Zurich 4 Cantonal Stamp, Black Numeral on Red Background

Switzerland · 1843 · 4 Rappen

This stamp, known as the Zurich 4, is one of the first stamps issued in Switzerland by the canton of Zurich. The design features a large numeral '4' at its center, indicating the postage value, surrounded by an intricate red background of fine vertical lines. It was intended for local postal use within the city of Zurich.

Issued by the Canton of Zurich seven years before the first federal stamps of Switzerland, the Zurich 4 and 6 are the first stamps issued on the European continent, following Great Britain's Penny Black. These cantonal issues represent a pioneering step in postal reform.