@ briefmarkenwirbler24 [#16]

Hello Kevin - you are asking all the correct questions to learn about Sitting Helvetia postal history. I have put together a selection of letters showing different postal rates from Switzerland to the USA 1864 - 1875 for you to see and find. ); >) Do not be overwhelmed it all takes time.

1 Franc 10 centimes rate: started 1/7/1862, and after 27.7.1864 effective for all steamers from La Havre, France.
Geneva 13 September 1864 to Providence, Rhode Island, USA,
The red marks are French Bellegarde 14 September exchange office, rectangular Br[itish]. Service, red circular Portland, ME[aine] AM[erican] PKT [Packet] Oct 1. There are no back stamps. That seems contradictory and without further research I do not know which ship the letter was on.



80 centimes rate: rate in effect for Direct Packet 1/4/1868 through 1/9/1869.
Montreux 19 February 1869 to Philadelphia, USA 9 March 1869, plus three illegible backstamps since the back flap is missing.



50 centimes: starting September 1 1869 the rate was again reduced. Letter would typically look like this.
Vevey 9 March 1871 to Palmyra, New York. New York Paid All Mar 27.



Temporary 80 centimes rate: Special direct rate packet in effect 1 August to 19 August, 1870 via Calais and Southhampton.
Geneva 8 August 1870 to Napa, California. Red New York Paid All, backstamp Basel 8 August.



Back to 50 centimes until UPU in July 1875, direct via Belgium:
Bern 3 March 1872 to Fernandina, Florida.



There was another option after 1/7/1872 via Bremen or Hamburg, a 40 centimes rate:
This is only an “ugly” envelope front. Geneve 6 May 1874 to Boston, USA.



Finally - a Swiss postal card sent to USA. Lausanne 8 June 1874 to Akron, Paid All New York 27 Jun.
Effective 1 May 1874, a bilateral agreement was reached between Switzerland and USA that postal cards could be used if sent via Bremen or Hamburg only. A short period of only 14 months before UPU international rate of 10 centimes was adopted. Very few of these cards are known.



Have fun searching for these different rates, it's fun, but is very helpful when you know what to look for.

Roger