1849: Swiss Post: how it all began
The newly established federal state unifies – and improves – the postal system. The Swiss federal postal service replaces the cantonal postal administrations. From this point on, it is responsible for transporting letters, parcels, people and cash remittances.
In 1848, the Swiss Confederation is established.
In 1848, the Swiss Confederation is established. The founding of the Swiss federal postal service is closely related to this event, as postal services, customs administration and telegraph system are now standardized. The central postal administration replaces the cantonal postal administrations, including Fischer-Post in Bern, which had built up a large postal network in the 17th century. In 1840, the territory of Switzerland had been divided among 17 postal organizations, making postal transport slow and expensive.
This means that 1849 is the year in which the Swiss federal postal service is founded. The Federal Act on the Organization of the Postal Administration divides Swiss Post into eleven postal districts, each with its own senior management. In principle, it has two responsibilities: to transport sealed consignments of all kinds up to a weight of 5 kilograms and to transport people by mail coach.
1850 sees the introduction of a stamp that is valid throughout Switzerland as a means of payment for letters. Swiss Post’s profits continue to go to the cantons. It is not until the constitutional revision of 1874 that revenues start to flow into the federal treasury.