World Stamp Catalogue/Bern (Switzerland)

Revenue stamps of Bern (Switzerland) and its municipalities, by type.

Canton of Bern
The canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population, located in west-central Switzerland. Cantonal revenue stamps were issued for 4 different purposes (classifications A-D), and for tourism tax. Most stamps were printed by Kümmerly & Frey in Bern.

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Arms of Bern inscribed Kanton Bern.

1865
Bern coat of arms.

General revenue
Arms of Bern inscribed Kanton Bern.

Watermarks.

1865-1872
Bern coat of arms. Imperforate.

1865 without watermark
Fine print, orange to orange-brown.

1872 watermarked
Coarse print, in which the bear in the coat of arms has less or no fine lines. Watermark small 'CB' reading up or down (I and Ia). Large 'CB' watermark covering vertically two stamps, reading up or down (II and IIa). Known in thick (A-B) and thin (C-D) paper.

1874-1877
Perforated 11.75. 1874 watermarked large 'CB' reading up or reading down (II and IIa). 1877 watermarked 'B' normal or inverted (III or IIIa) and 'S' normal or inverted (IV or IVa). Numerous brown shades.

1880
Arms of Bern inscribed Canton Bern, each corner ornamented, right text 'MARKE'. Microdot above lower left corner, the function is unknown.

Watermark 'S'
Perforations 11.5-11.75 (B), 12.75-13 (C) or mixed 11.5x11.5x13x11.5 (D).

Watermark 'S' inverted
Perforations 11.5-11.75 (E), 12.75-13 (F).

Value 15 in each corner
Design changes: right text 'TIMBRE', '15' in each corner. Small numeral above lower right 15: 1, 2 (a), 3 (b), 4 (c) or 5 (d). Watermark 'S' (A) or inverted (B). perforated 12.75x10.25. Occasionally a microdot above lower left value (indicated ·). The function of this dot is unknown.

The theory concerning the small numerals is that there were five types of stamps transferred to the lithographer's stone, making up the complete plate for the sheets of the 1880 and 1881 issue. The stamps in rows carry the same number, the stamps in columns are sequenced downwards (cf. M.N. Thaler).

1881
Value in centimes. Watermark 'S' and perforated 11.5 (A) or 12.75x10.25 (B) or inverted 'S' and perforated 12.75x10.25 (C). Some stamps show a microdot above the lower left numeral (indicated ·). Various types of cancellation existː
 * Square, circular or oval bank cancel;
 * Bank cancel with manuscript date;
 * Manuscript date and/or name;
 * Railway cancellation;
 * Postal cancellation (scarcer).

1881 A-Cː without numeral and right 'K'
No numeral and 'K' above lower right value.

Watermark 'S', perforated 12.75x10.25 (B).

1881 aB-aCː Numeral and 'K'
Subtype a: with micro numbers above lower left value and 'K' above lower right value. The small 'K' is the first initial of the printing company Kümmerly & Frey. Numerals 1-5 exist for the 5c, 10c, 30c and 60c. Perforation 11.5 is not known with small numerals.

Details of the 10c lower left corner with numerals 1-5:

1881 aaBː Numeral without 'K'
Subtype aa: Micro number (1-5) above lower left value but without 'K' above lower right value. The micro numbers are considerably smaller then those of type a. Perforation 12.75x10.25. Stamps with perforation 11.5 are not known having micro numbers.

1886
Design changes: leaves on the left, no numeral above lower right value, but numerals exist for the 15c: 1 (a), 2 (b), 3 (c), 4 (d) or 5 (e). Watermark 'S' (A) or inverted (B). Perforated 12.75x10.25. No microdot.

The 15c is known in two types, thick (I) or thin (II) lower left '15'.

1892-1902
Value in centimes and design changes: Month (Roman numerals) and year inscribed on one of the lower left leaves (ranging from X.92 to X.02). Value in each corner, but no numerals or letter 'K' above lower value. Watermark 'S' (A) or inverted (B, uncommon), perforated 12.75x10.25. From 10-1898 (X.98) the corner '10' has a top dash. The 15c thick (I) or thin (II) corner numerals. No microdot.

