Rankweil (AT)

First Rankweil postmark

Loading map...

{"minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"mappingservice":"leaflet","width":"auto","height":"250px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"zoom":12,"defzoom":14,"layers":["OpenStreetMap"],"image layers":[],"overlays":[],"resizable":false,"fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":true,"cluster":false,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clustermaxradius":80,"clusterspiderfy":true,"geojson":"","clicktarget":"","imageLayers":[],"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":47.266666666667,"lon":9.65,"icon":""}],"imageoverlays":null}

Rankweil is a town in the westernmost Austrian state of Vorarlberg, in the district Feldkirch. It is the second largest town in the district Feldkirch and the eighth largest town in Vorarlberg.

The ZIP-Code is AT 6830 RANKWEIL

Coat of Arms

View to the west View to the north View to the east View to the south

The Town

In the far west of Austria, near the border to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, lies the contemplative town, gently embedded between the Rhine Valley and the hilly forest area.
At the time of the Roman Empire, today's Rankweil was known as "Vinomna". Vinomna was a transport hub where stone-paved Roman roads converged, including the main road from Chur to Augsburg. Rankweil itself was first mentioned in 842.

Origin of the place name

Our RANK is related to the medieval RINC, Old High German RING, meaning "court". In the 9th century Vinomna had become the Rhaeto-Romanic capital in Unterrätien and also the place of jurisdiction for the immigrant Franks and Alemanni. The basic word VILA (VILIS) meant Royal court or state property. Vinomna became the RING-VILA in the 9th century, that is, the Manor with the judgement responsible for the "German-speaking".

In the Middle Ages, Rankweil became well known as a religious center.
The pilgrims' destination has always been the parish and pilgrimage church of Our Lady of the Visitation, which on the Liebfrauenberg carefully watches over the town and whose beginnings as a fortified church can be found around 700 AD.

In 1375 the Counts of Montfort sold the dominion of Feldkirch, including Rankweil, to the Habsburgs. In 1618 Rankweil was granted market rights. Since its founding in 1918, Rankweil has belonged to the Austrian state of Vorarlberg.

Rankweil extends over 22 square kilometers and is home to around 12,000 residents.
It is committed to sustainability and pays particular attention to energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Due to the dense settlement of the Rhine Valley, Rankweil, which is one third of the forest, is an oasis for nature lovers.

In the garden of Vorarlberg

It is no coincidence that the Vorderland-Feldkirch region is nicknamed the “Garden of Vorarlberg. The Raetians and the Romans already knew how to use the favorable climate and the fertile soil in the sheltered bay of the fore over 2,000 years ago. Since then, a wide range of forms of agriculture has developed here. This is also reflected in the varied natural and cultural landscape of today: from the wide arable fields, the nature-protected reed meadows and alluvial forests of the Rhine Valley to the orchards and vineyards to idyllic mountain and alpine meadows at over 1,000 meters above sea level.

District Brederis
Brederis is a district of Rankweil with about 1230 inhabitants and has no head of the village. Brederis' boundaries are not fixed and therefore controversial.
It was settled by the Romans and then called "Clunia". Remains of walls and hypocausts are preserved in the area of an open-air museum. The church of St. Anne was built in the 16th century.
The place was for a long time an agricultural parcel and later a classic street village along the Schweizerstrasse.
At the initiative of citizens from Rankweil Brederis, a new mailbox was installed at the Brederis kindergarten. Before that, residents had to make their way to Rankweil for around a year to drop their mail. The mailbox is emptied daily on working days.

The town adjoins Koblach, Röthis, Sulz, Zwischenwasser, Laterns, Übersaxen, Satteins, Göfis, Feldkirch and Meiningen.

The church on the 50 meter high Liebfrauenberg in Rankweil is such a fortified church.

The magnificent interior of the pilgrimage church on Liebfrauenberg

The fortified Basilica Minor of St Mary of the Visitation

The so-called fortified churches are a special form of early Christian cult buildings in Raetia. They were built at a height that was difficult to access, surrounded by a wall and mostly also by a cemetery.
The church on the 50 meter high Liebfrauenberg in Rankweil is such a fortified church. From the 8th century onwards, it formed the center of a large parish that at times comprised large parts of the Vorarlberg fore and extended into the Swiss Rhine Valley.
Burned to the ground in the 14th century by war, the Gothic style church of St. Mary was built on the same site from 1470 to 1510.

The Liebfrauenbergkirche was elevated to a minor basilica in 1985 and brings countless guests to the village every year.

The Rankweil basilica is also a stop on the famous Way of St. James, which stretches across Europe, following in the footsteps of St. Jacob and, as is well known, ends in Spain.
The Liebfrauenkirche retained its important religious charisma throughout the centuries, supported, of course, by the pilgrimage destinations and its central location in the middle of Vorarlberg.

Pilgrimage

For more than eight centuries, countless people have come to the Liebfrauenberg with their worries and hopes.

Three treasures are kept in the basilica, to which pilgrims come for request and thanks. These are the miraculous image in the Chapel of Mercy, the Silver Cross in the presbytery of the nave and the stone of St. Fridolin in the Fridolin Chapel.

