The Double Geneva is a rare
Swiss
Swiss may refer to:
* the adjectival form of Switzerland
* Swiss people
Places
* Swiss, Missouri
* Swiss, North Carolina
*Swiss, West Virginia
* Swiss, Wisconsin
Other uses
*Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports
*Swiss Internation ...
stamp that was issued by the city of
Geneva
Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ; rm, Genevra is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaki ...
in 1843, making it the third-oldest stamp of the European continent after the
Zurich 4 and 6
The Zürich 4 and 6 were the first postage stamps issued in continental Europe, on 1 March 1843. Both were inscribed "Zürich" at the top.
The 4-rappen
A Rappen (pl. Rappen) originally was a variant of the medieval Pfennig ("penny") coin ...
(1842), and the British
Penny Black
The Penny Black was the world's first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system. It was first issued in the United Kingdom (referred to in philatelic circles as Great Britain), on 1 May 1840, but was not valid for use until 6 May. ...
and
Two penny blue
The Two Penny Blue or The Two Pence Blue was the world's second official postage stamp, produced in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and issued after the Penny Black.
Initial printing took place from 1 May 1840, and in all 6, ...
, (1840). It bears the name Double Geneva for the double image on the stamp and its place of origin.
The stamp has a unique design: each half, at 5 centimes if cut out would pre-pay the postage on letters within the city of Geneva; the whole stamp at 10 centimes pre-paid postage outside the city but within the Canton of Geneva.
[P Mirabaud & A de Reuterskiold "The postage stamps of Switzerland 1842-1862" 1898; facsimile reprint 1975 Quarterman Publications, Laurence Massachusetts]
References
Postage stamps of Switzerland
Birds on stamps
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