Lot 57 Switzerland SC#B141 1939 - 1945 War Victims Semi-Postal Issue on Military Service Cover, Plus Other Military Covers, 6 VF Examples, Click on Listing to See ALL Pictures, Estimated Value $5 USD

6 VF military service covers from the 1939 - 1945 War Victims Semi-Postal Issue on Military Service Cover. plus other military covers. Our estimate of the value based on the condition is $5.
Swiss military stamps are an interesting area. Everybody knows that Switzerland is a neutral country. So, it would surprise many to learn that they even had military stamps. So, what are they? Why were they issued. During both World War I and World War II the government called up the Swiss army to protect the country from getting dragged into the war. Of course, the disruption to the lives of its men caused significant financial hardships. To alleviate this, the soldiers were given free franking priviledges. But over and above this, the PTT authorized each unit of the army to issue charity labels that could be sold to raise money. The holders could then attach the labels to mail to indicate that they were supporting the soldiers. There were strict rules to the design and issuance of these labels. Each issue had to be submitted to Berne for approval and errors were supposed to be destroyed on the spot and were not permitted to be sold. Consequently, the proof and error material on offer is not supposed to exist.

Swiss military stamps are an interesting area. Everybody knows that Switzerland is a neutral country. So, it would surprise many to learn that they even had military stamps. So, what are they? Why were they issued. During both World War I and World War II the government called up the Swiss army to protect the country from getting dragged into the war. Of course, the disruption to the lives of its men caused significant financial hardships. To alleviate this, the soldiers were given free franking priviledges. But over and above this, the PTT authorized each unit of the army to issue charity labels that could be sold to raise money. The holders could then attach the labels to mail to indicate that they were supporting the soldiers. There were strict rules to the design and issuance of these labels. Each issue had to be submitted to Berne for approval and errors were supposed to be destroyed on the spot and were not permitted to be sold. Consequently, the proof and error material on offer is not supposed to exist.