6-page prayer booklet as a souvenir of the pilgrimage in 1959

Pilgrimage games
In 1933 a "Spielgemeinde Rankweil" was founded under the leadership of postal director Alois Gorbach. The first thing to do was to look for a suitable play with a religious content.
Based on a local legend from the 6th century, which was well known from an ancient wooden panel in the entrance hall of the Liebfrauenkirche, Mdm. Lady, Anna Linder-Knecht created the pilgrimage game "St. Fridolin" in the winter of 1933/34,- it was to become a highlight of her literary work and artistic success.
The professional actor Max Tribus from Feldkirch could be engaged as the director, who was supposed to make the play ready for performance within three months with around 200 amateur actors from Rankweil.

Program booklet

State Hospital Valduna

Specialized hospital for psychiatry and neurology

In 1399 the Monastery Valduna was founded in the southeast of Rankweil by nuns of the Clarissins, which existed until 1782.

In 1858 the Valduna Charity was founded as a private institution for the care of the mentally ill. In 1868 this was taken over by the public sector and run as the Valduna state insane asylum.

In 1938 the charity was forcibly dissolved, expropriated and the "Gauanstalt Valduna" established.

History Of The Post Office

In 1875 Rankweil had 2,410 inhabitants and in 1900 already 3,304 in 489 houses.
It was surprisingly late that an Austro-Hungarian post office opened. On 9 January 1870 the first rooms were in the original Schafhitl's house (Ringstraße 14). 1893 these were moved to the Schwarzer Adler (nowadays the Post Office).

Postal Directorate Innsbruck On January 1st, 1870 the k.k. Post office opened in Rankweil. The same will ... a daily foot messenger mail with the kk. Post offices in Feldkirch contacted. Hence one honors oneself with the laudable kk. District administration politely notification close. Innsbruck on December 20th, 1869 Glatz To the Feldkirch district administration

Notice The signed one hereby announces, that from today on he will use the letters and other items of mail before leaving for Feldkirch can neither collect nor accept on the way, the same must in the future every morning by 9 a.m. at the im House N. 204, the post office built there, will be abandoned. Rankweil on January 6th, 1870 Joh. Jenny Postmaster Notice By circulating after this day or at least initially Note that the mail is delivered from house to house, so it is made known, that every father of a family Guardian or homeowner of the made projection persons appointed to make the payment ...? Information, the year of birth of his subordinates, or house enjoyed conscientiously stated. Those who deliberately tell falsehoods or evade payment can under section 30 of the law of March 29, 1869 with a penalty from 1 to 20 f (guilders) can be used. Rankweil on January 6th, 1870 Jenny Chief

Schwarzer Adler anno 1828

View of the Inn Schwarzer Adler Post ca. 1910 (Hans Stemmer 1997)

Post-internal Mail Rankweil 10 November 1987 with sender mark Postamt / 6830 Rankweil

1870 Johann Jenny	1871 Jakob Fahrner	1876 Jakob Scheidbach	1893 Dominikus Fiechtl	1899 Franz Mathies	up to 1910 Franz Vaja
1919 Andreas Rhomberg	1920 Martin Peter	1920 Anton Juen	1933 Alois Gorbach	1939 Walter Peter

10 Heller domestic postal stationery 1918 sender Chief Postmaster Andreas Rhomberg receiver Postrat Dr. Bartolomä Zingerle in Innsbruck

10 Heller domestic postal stationery 1916 uprated with additional franking 15 Heller 1920 sender Postmaster Martin Peter receiver Postrat Dr. Barth. Zingerle in Innsbruck General Postoffice

Rankweil, 25 April 1941 Post identification card of an employee

Rankweil, 14 June 1919 / My warmest congratulations on the appointment and my best regards And. Rhomberg / Chief Postmaster

Rankweil, 17 March 1920 / Dear Inspector! Allow me to inquire on what day I could speak to you in Innsbruck at the beginning of next week on the matter of settling office rent with Huber Dornbirn and my near future ... Your devoted Martin Peter / Postmaster

Postmarks

Thimble Postmarks 1870 to 1885

line between day and month used from 1870 to 1885 Ø 19 mm in sans-serif lettering with date and year postmark in black		Early wrapper with thimble postmark 29 January 1870 via Feldkirch, Bregenz, Walserschanz to Mittelberg, post-free
line omitted between day and month used from 1870 to 1885 Ø 19 mm in sans-serif lettering with date and year postmark in black		13 .. 1873 missing month in postmark, postal stationary cover 5 Kreuzer 1872

Single-ring Postmarks used from 1886 to 1898

line between day and month Ø 24 mm in sans-serif lettering with date and year postmark known in black and violet		9 August 1889 to Rickenbach railway station Schwarzach franked with 5 Kreuzer domestic rate
line omitted between day and month Ø 24 mm in sans-serif lettering with date and year postmark known in black and violet		Return receipt Schruns 20 July 1896, confirmed by the post office 21 July 1898, with single-ring postmark 22 July 1898 returned to the sender in Schruns

Schraffenstempel used from 1898 to 1907

32 x 22 mm in sans-serif lettering with date and year postmark in black 2 Kreuzer postal stationery 1898 posted 6 January 1900 1 January 1900 currency reform 1 Kreuzer = 2 Heller 1 January 1900 postage increase from 2 Heller to 5 Heller postage due 1 Kreuzer Hohenems 7 January 1900 conversion 2 + 1 Kreuzer = 3 Kreuzer = 6 Heller]]

Railway Station-Mailbox Postmark used from 1908

In some of the larger train stations the local post office had their own office with the necessary facilities. If such facilities were not available, the canceling device was kept in the station mailbox or brought from the local post office and returned after work.

