other yellow stamps from the 1800s were also toxic?

David

Its my understanding that at that time, inks could be a pretty difficult substance to handle with many volatile elements in their composition. Think of oil based paint. I also would assume that the toxicity was only of concern when the ink is in liquid form.

-Larry

Great yarn! made good reading.
Toxic? is that correct? maybe the make up of
the inks were detrimonious to the printing plate
causing early wear.

Being as the backing paper holds very little
of the cancel impression, are you tempted to soak off paper?

Hi Rod,

In the article I was reading, it identified the color as being "chrome yellow" and checking Wikipedia:


I guess that where the toxicity comes from.

I was initially tempted to remove the backing paper, but given the age of this stamp and the hazard of what might hapen to the paper and the color once in water, I think I'll keep the paper.

-Larry

Cheers Larry,
so there is still a crack in the door
re toxic to human, or toxic to plate.
I am noy au-fait with the method of
printing those Swiss issues, which may influence the
result.

I have, in the past been faced with soak/non soak
you really have to love the example to leave on
If yours is rare, certainly the best way to go.

Speaking strictly off the top of my head, I seem to remember that cadmium is fully as toxic as lead. (If not more toxic)