About our cover picture
Rheineck's large pre-philatelic double circle stamp is one of the most popular cancellations on old Swiss stamps. This is probably also due to the fact that circle stamps with place names in themselves are rarely found on the first Swiss stamps. In addition, the stamps of group 120 of the stamp handbook of Andres + Emmenegger are also popular because of their size.
Rheineck received this postmark as early as 1843, so the first strikes of that to be used on stamps was the Poste Locale (although only very rarely) from 1850 onwards, and subsequently the other Durheim issues. At that time - and until 1854 - this stamp had a four-digit year at the bottom, from 1854 to 1855 only a two-digit year. The latter can be found on the Durheim issues and also on the first Strubel numbers. The Strubel are rarer than Rayons with this stamp! The special feature of this cover picture is not only the coveted stamp, but also the fact that the letter was sent abroad. To Heilbronn in the Kingdom of Württemberg. This lady's letter is franked with a Rayon II, stone ERO, type 17 and a pair of Rayon III, large value numeral, types 7/8. It is probably the best preserved and most beautiful foreign letter with the large double circle postmark from Rheineck.