32 x 15 mm in Roman type with line between date and Rankweil postmark in black

International cover 20 February 1908 to Wald near Zurich

Bridge-Type Postmarks used from 1907 to 1937

large distinguishing mark a used from 1918 to 1937 28 mm Ø distinguishing mark 3 mm month in roman numbers 2 stars with 8 rays postmark in black		Picture card Furx Guesthouse Alpenblume with courier to Rankweil 11 December 1928 to Innsbruck, franking with 10 Groschen
large distinguishing mark b used from 1909 to 1931 28 mm Ø distinguishing mark 3 mm with time double-digit month in roman numbers 2 stars with 6 rays postmark in black later state of the postmark with upper bridge line broken		At the Austrian-Swiss border there was a commitment about reduced postage (Rayon Limitroph – RL). 14 December 1923 letter to Gossau near St.Gallen (CH) franked with 1x 1000 Kronen, 1x 600 Kronen, 4x 50 Kronen (not valid since 30.9.1923) therefore pasted over with 2x 100 Kronen = 1.800 Kronen. But Gossau is not in this rayon limitroph, so the letter was insufficiently prepaid with a shortage of 15 Centimes, "T"-mark in black and manuscript 30 in blue (twice the shortage of 15 Centimes), Swiss postage due stamp 30 centimes Gossau 15. 12. 1923; with two different postmarks - large distinguishing marks b + c

large distinguishing mark C used from 1907 28 mm Ø distinguishing mark 3 mm with time month in roman numbers 2 stars with 6 rays colour black and violet later state of the postmark with upper bridge line broken		8 April 1908 on 5 Heller postal stationary 1907 domestic mail to Switzerland, insufficiently prepaid, "T"-mark in black and manuscript 0.10 in red (twice the shortage of 5 Heller), Swiss postage due stamp 10 centimes St. Gallen 8.4.1908, recipient left (Abgereist), therefore postage due stamp not valid (UNGÜLTIG), because it was returned to sender
large distinguishing mark d used from 1908 to 1913 28,5 mm Ø distinguishing mark 3 mm with time double-digit month in roman numbers 2 stars with 6 rays postmark in black		5 January 1910 on 5 Heller postal stationary 1907 domestic rate to Switzerland, therefore insufficiently prepaid, "T"-mark in black and manuscript 0.10 in blue (twice the shortage of 5 Heller), Swiss postage due stamp 10 centimes Rheineck 15.1.1910

Slogan Postmarks used from 1932 to 1934

Garten Vorarlbergs used from 1932 to 1933 bridge-type postmark 25,5 mm Ø with time indication month in roman numbers 1 star with 5 rays with slogan on the left side "BESUCHET / RANKWEIL / IM GARTEN / VORARLBERGS" (visit Rankweil in the garden of Vorarlberg) 34 x 23,5 mm Postmark in black		picture card 13 May 1933, franking with 3 Groschen printed matter rate
Wallfahrtsspiele Rankweil used from 1934 bridge-type postmark 25 mm Ø with time indication month in roman numbers 1 star with 5 rays with slogan on the left side "BESUCHET DIE / WALLFAHRTS- / SPIELE / RANKWEIL" (visit the pilgrim games Rankweil) 33,5 x 24,5 mm Postmark in black		picture card 22 August 1934, franking with 12 Groschen postcard rate

Bridge-Type Postmarks used from 1936 to 1938

small distinguishing mark b used from 1936 to 1938 26,5 mm Ø distinguishing mark 2,5 mm with time double-digit month in roman numbers 2 stars with 6 rays postmarks in black	File:Rankweil (AT) 147.jpg	File:Rankweil (AT) 148.jpg
small distinguishing mark c used from 1936 to 1938 26,5 mm Ø distinguishing mark 2,5 mm with time double-digit month in roman numbers 2 stars with 6 rays postmarks in black		foreign letter 23 July 1937 to Schuls (CH) franked with a strip of five à 12 Groschen = 60 Groschen

Bridge-Type Postmarks used from 1938 to 1965 without stars

large distinguishing mark a without time used from 1939 to 1945 28 mm Ø distinguishing mark 3 mm without time month in roman numbers without stars postmarks in black	File:Rankweil (AT) 149.jpg	File:Rankweil (AT) 150.jpg
small distinguishing mark b used from 1938 to 1965 27 mm Ø distinguishing mark 2,5 mm with time double-digit month in roman numbers without stars postmarks in black		postal stationary Deutsches Reich 1933/34 Hindenburg 6 Pfennig domestic rate, 30 Pfennig registration fee

Form for an undeliverable mail Mayerhofen

Reply Rankweil 5 March 1958 with 2 Schilling fee

small distinguishing mark c without stars used from 1940 to 1943 26,5 mm Ø distinguishing mark 2,5 mm with time double-digit month in roman numbers without stars postmarks in black		Fieldpost-wrapper 27 November 1942 with senders mark in red „RESERVE LAZARETT VALDUNA to Sulz
large distinguishing mark d without stars used from 1946 to 1965 28,5 mm Ø distinguishing mark 3 mm with time double-digit month in roman numbers without stars postmarks in black		insufficiently prepaid cover Düsseldorf 4 July 1966 "T"-mark in violet manusript 40/50 1 Schilling postage due stamp Rankweil 6 July 1963

