In honor of the Waadt 4, celebrating ist 170th anniversary 2019

After the takeover of the cantonal postal administrations by the federal state newly created in 1848 on 1 January 1849, there were many conversions and changes in the postal system, which by today's standards were accomplished in an incredibly short period of time.

As Richard Schäfer writes in his extremely important book "Handbuch Postgeschichte von Genf" (Handbook of Postal History of Geneva), "Bern" allowed the introduction of a cheaper local tax of 2 ½ Rappen on 4 June 1849.

Since the currencies had only been standardised in the whole of Switzerland since 1 January 1852, Geneva still had the French monetary system.

The previous rate for the postal district I, to which the canton of Geneva and the district of Nyon in the canton of Vaud belonged, was 7 centimes for letters.

The reduced tax of 2 ½ centimes was then converted to 4 Geneva centimes. For this reason, the so-called Vaud 4 was issued in October 1849. At the same time, rosette no. 4 was turned into rosette no. 5 by removing the cloverleaf inside, in which the Swiss cross became more prominent.

The numbering of the rosettes today is usually based on the stamp works of Andres and Emmenegger. However, this contradicts the order of use in the Canton of Geneva. The exact date of issue of Vaud 4 is not known. The earliest use is a letter dated 22.10.1849 (and a piece dated 21.10.1849). These stamps were sold at 4 centimes at the counter, i.e. without discount.

The Double Geneva and Geneva Eagle, on the other hand, were already sold from 1.3.1844 with a discount of 20%, i.e. at 4 centimes per stamp. If we consider the occurrence of this Vaud 4, in 1999 we received a study by Henri Grand, in which he states that he estimates the number of Double Geneva on letter still existing today at 100 - 150 copies. Exactly the same he estimates the number of letters with a Vaud 4!

According to our own statistics, this may be true. Today (as of Nov. 2018) we too have practically the same number of both stamps, namely around 115 copies. Whereby it is to be added that we have counted here only the whole letters with us (normally we include in the statistics also pieces with c.d.s. and front sides).

In addition, we are still considerably behind with these statistics in terms of processing.  Extraordinarily remarkable and generally still far too little known to me now, in view of the rarity of a double genf, seems to be the fact that even with such a rare cantonal stamp, there is such a great variety of postmarks!

This will delight the many followers of "traditional" philately, who will be able to make a significant name for themselves here. In a post-historical collection this is hardly possible to such an extent.

During a short compilation of the possible cancellations on Vaud 4, I found the following:

4. c.d.s. Genève (from 11.05.49 to 31.12.1850) in red. (So far about 4 pieces known) 

5. PD in the circle of Chêne (20.01.1850 to 05.08.51) in blue. (So far 4 pieces known) This stamp (= lot 93) we have chosen this year as cover of our catalog 2019! 

6. c.d.s. stamp Genève (from 02.01.1851 to 19.07.1852) in black. (Probably unique specimen!) 

(Use data partly after H.Grand and R.Schäfer)

Here it concerns - in hurry - a compiled overview of possible devaluations. This is by no means complete! I'd be happy if you could tell me any more pieces. To date, to my knowledge, not a single collector has managed to bring this large number of cancellations together on Vaud 4! Even the four or five largest old Swiss collections, which are currently still completely together or are even still being actively operated, have not achieved this goal! And something else: You will find this variety of cancellations already partly with the Geneva Eagles and of course also with the Vaud 5!