Switzerland year 1948 stamp International Philatelic Exhibition Basel MH

Switzerland year 1948 stamp International Philatelic Exhibition Basel MH*

The item you are referring to is a notable philatelic issue from Switzerland, specifically a Souvenir Sheet (often referred to as a Block in European cataloguing) commemorating the International Philatelic Exhibition held in Basel in 1948.

Key Details of the IMABA 1948 Issue

The exhibition’s official name was “IMABA 1948” (Internationale Briefmarken-Ausstellung Basel).

• Year of Issue: 1948
• Purpose: Commemorative issue for the International Philatelic Exhibition held in Basel (August 21–29, 1948).
• Format: The item is not a single stamp, but a Souvenir Sheet (Block) containing a single stamp design, surrounded by decorative border inscriptions.
• Design and Inscriptions: The sheet features a single stamp with a design relevant to Swiss history or culture (often depicting the Swiss Cross). The surrounding margin typically includes the exhibition’s title, “INTERNATIONALE BRIEFMARKEN-AUSSTELLUNG BASEL 1948.”
• Catalog Numbers (of the Souvenir Sheet):
  • Michel: Block 13 (Bl. 13)
  • Scott: B174-B177 (The entire set of stamps issued at the same time is B174-B177, but the block is often a separate catalog item).

The sheet is highly collectible and often found with the special “IMABA” First Day Cancel on its margin, dated 21.VIII.48.