COVER N. 611 - SWITZERLAND 

Postmark: 3000 Bern 6 Kirchenfeld 17.07.2025

Posted on the 17th July; Received on the 23rd July 2025

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A mix of old and new stamps on a cover from beautiful Switzerland, Vielen Dank, Vural!

According to the pertinent entry in Wikipedia, "Pro Patria, officially Stiftung PRO PATRIA Schweizerische Bundesfeierspende, is a Swiss patriotic and charitable organization. Its purpose is to give meaning to the Swiss national holiday, August 1, by collecting donations to the benefit of social and cultural works of national public interest".

Donation to Pro Patria have been collected since 1910 trough direct collaboration with Swiss Post.

Quoting again directly from Wikipedia: "Post offices sold Federal Celebration postcards from 1910 to 1960 and postage stamps since 1936. The price of these cards and stamps (marked with "Pro Patria" since 1952) exceeds their denomination, with the surcharge representing a donation to Pro Patria"

The stamp on the left, with a face value of 20 + 10  centimes,  illustrated with a detail of a stained glass window of the church of Véchy, a town in the French speaking part of Switzerland,  is part of the 1971 Pro Patria issue of 1971, issued on 27MAY1971, which comprised 4 stamps, all illustrated with details of stained glass windows; 

The one on the right, with a face value of 70 + 30  centimes,   illustrated with a painting of the castle of Porrentruy, a town in the Jura canton, is part of the 1979 issue, issued on 25MAY1979, also comprising 4 stamps, showcasing Swiss Castles; 

The 1 Franc stamp, with the format of an apple, is part of a four stamp set (2 x 1; 2 x 1.2 SWF), issued on 08MAY2025, dedicated to summer fruits and berries. Further to the apple, the set comprises stamps cut to the format of a pear, a couple of  cherries and a strawberry.

The postmark hails from the country's capital, Bern.