COVER N.93 - SWITZERLAND

Postmark: Zürich-Mulligen (?)
Posted on (?); received on the 6th April 2022
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The second Swiss cover I got on the 6th April (Thanks a lot, Urs) intrigued me. On first look I thought the image on the very large stamp to be just an excavator, but then I looked more carefully and I realised there was more to it.

This is a specialist tool.... an excavator for the rough and steep terrains that are so common on mountainous areas... small wonder then, that its design would come the pen of a Swiss. 

Ernst Menzi (1897–1984) was the man behind the invention that would become known as the walking excavator. According to the notes on the Swiss Post website the excavator chassis is fitted with  "spider-like legs to which both wheels and stabilizers can be attached", thus ensuring that the vehicle can negotiate and hold on to the difficult terrains it is meant for. 

The 2 Swiss Franc stamp on this little souvenir sheet, issued on 09SEP2021, has several areas covered with a special granulate varnish to mimic soil, thus imparting a 3d feel to it.