Double-Ring Postmark 12b used from 1945 to 1954

small distinguishing mark b used from 1945 28 mm Ø distinguishing mark 2 mm the letters are narrow with time double-digit month arabic numeral without stars colour black	File:Rankweil (AT) 154.jpg	File:Rankweil (AT) 155.jpg
small distinguishing mark c used from 1945 28 mm Ø distinguishing mark 2 mm the letters are narrow with time double-digit month arabic numeral without stars colour black	File:Rankweil (AT) 156.jpg	File:Rankweil (AT) 157.jpg
adapted small distinguishing mark c „RANKWEIL“ not centered (code 12b omitted) used from 1947 to 1954 28 mm Ø distinguishing mark 2 mm the letters are narrow with time double-digit month arabic numeral without stars colour black		Printed matter 23 July 1949 to Damüls, 20 Groschen 2nd weight level

Bridge-Type Postmark used from 1954 to 1965

28 mm Ø distinguishing mark 2 mm c with time three-digit month arabic numeral without stars colour black

Picture card 23 July 1955 to Bremen (D), 1.45 Schilling postcard foreign rate

Slogan Postmarks used from 1964 to 1965

Garten Vorarlbergs used from 1964 to 1965 bridge-type postmark 24 mm distinguishing mark e with day-month/year four-digit time double-digit H with slogan on the left side "RANKWEIL / GARTEN VORARLBERGS" (Rankweil the garden of Vorarlberg) 46,5 x 23,5 mm postmark in black

Letter 6 February 1964 to Terfens (Tyrol) franked with 1,50 Schilling domestic rate

Single-ring Postmarks with Zip-code used from 1966

28 mm Ø distinguishing mark 2 mm a, b, c, d with time three-digit month arabic numeral letter width 2,5 mm letter height 2,5 mm letter distance higher than 1 mm Zip-code 4 up to 4,5 mm colour black		Money order 25 October 1977 „Postsparkasse“
		Stamp subscription 16 November 1978
		Registered letter 29 October 1968 to Feldkirch franked with 6 Schilling = 2 Schilling letter domestic rate plus 4 Schilling registration fee

Slogan Postmarks with Zip-code used from 1966 to 1982

Garten Vorarlbergs used from 1966 to 1982 single-ring postmark 24 mm with day-month/year four-digit time double-digit H Zip-code distinguishing mark g with slogan on the left side "RANKWEIL / GARTEN VORARLBERGS" (Rankweil the garden of Vorarlberg) 46,5 x 23,5 mm postmark in black		Printed matter letter 13 February 1981 2nd weight level 3,50 Schilling domestic rate
der Kluge hat: NOTVORRAT ! The Civil Defense Society of Vorarlberg provided a slogan postmark „der Kluge hat: NOTVORRAT !“ (the clever one has emergency supply). The new slogan was used for 2 months in 1973 single-ring postmark 24 mm with day-month/year four-digit time double-digit H Zip-code distinguishing mark g with slogan on the left side „der Kluge hat: NOTVORRAT !“ (the clever one has emergency supply) 46,5 x 23,5 mm postmark in black		Postcard 28 May 1973 to Riedau (OÖ) domestic rate 1,50 Schilling, franked with 1,70 Schilling

Single-ring Postmarks with Zip-code used from 1976

used from 1976 28 mm Ø distinguishing mark e letter width 1,5 mm letter height 2 mm letter distance higher than 1 mm		Notification of a cash on delivery package 8 May 1974 1,50 Schilling postcard rate 1 Schilling for notification
used from 1978 28 mm Ø distinguishing mark f letter width 2 mm letter height 2 mm letter distance maximal 1 mm		File:Rankweil (AT) 159.jpg
used from 1978 28 mm Ø distinguishing mark h letter width 1,5 mm letter height 2 mm letter distance higher than 1 mm	File:Rankweil (AT) 160.jpg	File:Rankweil (AT) 161.jpg
used from 1983 28 mm Ø distinguishing mark j letter width 2 mm letter height 2 mm letter distance maximal 1 mm		Offical matter 4 August 1983 A postal service not specified was compensated with20 Schilling postage due stamps
used from 1985 28 mm Ø distinguishing marks k, l letter width 2 mm letter height 2 mm letter distance maximal 1 mm

Single-ring postmarks with two lines used from 1985 to 2015

Slogan Garten Vorarlbergs used from 1985 to 2004 single-ring postmark 23,5 mm distinguishing mark g DD.MM.YY -TT Zip-code with slogan on the left side "RANKWEIL / GARTEN VORARLBERGS" (Rankweil the garden of Vorarlberg) bold letters 40 x 24 mm postmark in black
Omitted Slogan used from 2005 to 4.2007
Wavy lines instead of Slogan used from 12.2007 to 2015 with 5 wavy lines 41 x 21 mm

Octognal District Postmarks

These octagonal district postmarks were introduced on 1st January 1947 and were intended only for use in monetary transactions.

