The “Alte Rheinbrücke Vaduz” (Old Rhine Bridge Vaduz) and the “Fussgängerbrücke Balzers“ (Balzers Footbridge) (face value: CHF 1.50 each) are adorning Liechtenstein’s Europa stamps this year. Member states of the trade association PostEurop, which represents European public postal operators, issue stamps on a common theme every year.
The theme in 2018 is bridges. The perspective from which photographer Roland Rick depicted the two bridges spanning the River Rhine is intriguing as he shot photos through underneath each bridge. On the stamp showing Balzers footbridge, he captured the snow-capped, 2,562-metre-high Falknis mountain in the background. The Old Rhine Bridge Vaduz used to serve as the main route connecting Liechtenstein’s main town Vaduz and neighbouring Switzerland. It is 135 metres long and is the last wooden bridge still intact that crosses the Alpine Rhine. Originally built in 1870/71 and reconstructed on the pillars of the previous bridge in 1900/01, it was completely renovated for the last time in 2009/10. On this special stamp Vaduz Castle can be seen on the opposite side of the valley from between the massive pillars of the listed structure. Both stamps are being issued on a 10-stamp miniature sheet.
Heissfolienprägung Silber
Royal Joh. Enschedé, Haarlem
110 g/m2, gummiert
The self-adhesive definitive stamps with motifs taken from nature have been highly popular for years. The current issue shows four popular vegetables. The “Aubergine” (face value: CHF 0.85) is used particularly in the Mediterranean, oriental and Turkish cuisine where it attained fame through several special dishes such as moussaka. Cut into slices or grated into thin strips, the bulbs of the “Radish” (face value: CHF 1.00) are eaten raw. They can be added to salads or used in sandwiches. The “Courgette”, otherwise known as “zucchini” (face value: CHF 1.50), is a subspecies of the vegetable marrow. Courgettes are eaten raw, boiled, grilled or fried. Their large yellow blossom is also fit for human consumption and considered a delicacy. The classical hot pepper, known as “peperoni” in these parts (face value: CHF 2.00), can also be prepared in many different ways. It originally comes from South America and is available in many different colours. One third of Liechtenstein’s territory is used for agricultural purposes. In addition to dairy and meat production, field crops, vegetables and grapes are grown.
The series called into being in 2017 on the theme of trades and crafts as a SEPAC stamp is now featuring a second and last part. Graphic artist René Wolfinger chose to graphically represent the three motifs with pictograms and placed these on different coloured backgrounds. A common feature on each special stamp is a stylised hand to symbolise the theme of trades and crafts. The “Bookbinder” trade (face value: CHF 1.00) has been a widespread handicraft since the Middle Ages. Hand binding, gold coating, cutting and pressing are techniques that were done manually in the past with the aid of various tools. An “Instrument Maker” (face value: CHF 1.30) must also have skilful hands because in the end the customer frequently wants a perfectly tuned instrument. His daily tasks include sawing, planing and soldering. The tools required to make shoes, such as a hammer, knife and pliers, have hardly changed for centuries. However, today’s “shoemaker” (face value: CHF 1.80) also has access to efficient machinery.
On 6 February 2018, two special stamps are appearing on miniature sheets consisting of nine stamps each to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of painter Gustav Klimt. Born in 1862, Klimt was one of the most well-known representatives of the Viennese Jugendstil. His most famous painting “The Kiss” (face value: CHF 2.60) was produced in 1907/8. After completion, it was shown at the Kunstschau Exhibition in Vienna and immediately purchased by the Imperial Royal Ministry of Culture and Education. The work produced on 180 x 180 centimetres in oil on canvas is on display in Belvedere Museum in Vienna. Gustav Klimt named his painting entitled “Death and Life” (face value: CHF 3.70) his most important figurative work. Despite being awarded first prize at the International Art Exhibition in Rome in 1911, the artist suddenly no longer appeared to be content with this version as he began revising the already framed painting in 1915. What is said to have originally been a gold-coloured background was painted grey and further ornaments were added to both Death and Life. This similarly very impressive painting measuring 180 x 200 centimetres is shown at Leopold Museum in the famous “museum quarter” of Vienna.
