Swiss Post is recording a significant period of history on a tiny piece of paper. Entitled "From Gutenberg to the Internet" the new stamp will not only depict the invention of letterpress printing but also its evolution into electronic communication. This stamp and all others in the current issue will be on sale from 8 May 2009.

A new Swiss Post stamp has been designed to honour one of the greatest inventions of the last few centuries. The stamp commemorates Johannes Gutenberg who invented letterpress printing with movable letters around 1450. It is thanks to this invention that we have books, newspapers, magazines and stamps as we know them today. Gutenberg's letterpress printing also laid the foundations for the graphics industry, which today – some 550 years on – is governed purely by electronic processes.

A new stamp entitled "From Gutenberg to the Internet" has been designed in recognition of this development. The one-franc stamp features a lead character with the letter "a" while the red imprint it makes on paper is a "@". The difference between "a" and "@" sums up the development from lead character to written online communication perfectly.

The special stamp is the result of a competition held for polygraphic apprentices from six countries. Their task was to capture the 550-year history "from Gutenberg to the Internet" in the form of a stamp motif. The winning motif – a design by Meike Kollmann of Germany – was chosen by a panel of international judges. The stamp will be available in Switzerland and Luxembourg. The idea for this stamp project originated from these two countries.

The current issue includes four Pro Patria stamps, which conclude the current series devoted once again to Switzerland's various cultural routes. Furthermore, a miniature sheet has been designed to mark the centenary of the Pro Patria foundation. This year's Europa stamp on the topic of "Astronomy" also features a Swiss motif. The stamp depicts the asteroid "Helvetia", which was discovered in Winterthur a few years ago. The Europa stamp has a noctilucent finish which means that the celestial body on the front of the stamp glows in the dark. Last but not least, a stamp has been devoted to the European wildcat. This largely unknown wild animal can be found in the Jura range in Switzerland.
Topics of stamps in issue 02/2009:

* "From Gutenberg to the Internet" – CHF 1 special stamp

* "Pro Patria – Cultural routes in Switzerland" – CHF 0.85 (+ CHF 0.40) and CHF 1 (+ CHF 0.50) special stamps and CHF 1 (+ CHF 0.50) miniature sheet

* "Europa – Astronomy" – CHF 1 special stamp

* "European wildcat" – CHF 0.85 special stamp

* "Old trees" – CHF 0.85, CHF 1 and CHF 1.30 special stamps

* "Contemporary architecture" – CHF 1 and CHF 1.80 special stamps

* "Domestic birds" – CHF 1.40 and CHF 1.90 definitive stamps (already released on 1 April 2009)

Stamps issued in 02/2009 will be on sale as of 8 May 2008 and will be available at www.swisspost.ch/philashop, as well as at Swiss philatelic sales points and post offices.

Source: Swiss Post press release

© Hellmail.co.uk (05 May 2009)

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