The first Swiss postal regulations divided Switzerland, for the purpose of mailing letters weighing no more than half a lot, into four rayons. These were defined by the distance or road transport time (whichever was higher) between sender and recipient. A special, lower rate applied to letters mailed within a municipality. Rayon IV, defined by a distance of more than 192 km or a transport time of more than 40 hours, for which a postage of 20 Rappen was due, was abandoned in 1852 and became part of Rayon III. No stamps were ever issued for it.
| Stamp | Charging area (Rayon) | Postage | Transport hours max. | Transport distance max. | Date of first issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local mail | 2½ rappen | Within the municipality | Within the municipality | May 1850 | |
| Rayon I | 5 rappen | 2 hours | 9.6 km | 1 October 1850 | |
| Rayon II | 10 rappen | 10 hours | 48 km | 1 October 1850 | |
| Rayon III | 15 rappen | 40 hours | 192 km | 1 January 1852 |
Read more about this topic: Local Mail And Rayon Stamps Of Switzerland