Basel Dove
Rare Swiss postage stamp, world's first tricolor stamp
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Basel Dove (Basel German: Basler Dybli, German: Basler Taube) is a notable stamp issued by the Swiss canton of Basel on 1 July 1845[1] with a value of 2½-rappen. The stamp was printed in black, crimson and blue and was the first tricolor stamp in the world and the only postage stamp issued by Basel.
| Basel Dove | |
|---|---|
| |
| Country of production | Switzerland |
| Location of production | Basel |
| Date of production | 1 July 1845 |
| Nature of rarity | Extremely rare |
| No. in existence | Unknown |
| Face value | 2½ rappen |
| Estimated value | CHF 18,000 CHF 37,500 on cover |
The stamp, designed by the architect Melchior Berri, featured a white embossed dove carrying a letter in its beak, and was inscribed STADT POST BASEL ("City Post Office Basel").[1] It was valid for use until 30 September 1854, by which time 41,480 stamps had been printed.[2]
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 on 1 January 1849. The only other cantons to issue their own stamps were Zürich and Geneva.