Swiss Air: Some Lovely Stamps & ? Re: Grill

These arrived today!

Really like these Swiss airmails ca 1937-41.

The first is described as "Grilled Glue" and indeed, there are grill marks on the reverse face, though it is a used stamp. Unfortunately, also a pencil mark on the front -- afraid of trying to use an eraser...any advice? If anyone knows more...do tell. I have read about the US grills of the 19th century and have a few. Just not sure what to make of the "grilled glue" comment here. Is it the same idea as behind the US?


C4a Switzerland 1937 20c Airplane


C29 Switzerland 1941 50c Lake Geneva


C30 Switzerland 1941 60c Alpstein


C31 Switzerland 1941 70c View of Ticinio


C37 Switzerland 1944 10c DH-3 Haefell


C38 Switzerland 1944 20c Fokker ROTHENBURG Cancel

All very pretty.

Pretty, indeed. Unobtrusive cancels. Very nice. I've never enlarged C29 or C30...they're interesting up close.

[edit...forgot about your grilled gum question. It performed a different function than U.S. grills. I believe it was meant to prevent gum-induced curl on mint stamps, and not to absorb ink from cancels.]

No. The grill on US stamps is produced by puncturing the paper, allowing the cancel ink to get into the stamp paper and thereby making it harder to remove. It's purpose was to keep used stamps from being reused as postage. Turned out it wasn't feasible, so they quite doing that.

The grilled gum on Swiss stamps was used as a method to keep the stamp from curling. This is the equivalent of gum breakers on mid-20th century US stamps.

The gum breakers on US stamps have relatively wide spacings (typically >1 centimeter). While the gum is still on the stamp, you will see slight "bends" where the gum breaker is at. However, once the gum is removed, the paper bends will disappear. That is why you do not see gum breaker paper bends on used stamps or on unused no gum stamps.

The grilled gum on Swiss stamps has spacings of <1 millimeter. This does produce a permanent effect on the paper. So even when the gum is removed, you can still see the fine mesh-like pattern on the paper.

The 1937 is particularly attractive to moi,
it still retains the faint hint of art-deco stylism,
Mmmmm.

Excellent: thanks for the info.

The scans were done by the seller, who has sold me some really nice pieces in the past few months. Seller's name shall remain nameless, as sharing here would be much akin to giving away the best fishing spot in the river...