Stamps from Switzerland

Wenn Sie wollen, können Sie diese Seite in deutscher Sprache sehen.

     Peter Endebrock's Playing-card Pages
       home   -   cards from Hannover   -   taxes   -   collection   -   societies   -   my publications

  home   >   tax stamps   >   worldwide   >   Switzerland

Playing-Card Tax Stamps from Switzerland

The cantons of Switzerland have their own tax regulations, and some of them had taxes for playing-cards and used tax stamps.

Canton Basel

This stamp was in use in the Canton Basel in 1818.
The text is 'CANT.BASLE ST.THEIL' (?) and the value '1 Bz.' (1 Batzen).
The stamp was on the Ace of Spades.
(scanned by Klaus-Jürgen Schultz)

Canton Bern

This stamp was in use in the Canton Bern 1804/05 (or possibly from 1834 to 1851).
The text is 'CANTON BERN' and the value '1 Batz.' (1 Batzen). Note that the number and letters of the value have a backward slant.
(from a scan by Gerd Matthes)

This is an almost identical stamp used in the Canton Bern The difference is that the number and letters of the value are straight, and in capital letters ('1 BATZ.'). I suspect that it is a stamp from the other period (1804/1805 resp. 1834 to 1851).
(scanned by Klaus-Jürgen Schultz)

This stamp was in use in the Canton Bern from 1851 to 1880.
The text is 'CANTON BERN' and the value 'Rp. 25' (25 Rappen).

This stamp was used in the Canton Bern from 1880 bis 1935.
The text is again 'CANTON BERN', and the value is now 'Rp. 50' (50 Rappen).

These are more stamps from the Canton Bern in use from 1880 to 1935.
The text is also 'CANTON BERN', but the value is given as 'Cts. 50' (50 Centimes).
The stamps actually have different sizes, and the details are different (compare e.g. the stars). This is because the stamps were made by hand.
(the two stamps on the right scanned by an unnamed collector)

These stamps from the Canton Bern were in use 1935 to 1964.
The text is 'CANTON BERN', the value is now '1 Fr.' (1 Franc). You can notice small differences again. Note for example that the bear in the second stamp from the left has a grey body instead of a black one.
(third stamp scanned by Christian de Ryck, right stamp scanned by an unnamed collector)

Canton Fribourg

This is a stamp from the Canton Fribourg which was used around 1810.
(from a scan by Walter Haas)

This is a stamp from the Canton Fribourg which was valid around 1920.
The value is '20 Cts' (20 Centimes), and stamps with this value were used for all packs from 1873 to 1924.
(scanned by Christian de Ryck)

This is a stamp from the Canton Fribourg which was valid around 1935.
The value is '50 Cts' (50 Centimes). Stamps with this value were used for all packs from 1924 to 1981.

This stamp from the Canton Fribourg was in use around 1980, the value is again '50 cts' (50 Centimes).
From 1982 the tax on playing-cards was abolished in the Canton Fribourg.

Canton Neuchâtel

Playing-cards were subject to tax in Neuchâtel from 1935 until 1996.

This stamp was used in the Canton Neuchâtel around 1937.
The text is 'Etat Neuchâtel', 'Impôt du Timbre' (stamp tax), and the value is '50 ct.' (50 Centimes).
This stamp also existed in blue colour
(scanned by Niki Märzweiler)

This stamp was used in the Canton Neuchâtel around 1950.
The text is 'IMPOT DU TIMBRE' and the value is '50 cts' (50 Centimes) again.
I have seen a similar (presumably earlier) stamp with a different form of the shield.
(scanned by Malcolm Hutson)

This is a stamp from the Canton Neuchâtel from around 1960.
It is similar to the previous one, but now the text is 'DROIT DU TIMBRE', the value is '50 Cts' (50 Centimes) again.
(from a scan by Donn Lueck)

Canton St. Gallen

This is a stamp from the Canton St. Gallen, in use around 1835.
The text is 'CANTON ST. GALLEN', and the stamp shows no value.
(scanned by Simon Wintle)

This is another stamp from the Canton St. Gallen, probably in use around 1900.
The text is again 'CANTON ST. GALLEN', and the stamp shows no value, but the design is slightly different from that of the previous stamp.

This is a stamp from the Canton St. Gallen, in use some time between 1852 and 1934 (very probably later than 1900).
The text is 'CANTON St GALLEN' and 'KARTENSPIEL-STEMPEL'. The value is '10 Ct' (10 Centimes), which is a bit surprising, as from the literature I would have expected 'Rp' for Rappen.
(scanned by Eugen Bruhin)

This is a stamp from the Canton St. Gallen, in use after 1934.
It is similar to the previous one, the text is 'KANTON St GALLEN' and 'KARTENSPIEL-STEMPEL'. The value is '30 Cts' (30 Centimes).

This is another stamp from the Canton St. Gallen, in use after 1934.
It is similar to the previous one, the text is 'KANTON St GALLEN' and 'KARTENSPIEL-STEMPEL'. Here the value is '30 Rp' (30 Rappen).
Taxes on playing-cards were abolished in the Canton St. Gallen in 1965.

Canton Valais

This is a stamp from the Canton Valais.
The text is 'CANTON DU VALAIS' and the value is '50 CENT.' (centimes). This and very similar stamps have been in use since 1875.
(scanned by an unnamed collector)

This is another stamp from the Canton Valais.
The text is 'CANTON DU VALAIS' and the value is '50 centimes'. This is presumably the latest of the stamps used in Valais.

