New stamp issue – Liechtenstein: Switzerland-Liechtenstein Customs Treaty, 1923-2013

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http://www.romaniastamps.com/

The Principality of Liechtenstein and Switzerland are closely bound to one another by economic, regional and friendly ties. It has however not always been so. Over many long years Liechtenstein’s eastern neighbor Austria was its most important partner in a constantly changing world. Firstly by its immediate proximity, without the natural frontier represented by the Rhine, and secondly by the origin of the Princely House, which into the 1930s had its principal home in Vienna, a circumstance which denoted a strong political and economic orientation towards the Danube monarchy. The seal was put on this orientation in 1852 by a joint customs union, which broke up however in 1918 with the fall of the Danube monarchy. The small Principality was thus forced to reposition itself in foreign-policy terms and set about seeking a new partner, which it eventually found to the west of the Rhine. 29th March 1923 saw the signing of the customs treaty with the Confederation under which Liechtenstein became part of the Swiss customs area. The economic survival of the at that time still impoverished Principality was thereby assured; since then however Liechtenstein’s foreign policy has to a large extent been determined by the agreements stipulated in this customs treaty. But this was readily accepted: from then onwards Switzerland proved itself an extremely reliable partner.
The “Switzerland-Liechtenstein Customs Treaty 1923-2013” jubilee double stamp shows a view from a helicopter positioned above the southern national border. The central and unifying element is the Rhine, weaving its way northwards through the Rhine valley. To its left, on the “Switzerland” stamp (face value CHF 2.00), one can see parts of the Eastern Switzerland Rhine valley and the Gonzen; on the right-hand “Liechtenstein” stamp (face value CHF 2.00) one can see the Ellhorn and, in the background, the Liechtenstein valley region. The aerial photograph was taken by the Liechtenstein photographer Marco Nescher; both stamps were designed by Stefan Erne.