Swiss and French stamps pay homage to monument and its creator.
On World Post Day, Swiss Post and France’s La Poste both issued stamps to commemorate the centenary of the UPU's monument during a ceremony in Berne.
The stamps depict the sculpture, located in a downtown park of the Swiss capital, and its creator, French sculptor René de Saint-Marceaux.
Representatives from both Posts unveiled the stamps, alongside Edouard Dayan, the UPU director general, Alexander Tschäppät, mayor of Bern, Urs Gasche, executive councillor of the Canton of Bern, and 200 other guests.
The monument, entitled Around the world, was inaugurated on October 4, 1909, after de Saint-Marceaux won an international competition in which more than 120 artists participated.
Over the years, the UPU monument has appeared on hundreds of stamps worldwide.
The central image of the monument – the five women passing letters around a globe – was adopted as the UPU emblem several decades ago. The monument symbolizes international postal communication. The women represent each of the five continents: the Americas, Australia, Asia, Europe and Africa. The majestic figure of Berna – the city personified as a reclining figure at the sculpture’s base – dominates the artwork.
Commemorative stamps
Both French and Swiss stamps depict the granite and bronze monument with an image of the artist in the background. The Swiss stamp is a UPU service stamp carrying a 1.80 CHF value. Swiss Post regularly issues service stamps for the UPU. Such stamps can only be used on mail posted from the organization's headquarters in Berne.
The French stamp is a joint issue between France and Switzerland. It can be used on international mail leaving France and has a value of 0.70 EUR.
De Saint-Marceaux was a native of the French town of Reims, where many of his sculptures adorn the streets and squares.