Stops of the Arlbergbahn

Railway Postmarks

The Lindau – Bludenz railway runs from the town of Lindau (Lake Constance) in Bavaria on the German-Austrian border via the Vorarlberg state capital Bregenz through the Rhine Valley and Walgau to Bludenz.
The first pageant of the private Vorarlberger Bahn traveled the Bludenz – Lochau route on June 30, 1872 with a steam locomotive. Finally, it was opened to public transport on July 1, 1872. The extension from Lochau to Lindau did not go into operation until October 14, 1872.
In 1884 it was connected to the rest of the Austrian rail network with the construction of the Arlberg tunnel in Bludenz, before nationalization took place in 1885.
The main lines of the railways also carried a mail car that took all types of letters in the stations, especially in places where there was no post office nearby. They were called "Fahrende Postämter", "Postambulanzen" and cancelled the stamps with their own postmark on the train.

The place of dispatch can just be seen in the sender information.

F(ahrendes) P(ost) A(mt) No. 62 Single-ring postmark in use up to 1883 26 mm Date in 3 lines single line text	Backside
F.(ahrendes) P.(ost) A.(mt) INNSBRUCK-LINDAU No. 62 Double-ring postmark in use 1899 up to 1909 26 mm Date in 3 lines Two lines of text Course number in the text	Picture side
INNSBRUCK-LINDAU 61 Double-ring postmark in use 1930 up to 1940 27,5 mm single line text with V-shaped decoration in the inner circle Course number curved below	Railway Station in the 1890s
LINDAU-INNSBRUCK 61 Double-ring postmark in use 1913 up to 1940 28 mm Date in 3 lines single line text with V-shaped decoration in the inner circle Course number curved below

Since 1886 there was a postal conductor on most of the mail trains who accepted the letters and printed the postmark "Postconducteur im Zug Nr." on them, canceled the stamp with the stroke of a pen or wrote the name of the posting station over the stamp.

POSTCONDUCTEUR IM ZUGE BLUDENZ-BREGENZ No. 317 in use 1887 up to 1902 70 x 11 mm Text in two lines

Picture side

Arrival postmark Hohenems

Small Postal Agencies

Small postal agencies - today post office assistants - were set up inplaces with low postal volume. These only offered limited postal services and many of them used their own postmark, some of which were specially designed and / or labeled.

The first receiving offices were established towards the end of the 19th century. These were officially managed postal agencies with a low volume of mail. The managers has been given a number of weekly trips to the main post office. This work was compensated with a minimal payment.
A uniform official postmark was used: In this steel handstamp the town name was arranged in an elongated rectangle in such a way, that there was space for an eight-pointed star to the right and left of the place name, to distinguish it from other official single line postmarks. These official postmarks only served to recognized the letters in relation to their origin and not to cancel the stamps; these had to be afixed beside the stamps and the stamp itself was cancelled at the main post office.

District Brederis

Brederis is a district of Rankweil with about 1230 inhabitants.

Feldkirch, 29th April. On May 1th 1902 in Brederis, political district of Feldkirch, a k.k. Small Postal Agency opened, which gets its connection with the responsible post office in Rankweil through the following course schedule daily foot messenger mail: Brederis (small postal agency) from 8 a.m., Rankweil (post office) at 8:30 a.m., Rankweil (post office) from 8:45 a.m., Brederis (small postal agency) at 9:15 a.m. Newspaper Feldkirch 30th April 1902

Feldkircher Zeitung 30. April 1902

in use 1.5.1902 up to 31.7.1909 35 x 10 mm

At the initiative of citizens from Rankweil Brederis, a new mailbox was installed at the Brederis kindergarten. Before that, residents had to make their way to Rankweil for around a year to drop their mail. The mailbox is emptied daily on working days.

Community Übersaxen

Übersaxen is part of the Feldkirch district. The community is 900 meters above sea level and has an area of 5.76 square kilometers. With 660 inhabitants (as of 01/01/2015) a small but popular community.
The parish was / is looked after by post from Rankweil.

ÜBERSAXEN (RANKWEIL) in use 1.8.1905 up to 31.7.1909 35 x 10 mm
ÜBERSAXEN / P. 6830 Rankweil in use 6.6.1966 up to 30.4.1999 37 x 22 mm	File:Rankweil (AT) 168.jpg	File:Rankweil (AT) 169.jpg
ÜBERSAXEN / POST / RANKWEIL // 6830 in use 1968 up to 1983 44 x 22 mm		File:Rankweil (AT) 171.jpg
RANKWEIL / PSt. ÜBERSAXEN / 6830 in use 1983 up to 1999 28 mm

Community Laterns

Laterns is the largest side valley of the Rhine Valley and stretches for about 15 km. The valley is divided into three lots: Laterns Thal (900m), Bonacker (950m) and Innerlaterns with Bad Laterns (1000 - 1200m) and with 43.8km² it is the largest municipality in the Feldkirch district.
A Small postal agenca was opened in the 1970s. Until then, the letters, parcels etc. had to be handed in and picked up in Rankweil.

