One area that continues to unearth previously unknown pieces and unique items is the collecting of private postal stationery. The dissolution of a significant Swiss collection at Jean-Paul Bach's estate revealed several previously unseen examples.
The auctioneer announced a top rarity with the words: "We are pleased to offer you a unique and previously uncatalogued find from the recent period of private postal stationery. This exclusive piece shows a previously unknown private postcard with the designation PPK 036."
The image side of the stamp depicts an impressive hospital ward with two children's beds and a nurse dressed in traditional costume, printed in lilac and red. On the address side, bearing a 10-centime green Tell bust stamp, the sender, L. Chollet, congratulates the recipients, Father Aubert of Peseux and his wife, on the birth of their son Jean François, who was born on May 11, 1931, and presents the services of the "Pouponnière Neuchâteloise," an infant home.
The postcard is dated May 12, 1931, and the corresponding postmark, PESEUX, is from 17 p.m. Father Gustave Aubert lived from 1896 to 1988 and died in Peseux. Jean François Aubert later became a prominent Swiss jurist and politician, holding high office, including that of the Council of States for the Canton of Neuchâtel. The sender of the postcard may be connected to the Pouponnière, which opened in 1923 and still exists today.
It is remarkable that in this institution, the newborn's first name was known within hours of birth, and a written congratulatory message was sent. The card is also unique, as no other postal stationery is known to depict a hospital or nursing home scene. Although at least 250 copies were printed with the postage stamp, the actual print run remains unknown due to the late printing date. For a surcharge of 1000 Swiss francs, it was possible to acquire this unique postal stationery item.
Michael Burzan, AIJP