Canton Vaud

This is a stamp from the Canton Vaud, in use in the period 1812 to 1850.
The text is 'CANTON DE VAUD' and the value is '1 BATZ' (1 Batzen).
(from a museum collection)

This is another stamp from the Canton Vaud, in use in the period 1812 to 1850.
The text cannot be read, but it is 'CANTON DE VAUD' and the value is 'BATZ 1' (1 Batzen).
(from a scan by John Sings)

This is a stamp from the Canton Vaud, in use 1851 to 1872.
The text is 'CANTON DE VAUD' and the value is '15 CENTIMES'. It was for packs with up to 32 cards.
(from a museum collection)

This is a stamp from the Canton Vaud, also in use 1851 to 1872.
The text is 'CANTON DE VAUD' and the value is '20 CENTIMES'. This was for packs with more than 32 cards.
(from a scan by John Sings)

This is another stamp from the Canton Vaud, in use from 1890 to 1898 for packs with more than 32 cards.
The text is 'CANTON DE VAUD' and the value is '1 Fr.' (1 Franc).
(scanned by an unnamed collector)

This is another stamp from the Canton Vaud, in use from 1898 (for all packs).
The text is 'CANTON DE VAUD' and the value is '50 CENTIMES'. Note the different font.

This is a stamp from the Canton Vaud which was in use until 1951, it replaced the previous stamp at some time in the period from 1898.
The text is 'CANTON DE VAUD' and the value is '50cts.'.

This is another stamp from the Canton Vaud, in use from 1959 to the 1960s.
The text is 'CANTON DE VAUD' and the value is '65 cts.'.
(scanned by Jan Wessels)

This is a last stamp from the Canton Vaud, in use from the 1960s to 1973. Afterwards, the playing-card tax in Vaud was abandoned.
The text is 'CANTON DE VAUD' and the value is '65 cts.'. Note the the letters 'L F' in the shield.
(from a scan by Christian de Ryck)

The stamp was on the Ace of Hearts for French-suited cards.

	This stamp was in use in the Canton Bern 1804/05 (or possibly from 1834 to 1851). The text is 'CANTON BERN' and the value '1 Batz.' (1 Batzen). Note that the number and letters of the value have a backward slant. (from a scan by Gerd Matthes)

	This is an almost identical stamp used in the Canton Bern The difference is that the number and letters of the value are straight, and in capital letters ('1 BATZ.'). I suspect that it is a stamp from the other period (1804/1805 resp. 1834 to 1851). (scanned by Klaus-Jürgen Schultz)

	This stamp was in use in the Canton Bern from 1851 to 1880. The text is 'CANTON BERN' and the value 'Rp. 25' (25 Rappen).

	This stamp was used in the Canton Bern from 1880 bis 1935. The text is again 'CANTON BERN', and the value is now 'Rp. 50' (50 Rappen).

	These are more stamps from the Canton Bern in use from 1880 to 1935. The text is also 'CANTON BERN', but the value is given as 'Cts. 50' (50 Centimes). The stamps actually have different sizes, and the details are different (compare e.g. the stars). This is because the stamps were made by hand. (the two stamps on the right scanned by an unnamed collector)
	These stamps from the Canton Bern were in use 1935 to 1964. The text is 'CANTON BERN', the value is now '1 Fr.' (1 Franc). You can notice small differences again. Note for example that the bear in the second stamp from the left has a grey body instead of a black one. (third stamp scanned by Christian de Ryck, right stamp scanned by an unnamed collector)

	This stamp was used in the Canton Neuchâtel around 1937. The text is 'Etat Neuchâtel', 'Impôt du Timbre' (stamp tax), and the value is '50 ct.' (50 Centimes). This stamp also existed in blue colour (scanned by Niki Märzweiler)

	This stamp was used in the Canton Neuchâtel around 1950. The text is 'IMPOT DU TIMBRE' and the value is '50 cts' (50 Centimes) again. I have seen a similar (presumably earlier) stamp with a different form of the shield. (scanned by Malcolm Hutson)

	This is a stamp from the Canton Neuchâtel from around 1960. It is similar to the previous one, but now the text is 'DROIT DU TIMBRE', the value is '50 Cts' (50 Centimes) again. (from a scan by Donn Lueck)

	This is a stamp from the Canton St. Gallen, in use around 1835. The text is 'CANTON ST. GALLEN', and the stamp shows no value. (scanned by Simon Wintle)

	This is another stamp from the Canton St. Gallen, probably in use around 1900. The text is again 'CANTON ST. GALLEN', and the stamp shows no value, but the design is slightly different from that of the previous stamp.

	This is a stamp from the Canton St. Gallen, in use some time between 1852 and 1934 (very probably later than 1900). The text is 'CANTON St GALLEN' and 'KARTENSPIEL-STEMPEL'. The value is '10 Ct' (10 Centimes), which is a bit surprising, as from the literature I would have expected 'Rp' for Rappen. (scanned by Eugen Bruhin)

	This is a stamp from the Canton St. Gallen, in use after 1934. It is similar to the previous one, the text is 'KANTON St GALLEN' and 'KARTENSPIEL-STEMPEL'. The value is '30 Cts' (30 Centimes).

	This is another stamp from the Canton St. Gallen, in use after 1934. It is similar to the previous one, the text is 'KANTON St GALLEN' and 'KARTENSPIEL-STEMPEL'. Here the value is '30 Rp' (30 Rappen). Taxes on playing-cards were abolished in the Canton St. Gallen in 1965.

	This is a stamp from the Canton Valais. The text is 'CANTON DU VALAIS' and the value is '50 CENT.' (centimes). This and very similar stamps have been in use since 1875. (scanned by an unnamed collector)

	This is another stamp from the Canton Valais. The text is 'CANTON DU VALAIS' and the value is '50 centimes'. This is presumably the latest of the stamps used in Valais.