Switzerland 2010 "Dinosaurs in Switzerland"
| issue Date | printed out on 26.08.2010; in use since: 03.09.2010 |
| ID | Michel: 2167-2169; Scott: 1394-1396; Stanley Gibbons: 1861-1863; Yvert et Tellier: 2092-2094; Category: pR |
| Design | Illustrator: Angelo Boog Consultant: Winand Brinkmann paleontologist from paleontolgy Institut and Museum of Zurich |
| Stamps in set | 3 |
| Value |
5.10 CHF - Theropoda (named in 2019: Notatesseraeraptor frickensis) 6.00 CHF - Ichthyosauria 8.40 CHF - Pterosauria |
| Size (width x height) | 33 x 28 mm |
| Layout | 6 stamps per Mini-Sheet |
| Products | FDC x7, MC x3, MS x6, Info Pages x 4 |
| Paper | white, no watermark |
| Perforation | 13.25 x 13.25 |
| Print Technique | Offset lithography |
| Printed by | Cartor Security Printing |
| Quantity | |
| Issuing Authority | La Poste |
On September 3rd, 2010, the Swiss Postal Authority issued a set of three stamps titled “Dinosaurs in Switzerland”. However, only one of the three stamps depicts a dinosaur. The other two stamps depict an ichthyosaur — a marine reptile, and a pterosaur - a flying reptile.
Numerous finds of skeletons and footprints confirm what a lot of people do not know: many millions of years ago, there were dinosaurs in Switzerland too. Reptiles which are now extinct (saurians) lived not just on terra firma, but also in the water and in the air. Three new special stamps showcase a selection of Swiss saurians, bringing them back to life: Theropoda, Ichthyosauria, Pterosauria. Skeletons of all three reptiles are found in Switzerland. The theropod and ichthyosaur at Frick and the Pterosaur at Canton Graubuenden. They can all be seen at Sauriermuseum Frick.
All three reptiles depicted on the stamps lived in Switzerland during the Triassic Period.
- A skeleton of a theropod is depicted on the 5.10 CHF stamp. The skeleton was discovered at Frick in 2006 and was the first predatory dinosaur found in Switzerland.
- A skull of an ichthyosaur is depicted on the 6 CHF stamp was also found at Frick.
- Fossils of pterosaurs have been discovered at Canton Graubuenden.
These stamps represent an accurate (at least as much as possible) reconstruction of these reptiles and the environments they lived in. Three-dimensional models were created for each reptile based on the existing fossils.
These stamps were cancelled (CTO) and signed by illustrator Angelo Boog at Sauriermuseum in Frick on 03.09.2010. First Day Covers (FDC) where sold there by Switzerland Post on the same day at the museum hall and could be posted from there to any destination.
Products and associated philatelic items
| FDC | FDC with Mini Sheets | |
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| Official FDC of La Poste | FDC of Sauriermuseum Frick | |
| Example of Circulated Cover | Souvenir Sheet with CTO stamps and some technical information | Mini Sheets |
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References
La Poste Post laesst drei Saurier als Briefmarkensujets reisen (local copy) on German Sechs Arbeitstage pro Marke (in German)
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Dr. Peter Voice from Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Western Michigan University, for reviewing the draft page and his very valuable comments.