1893-1898
A large group with numerous different types (estimated 142). Month (Roman numerals) and year inscribed on one of the lower right leaves, ranging from III-93 to VI-98. Watermark 'S', perforated 12.75x10.25. The 5c, 10c and 30c can have small numerals (1-5) above lower left value and letter 'K' above lower right value. The 60c can have small numerals (1-5) above lower left value without letter 'K' above lower right value. Some stamps show a microdot above lower left value, numerals can sometimes be preceded by it (indicated ·).
 * 5c № 51: 3 dates, with or without numerals: 3x6=18 types
 * 10c № 52: 7 dates, with or without numerals: 7x6=42 types
 * 20c № 53: 3 dates, without numerals: 3 types
 * 30c № 54: 8 dates, with or without numerals: 8x6=48 types
 * 60c № 55: 5 dates, with or without numerals (without 'K'): 5x6=30 types
 * 1fr № 56: 1 date, without numerals: 1 type

1902
Month (Roman numerals) and year inscribed on one of the lower left leaves. Watermark 'S', perforated 12.75x11.25, black.

1903
Changed design. This group bears the name of one of the owners of the printing company 'H Kümmerly' (Hermann Kümmerly) below the front right paw of the bear. Watermark IV ('S' - A), 10c exists with inverted 'S' (B). Perforated 12.75x10.25. Numerals dark green or black (a), red from 1Fr.

1906
Changed, less detailed design without engraver's name. Numerals black, red from 1Fr. Five types can be distinguished:
 * A: Watermark IV ('S'). Perforated 12.75x10.25. Brown-lilac to red-brown on yellowish paper,
 * B: Watermark IV ('S'). Perforated 12.75x10.25. Lilac-brown/red on white paper,
 * C: Watermark IVa ('S' inverted). Perforated 12.75x10.25. Lilac-brown/red on white paper,
 * D: Watermark IV ('S'). Perforated 9.75x12.5. Lilac-brown/red on white paper,
 * E: Watermark IVa ('S' inverted). Perforated 9.75x12.5. Lilac-brown/red on white paper.

1914
Design like 1906, overprinted 'WECHSELSTEMPEL'. Watermark IV ('S'), perforated 12.75x10.25.

1930+
No decoration in lower part of value frame. Watermark IV ('S' - A) or watermark IVa ('S' inverted B). Perforated 9.75x12.5.

1934+
Square undecorated value frame. Watermark IV ('S' - A) or watermark IVa ('S' inverted B). Perforated 9.75x12.5.

Fixed fees
Purpose classification C. Intended for taxation of a precisely defined service, mixed usage with general revenue stamps was common practice (eg. the 1938 postal cheque fragment above).

1878
Arms of Bern inscribed Kanton Bern. Watermark 'B' (III), 50c., 1Fr. and 2Fr. are known with inverted 'B' (IIIa). Perforated 11.75. Numerous shades.

1884
Arms of Bern inscribed Canton Bern and Gebührenmarke. Watermark 'S' (A), some values known with inverted 'S' (B). Perforated 12.75x10.25.

1903-1918-1930
Value frame round at top. Up to 80c the numeral can be either in dark green or black (subtype a-c). Four main types can be distinguished:
 * A: Watermark IV ('S'). Perforated 12.75x10.25,
 * B: Watermark IVa ('S' inverted). Perforated 12.75x10.25,
 * C: Watermark IV ('S'). Perforated 9.75x12.5,
 * D: Watermark IVa ('S' inverted). Perforated 9.75x12.5.

1933+
Square value frame, perforated 9.75x12.5. Three main types can be distinguished:
 * A: Watermark IV ('S'),
 * B: Watermark IVa ('S' inverted),
 * C: No watermark.

War tax
Fixed fees (50c. № 65, 1Fr. № 48a and 2Fr. № 50) overprinted 'KW' (Kriegswirtschaftsamt).

1908
Bear touches upper diagonal in arms. Perforated 11.5.

1908-1927
Smaller diagonal dash on '1' and smaller ornament in top corners. Perforated 11.5.

1927
Bear is smaller and does not touch upper diagonal in arms. Perforated 11.

1939
New design. Imperforate (A) or perforated 11 (B).

1930
Light (A) or dark colors (B). Perforated 11 (A) to 11.5 (D).

Legal guardian office
Vormundschafts-bureau.

Tourism
Colored paper with wide shield, inscribed Beherbergungs-Abgabe (Mountain Lodge Duty). Perforated 10.75-11 (A) or 11.25-11.5 (B). Wallace № 1-16.

Markings
Three different categories of revenue markings can be distinguished:
 * Hand stamps (A), from 1805.
 * Preimprinted marking (B).
 * Relief (dry) marking (C).

Municipalities of the canton of Bern
There are 351 municipalities in the canton of Bern (as of January 2017), of which some issued revenue stamps.

