The Swiss Association for Postal History, SVPg for short, came into being only in 1974 through the merger of two specialist associations, the Swiss Special Collectors Association (SSSV) and the Swiss Old Letter Collectors Association (SAV), which had already been founded in 1924 and 1935 respectively. 

The interest in postal history in the broadest sense unites the almost 200 members of our association from Switzerland and abroad. Among the members are interested and experienced collectors and specialists in various fields of collecting from whose knowledge the other members can benefit.

The interests of our members lie primarily in the following major areas:

• The postal rates at home and abroad.
• The routing of mail, its provenance and destination, the sometimes complex agreements that were necessary especially in international postal traffic.
• The various forms of mail, from the ordinary letter to the international reply postcard.
• The stamps and dispatch notes that were affixed to a postal item to ensure its dispatch and forwarding as well as its correct accounting.
• Social Philately, which goes beyond the actual postal item and its dispatch and sees the letter as a contemporary document for the classification of historical and social developments.

These diverse and complex areas of interest can usually only be dealt with through the cooperation of several collectors. The aims and purposes of our association are therefore as follows:

• The promotion of collecting through the regular exchange of information.
• The research of old and new postal history in working groups.
• The fight against forgeries and unlawful machinations.
• The contact to foreign special collectors' associations for postal history.

What does our association offer in return?

• A specialist journal published four times a year with articles and information from our members on topics of old and new postal history. 
• An up-to-date website that not only bundles the knowledge we have acquired so far and presents it in an easily accessible way, but is also the first port of call when it comes to the future activities of our association and beyond.
• Annual training seminar for exhibitors.
• Regional meetings with lectures.
• Joint visits to exhibitions at home and abroad.
• A broadcasting service for postal history documents from pre-philately to more recent times (due to customs problems only within Switzerland).
• Subscription to the "Schweizer Briefmarkenzeitung SBZ" (Swiss Stamp Newspaper), with specialist articles, references to events, book reviews, etc.
• All the benefits of the Federation of Swiss Philatelic Societies and, of course, contacts, contacts and more contacts among like-minded people.

So if you are interested in postal history topics and want to get further than a lone wolf can, you should seriously consider membership in the Swiss Postal History Association.

President
Dr. Claude Montandon ( since: )
claude.montand [at] bluewin.ch

As President, I organise the Board meetings and organise the agenda.  I also maintain the membership list and organise and chair the AGM. 

Field of collection: Postal history Alsace, tax figures Switzerland

Vice-President/Actuary
Thomas Berger ( Actuary 2006-2008 & since 2021; Vice President since 2012 )
tbberger [at] gmx.net

As actuary I write the minutes of the board meetings and general assemblies, as vice-president I support the president.

Field of collecting: Postal history Black Sea, registered mail Russia Tsarist Empire, Independent Ukraine, Social Philately 'Switzerland in World War I', traditional philately South Asia

Treasurer
Marlene Kuonen ( since: 2021)
marlene.kuonen [at] bluewin.ch

Bookkeeping has always been my hobbyhorse. ........

Field of collection: Home collection Valais

Collector Service service 
Joos Dünki ( since: )
joos.duenki [at] bluewin.ch

As head of the Collector broadcasting service, it is important to me that our members receive decent material in the broadcast. I look after the and settle them.

Area of collection: Embrach home collection, Pro Patria postcards

Editorial Manager
Jürg Roth ( since: 2000)
roth.juerg [at] hispeed.ch

I have been responsible for the magazine Postgeschichte since 2000. I make sure that it is always delivered on time to the members by post and I am responsible for keeping the costs low.

Field of collection: Wynetal home collection

Internet presence
René Kuhlmann ( since: 2021)
rku [at] gmx.ch

I try to design the internet presence of the SVPg in such a way that on the one hand the association presents itself well and that the collectors get an added value. But above all, the website should be an advertising medium to attract new members.

Field of collection: Colombier home collection, postal history with the Tell chest pictures, destinations, according to tariff and routing of the 1862-1883 issue, postal history with UPU 1900
 

25.11.1924 |Foundation of the SSSV
The Swiss Special Collectors' Association was founded in... Here is some missing text..... Who founded and where was it founded. After how many years what number of members. On the desktop page this should be at least 5 lines. Otherwise such a title is not worthwhile.

6.10.1935 | Foundation Swiss Old Letter Chamber Association (SAV)
Here a text is missing.....  Who founded and where was it founded. After how many years what number of members

1934 | Exhibition NABA Zurich For the first time postal history exhibits were shown
At the NABA Zurich, 71 traditional exhibits and 21 exhibits on postal history were on display. At that time, postal history included home collections and pre-philately.  General cancellation collection up to 1890 was rated gold His words on the new trend: I find the inclusion of pre-philately letters in exhibits more interesting and informative.

1965 | Exhibition NABA Bern/ increase of exhibits postal history  
At the NABA Berne 129 traditional exhibits were shown and 27 exhibits on postal history. 1 exhibit on postal stationery, 21 exhibits on aerophilately, 24 thematic philately. Pre-philately and home collections were still considered postal history. Collecting by rates, routes and destinations had not yet been invented. As was collecting by historical events.

1969 | First publication of the Bulltin/ magazine of the SAV  
Here is a missing text.....  Who founded it and where. After how many years what number of members

1974 | Merger of the SSSV and the SAV to form the Swiss Old Letter and Special Collectors' Association (SASV)
Here a text is missing..... why the merger, what number of members......

1984 | Exhibition NABA Zurich
At the NABA Zurich 131 traditional exhibits and 87 postal history exhibits were judged.
For the first time, postal history was a separate class in the exhibition and included old covers, postmarks, home collections, destinations by rate and routing.

7.3.1992 | Renamed Swiss Association for Postal History (SVPg)
Here is a missing text..... The reason was.... it is due to the exhibition regulations

X | Membership in the Federation of Swiss Philatelic Societies (VSPHV)
Here the date and still text is missing.......

2000 | Exhibition NABA2000 St. Gallen
At the NABA Zurich 89 traditional exhibits and 80 postal history exhibits were evaluated.
Postal history is evolving.

22.4.2016 |IMPOSTA 2016 Exhibition International Postal History             
In cooperation with the Glarus Philatelic Society, the SVPg is organising for the first time in its history, a competitive exhibition on International Postal History, with an international jury team. During the 3-day exhibition, many fans of postal history from all over the world found their way to Glarus to attend this special event.

2018 | Exhibition NABA Lugano
For the first time, more postal history exhibits were shown at NABA Lugano than traditional ones.  There were 40 traditional exhibits and 68 postal history exhibits.