Vandalism "Basler Dybli" letterbox damaged - Swiss Post files charges

One of the few historic "Basler Dybli" letterboxes was damaged a few days ago. The letterbox in St. Alban-Vorstadt in Basel was removed for repair. Swiss Post is now pressing charges against persons unknown, as a media spokesperson told the Keystone-SDA news agency on Friday.

Swiss Post discovered the damage on July 4. It is not known exactly how the letterbox at Schöneck House was damaged. Swiss Post is currently working with the cantonal monument preservation office and a foundry to clarify what work would be necessary to repair it, the media spokesperson added.

It is not yet clear when the letterbox will be reinstalled. As it is a historical work of art, there are no spare parts in stock, the Swiss Post spokesperson added.

There are only six letterboxes

In Basel, there are only six such letterboxes in the classicist style with a white dove on a sky-blue background. They were designed by the architect Melchior Berri (1801-1854) in 1843/1844, who is also known as the creator of the famous stamp of the same name and the Natural History Museum in Basel. The first Berri letterboxes were produced in the royal ore foundry in Munich, and later on replicas were made.

There is hardly any connection between the damaged letterbox and the construction work in St. Alban-Vorstadt. A spokesperson for the Department of Construction and Transport (BVD) told Keystone-SDA that the project manager was not aware of any such connection. The co-owner of the Schöneck property, on whose wall the letterbox was hanging, also said on request that the "Basler Dybli" had been damaged at night.

SDA