LATERNS, / POST / RANKWEIL / 6830 used from 1973 to 1983 44 x 22 mm
RANKWEIL / PSt. LATERNS / 6830 used from 1983 to 2001 28 mm

Stamps

Postal Meter Mark used from 1991 to 1998

27 mm Ø distinguishing mark m value impression with five-digits on the right side 25 x 30 mm double framed postmarks in red

11 July 1996 local letter 6 Schilling

Computer Generated Stamps on Riposte-Labels

single-ring postmarks postoffice / ID: / date Time / zip-code BAR FREIGEMACHT / TAXE PERCUE / AUTRICHE value impression with six-digits	Old post mark	Misprint
New post mark	White label	White label CO2 neutral
White label CO2 neutral PRIORITY

Official Issues

2011 - Healing of a woman, bronze relief from the Basilica Rankweil

2014 - Stamp Day €2.82+€1.41 Basilica Rankweil

2015 - the fortified Basilica Minor of St Mary of the Visitation

Personalized Stamps

Renovation of the Chapel of Mercy Children's drawing: Raphael 10 years 1st September 2006 Austria 55 Cent		Post Office / Town Hall Photo: Willi Schmidt 2010 Local postal sales day Austria 55 Cent
Way to Santiago de Compostela Photo: Willi Schmidt 2008 Local postal sales day Austria 55 Cent		110 years of Raiffeisenbank Rankweil Austria 55 Cent
State Hospital Valduna Photo: Peter Schmid 13th November 2012 - local postal sales day Austria 62 Cent		Event Hall Vinomna Photo: Willi Schmidt 10th June 2015 - local postal sales day Austria 68 Cent
Guild St. Gabriel 8th July 2015 Number printed: 400 Pieces Austria 68 Cent Order Nr. 8115608		Old Factory / Business Park Photo: Willi Schmidt 22nd March 2016 - local postal sales day Austria 68 Cent
Golf Course Photo: Willi Schmidt 30th June 2017 - local postal sales day Austria 68 Cent

Picture Postcards

domestic rate postcard, 7th edition, 24th picture issued 4.1952 domestic postcard Korrespondenzkarte “Volkstrachten” value impression 1 Schilling “Tracht des Pustertales“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim, Dornbirn image description: RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg place behind orchard, church line spacing wide
domestic rate postcard, 15th edition, 10th picture issued 4.1954 domestic postcard Korrespondenzkarte “Volkstrachten” Get to know Austria value impression 1 Schilling “Tracht des Pustertales“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim, Dornbirn image description: RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 515 m 3 lines wide line spacing
international rate postcard, 30th edition, 14th picture issued 1962 domestic postcard Postkarte / Carte postale “Baudenkmäler” Come to Austria! in 3 languages value impression 1,80 Schilling “Bad Hall“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim, Dornbirn image description: RANKWEIL im Rheintal, Vorarlberg, 480 m in 3 languages
domestic rate postcard, 38th edition, 16th picture issued 4.1957 domestic postcard Postkarte “Volkstrachten” Get to know Austria value impression 1 Schilling “Tracht des Pustertales“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim, Dornbirn image description: RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m 5 lines with private imprint "100 Jahre Correspondenz-Karte"
international rate postcard, 41th edition, 24th picture issued 1965 international rate postcard Postkarte / Carte postale “Baudenkmäler” Come to Austria! in 3 languages value impression 2 Schilling “Bad Hall“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 41. Auflage/24 image description: A-6830 RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m in 3 languages
international rate postcard, 47th edition, 11th picture issued 1966 international rate postcard Postkarte / Carte postale Come to Austria! in 3 languages special value impression 1,80 Schilling “'Wiederaufbau“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 47. Auflage/11 image description: A-6830 RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m in 3 languages
international rate postcard, 48th edition, 36th picture issued 1967 international rate postcard Postkarte / Carte postale “Baudenkmäler” Come to Austria! in 3 languages value impression 2 Schilling “Christkindl“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 48. Auflage/36 image description: A-6830 RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m in 3 languages
international rate postcard, 51th edition, 15th picture issued 1968 international rate postcard Postkarte / Carte postale Come to Austria! in 3 languages special value impression 2 Schilling “Flugzeug“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 51. Auflage/15 image description: A-6830 RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m in 3 languages
international rate postcard, 53th edition, 23th picture issued 1969 international rate postcard Postkarte / Carte postale "Baudenkmäler" Come to Austria! in 3 languages value impression 2 Schilling “Klagenfurt“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 53. Auflage/23 image description: A-6830 RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m in 3 languages
domestic rate postcard, 55th edition, 15th picture issued 1960 domestic postcard Postkarte “Baudenkmäler” Get to know Austria value impression 1 Schilling “Mariazell“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim image description: RANKWEIL im Rheintal, Vorarlberg, 480 m 5 lines
international rate postcard, 57th edition, 15th picture issued 1970 international rate postcard Postkarte / Carte postale "Baudenkmäler" Come to Austria! in 3 languages value impression 2 Schilling “Klagenfurt“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 57. Auflage/15 image description: A-6830 RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m in 3 languages
international rate postcard, 60th edition, 7th picture issued 1971 international rate postcard Postkarte / Carte postale "Baudenkmäler" Come to Austria! in 3 languages value impression 2,50 Schilling “Linz“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 60. Auflage/7 image description: A-6830 RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m in 3 languages
domestic rate postcard, 68th edition, 9th picture issued 1962 domestic postcard Postkarte Fernverkehr “Baudenkmäler” Get to know Austria value impression 1 Schilling “Mariazell“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 68. Auflage/9 image description: RANKWEIL im Rheintal, Vorarlberg, 480 m 5 lines
international rate postcard, 68th edition, 13th picture issued 1976 international rate postcard Postkarte / Carte postale "Baudenkmäler" Come to Austria! in 3 languages value impression 2 Schilling “Klagenfurt“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 68. Auflage/13 image description: A-6830 RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m in 3 languages
international rate postcard, 75th edition, 14th picture issued 1980 international rate postcard Postkarte / Carte postale "Schönes Österreich" Come to Austria! in 3 languages value impression 4 Schilling “Almsee“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim reversed image edition number / picture number on the right: 75. Auflage/14 image description: A-6830 RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m in 2 languages
domestic rate postcard, 92th edition, 16th picture issued 1965 domestic postcard Postkarte “Baudenkmäler” Get to know Austria value impression 1 Schilling “Mariazell“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 92. Auflage/16 image description: RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m 4 lines
domestic rate postcard, 97th edition, 13th picture issued 1966 domestic postcard Postkarte “Baudenkmäler” Get to know Austria value impression 1 Schilling “Mariazell“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 97. Auflage/13 image description: RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m 4 lines
domestic rate postcard, 103th edition, 41th picture issued 1966 domestic postcard Postkarte “Baudenkmäler” Get to know Austria value impression 1,50 Schilling “Rabenhof“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 103. Auflage/41 image description: 6830 RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m 4 lines
domestic rate postcard, 106th edition, 44th picture issued 1968 domestic postcard Postkarte “Baudenkmäler” Get to know Austria value impression 1,50 Schilling “Rabenhof“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 106. Auflage/4 image description: 6830 RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m 4 lines
domestic rate postcard, 109th edition, 10th picture issued 1969 domestic postcard Postkarte “Baudenkmäler” Get to know Austria value impression 1,50 Schilling “Rabenhof“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 109. Auflage/10 image description: 6830 RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m 4 lines
domestic rate postcard, 116th edition, 13th picture issued 1970 domestic postcard Postkarte “Baudenkmäler” Get to know Austria value impression 1,50 Schilling “Rabenhof“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 116. Auflage/13 image description: 6830 RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m 4 lines
domestic rate postcard, 123th edition, 17th picture issued 1972 domestic postcard Postkarte “Baudenkmäler” Get to know Austria value impression 1,50 Schilling “Rabenhof“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 123. Auflage/17 image description: 6830 RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m 4 lines
domestic rate postcard, 128th edition, 8th picture issued 1970 domestic postcard Postkarte “Baudenkmäler” Get to know Austria value impression 1,50 Schilling “Rabenhof“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 128. Auflage/8 image description: 6830 RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m 4 lines
domestic rate postcard, 135th edition, 12th picture issued 1970 domestic postcard Postkarte “Schönes Österreich” Get to know Austria value impression 1,50 Schilling “Bludenz“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 135. Auflage/12 image description: 6830 RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m 4 lines
domestic rate postcard, 147th edition, 17th picture issued 1970 domestic postcard Postkarte “Schönes Österreich” Get to know Austria value impression 2,50 Schilling “Murau“ photo credits on the left: Photo Heim edition number / picture number on the right: 147. Auflage/17 image description: 6830 RANKWEIL, Vorarlberg, 480 m 4 lines