Aarberg
In Aarberg 4 different stamps were issued in 1904. Perforated 11.5 (A) or 14 (B), and next to these issues 28 special printings (S) exist imperforate (A), perforated 11.5 (B,C) or 14 (D).

Albligen
Albligen (former French name: Albenon) is a former municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. 4 different stamps were issued between 1910 and 1913.

Biel / Bienne
Biel/Bienne is a town and a municipality in the Biel/Bienne administrative district. 88 different stamps were issued between 1892 and 1935.

Documents
1902-1919 issues. Schriften-Controlle, perforated 11.5. or 13.25 (1910 - B). 5 types can be distinguished of the 1902 issue, based on small line deformations in the lower half of the stamp.

Police
1918-1931. Polizei-Commissariat, perforated 11.5.

City of Biel
1919-1933.

Brügg
Brügg is a municipality in the Biel/Bienne administrative district. 12 different stamps were issued between 1907 and 1935.

Burgdorf
Burgdorf is the largest city in Emmental. 12 different stamps were issued in 1917. Four different perforations exist: 11.25x11.5 (A), 13 (B), 11.25x13 (C) and imperforate (D).

Corgémont
Corgémont is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district. 17 different stamps were issued.

Court
Court is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district. 6 different stamps were issued in the 1900's.

Evilard (BE)
Evilard is a municipality in the Biel/Bienne administrative district. 14 different stamps were issued, perforated either 10 (A) or 11.5 (B).

Guggisberg
Guggisberg is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district. 7 different stamps were issued in 1908 and 2 tourism tax stamps.

Huttwil
Huttwil is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district. 29 different stamps were issued from 1903.

Interlaken
Interlaken is a statistic town and municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district. 31 different stamps were issued between 1926 and 1933. Variations exist, some can be distinguished by measuring the distance between value numeral and 'Cts' or 'Fr'.

Köniz
Köniz is a statistical town and a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district right on the southern border to Bern. 43 different stamps were issued from 1901.

Langenthal
Langenthal is a town and a municipality in the district of Oberaargau. 36 different stamps were issued between 1907 and 1950.

Laufen / Laufon (1994: BL)
Laufen is currently a municipality and the capital of the district of Laufen in the canton of Basel-Country. 7 different stamps were issued in 1908, perforated either 11 (A) or 11.5 (B).

Lützelflüh
Lützelflüh is a municipality in the administrative district of Emmental. 15 different stamps were issued between 1904 and 1957.

Madretsch
Madretsch (formerly Mardrez) is a former commune in the Swiss canton of Bern. Now a suburb of Biel/Bienne, which it joined in 1920. 5 different stamps were issued in 1903.

Mett
Mett is a former commune in the Swiss canton of Bern. Now a suburb of Biel/Bienne, which it joined in 1920. 5 different stamps were issued in 1916.

Moutier
Moutier is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district. 22 different tax stamps were issued between 1915 and 1945.

Neuveville, La
La Neuveville is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district. 8 different tax stamps were issued, dates are unknown.

Nidau
Nidau is a municipality in the Biel/Bienne administrative district. 19 different tax stamps were issued from 1910.

Niederbipp
Niederbipp is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district. 19 different tax stamps were issued to c. 1976.

Reconvilier
Reconvilier is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district. 9 different tax stamps were issued between 1904 and 1919.

Riggisberg
Riggisberg is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district. 4 different tax stamps were issued in 1921.

Roggwil
Roggwil, Bern is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district. 34 different tax stamps were issued from 1916.

Saanen
Saanen is the capital of the Obersimmental-Saanen administrative district. 25 different tax stamps were issued, dates are unknown.

Saint-Imier
Saint-Imier is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura (Jura Bernois). From 1925 13 different tax stamps are known. Saint-Imier also issued school revenues, unlisted by catalogues.

Spiez
Spiez is a town and municipality on the shore of Lake Thun in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss canton of Bern. It is part of the Frutigen-Niedersimmental administrative district. Only the date of later issue (1938) is known.

Steffisburg
Steffisburg is a municipality in the administrative district of Thun in the canton of Bern. 18 different tax stamps were issued.

Sumiswald
Sumiswald is a municipality in the district of the Emmental administrative district in the canton of Bern. 49 different tax stamps were issued from 1902 to 1975.

1902
'e' of 'Gebühr' slanted.

Ca. 1917
Without dots before and after 'SUMISWALD'.

Ca. 1916
Design in blue.

Tavannes
Tavannes is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern. 31 different tax stamps were issued.