This short exhibit is an introduction to the first perforated stamps of Switzerland. It shows color changes and new denominations which were printed as requirements and rates changed. International postal rules came into effect in 1875 and to avoid confusion of similar colored stamps, the Swiss conformed to colors agreed to with other countries.
The exhibit shows the basic stamps and how they were intended to be used, and how people used them. For example, a person might regularly post letters for delivery within Switzerland, then have occasion to send a letter to France. In which case they might use the stamps they had in their desk rather than go and stand in line at the post office for a single stamp. Many different combinations are possible for the many postal rates, especially pre-UPU.
The 1881 series with silk threads embedded in the paper are not part of this exhibit.