Commemorative Postmarks

115 Years of the Rankweil Fire Brigade International Comradeship Meeting 11th August 1984

Guild of St. Gabriel Altar consecration of the Rankweil Basilica 28th June 1986

30 Years of the Rankweil Dog Sports Club 6th May 1988

25 Years of FESP Feldkirch - Rankweil Group (Association for Sport Hiking, Long-Distance Hiking and Trekking) 19th June 1999

Philatelic Exhibition "gsi’BRIA 2001" UN Day / Year of Volunteers 14th September 2001

Philatelic Exhibition "gsi’BRIA 2001" German postal service 15th September 2001

Guild of St. Gabriel Lake Constance-Meeting 14th September 2001

FIRS Downhill Championship 2003 Übersaxen (Fédération Internationale de Roller Sports) 4th July 2003

Renovation of the Chapel of Mercy 1st September 2006

700 Years Walser in Vorarlberg 29th May 2013

First Day Cover 2014 - Stamp Day €2.82+€1.41 Basilica Rankweil 26th September 2014

Guild of St. Gabriel First Day 68 cents "Basilica Rankweil / Vorarlberg" 21st August 2015 15th World Federation Congress St. Gabriel 21st August 2015

Meter Marks

ELKO König was founded in Rankweil in 1946 as a piston manufacturer and supplier for the Austrian vehicle industry.

FRAMA

ETG Energie- und Sanitärtechnik was founded in Rankweil in 1980 and is managed by Norbert Lampert in the second generation.

Pitney Bowes "PersonalPost" (Digital)

Hirschmann Automotive - In 1959 the company was founded as Richard Hirschmann Electronic in Rankweil. At that time, the focus was on the development and production of communications equipment such as transmitters, receivers and antennas.

Francotyp-Postalia "JetMail" (Digital)

Francotyp Postalia "MyMail" (Digital)

Harris - In 2001 the automotive supplier Hirschmann wanted to concentrate on its core area and sold the multimedia communications area to Harris Communications. All 130 employees switched to the US group.
But already in 2002 jobs were cut. The entire production was to be relocated to England. At the end of June 2007, the Rankweil location is finally over.

Francotyp-Postalia "JetMail" (Digital)

Hirschmann Austria - Christoph Erath from Dornbirn bought Hirschmann Austria reception technology in 2005. Hirschmann specializes in satellite reception technology.

Francotyp-Postalia "JetMail" (Digital)

Hoval Hoval Aktiengesellschaft is a heating and ventilation manufacturer with headquarters in Vaduz in the Principality of Liechtenstein. In 1945 Ospelt registered the “Hoval” brand (Heizapparatebau Ospelt Vaduz Liechtenstein). Rapid expansion took place under this name after the war. Ospelt teamed up with foreign partners as early as 1946. The first foreign plant was built in Rankweil.

FRAMA 26x31 mm

Kunert - The Kunert stocking factory was established in 1949 on the site of the former Rankweil-Brederis detention center. Until 1945, the brothers Heinrich and Julius Kunert owned the largest stocking factory in Europe in Warnsdorf (Varnsdorf, Czech Republic) with around 5000 employees. In 1949 Heinrich Kunert made a new start in Rankweil-Brederis.

FRAMA 26x26mm

Lampert - Company founder Karl Lampert laid the first TV cable network in Europe in 1954 and brought television to Feldkirch. The family company Kabel-TV Lampert, with Karoline Lampert as the third generation managing director, is a digital local supplier.

Pitney Bowes-GB "6300"

Francotyp-Postalia "MyMail"

Mathis Brennstoffe was founded in 1954 and offers a wide range of heating oil, pellets and much more.

Postalia

Francotyp-Postalia "T1000"

Metzler - Founded in 1990, Metzler rented the premises of Hirschmann Automotive. Reinhard Metzler is one of the most important tool and machine dealers in all of Austria.

FRAMA "M/E bn 100"

Raiffeisenbank - Since 1895, Raiffeisenbank Rankweil, as a universal bank for the local population and economy, has been the contact for all financial issues. With over 9,000 members as owners, it is one of the most important banks in the region.

Pitney Bowes-GB "5000"	Francotyp-Postalia "T1000"	ASCOM Hasler "Smile"
Francotyp-Postalia "UltiMail"	Francotyp-Postalia "PostBase" ECO

Rauch Fruchstaft - The family business was founded in 1919 by Franz Josef Rauch as a small cider press for the surrounding farmers. In the inter-war period, however, fruit juice production was already carried out industrially. In 1962 the company was taken over by the next generation and oriented internationally. In the 1970s, Rauch became the market leader in the Austrian market with the Happy Day and Bravo brands.

FRAMA

Francotyp-Postalia "JetMail" (Digital)

Rauch - In 1989 Eugen Rauch started his own business as an insurance broker and financial advisor in Rankweil.

Pitney-Bowes "PersonalPost"

Rohstoff Rankweil is a trading company for saddler and shoemaker needs.

In contrast to the senders meter mark, a postage stamp is automatically stuck on and cancelled in advance at the same time.

Volksbank was founded in 1888 by Anton Fulterer, Jakob Dominikus Häusle und Johann Knecht as a savings and loan fund.

Postalia

Francotyp-Postalia

The Great War

K.k. Standschützen Vorarlberg
A “Standschütze” was a member of a rifle guild, whereby he engaged himself to the local militia home guard of the state of Vorarlberg and Tyrol.
Standschützen from Vorarlberg and Tyrol were the last reserve (teenaged, disabled and old men) deployed to the front in South Tyrol to defend against the Italians.

The “Rankweil Standschützen Battalion” emerged from the shooter registered at the Rankweil main shooting range and the neighboring Götzis, Klaus and Sulz shooting ranges.

Group photo "K.k. Standschützen Rankweil"

The Standschützen Battalion consisted of three companies:
1st Rankweil Company - 5 officers, 95 men
2nd Götzis Company - 103 men
3rd Sulz-Röthis Company - 109 men

Battalion Staff:
4 officers, 4 men, 4 horses and 2 wagons

Major:	Johann Dietrich
Adjutant:	Oberleutnant Alois Sturn
Proviantoffizier:	Leutnant Josef Bachmann
Feldkurat:	Gebhard Wendelin Gunz (the famous Zimba-Pastor)
Oberjäger:	Hans Peter Gorbach, Alfred Häusle, Stefan Moll, Christian Ludescher

1st Company - Rankweil:
Rifle men from Rankweil, Meiningen, Göfis and Übersaxen 5 officers, 95 men, 5 horses, 2 wagons

Hauptmann:	Adolf Ebenhoch
Leutnants:	Jakob Barbisch, Josef Bitsche, Georg Luger, Josef Anton Speckle
Oberjäger:	Josef Gorbach
Zugsführer:	Hermann Amann, Franz Catulli, Hermann Mathis, Philipp Knecht

Areas of application in Southern Tyrol

Locations, field post offices and numbers in the period from 23th May 1915 to 4th November 1918

Rayon II – Tonale:
in the 54th Half Brigade

• FPA 611 in Fucine and Cusiano from 3/1918 to 11/1918

On 15th May 1918 the Feldkirch Standschützenkompanie combined with the Rankweil Standschützenkompanie to form the Feldkirch-Rankweil Company and remained there until the war ended.

in the 55th Mountain Brigade of the 90th Infantry Brigade under Oberst v. Concini

• FPA 615 in Cavalese from May to 12/1915
• FPA 615 in Pedrazzo from 12/1915 to January 1916
• from 1/1916 to 9/1916

concentrated to just one companie

• FPA 393 in Neumarkt from 9/1916 to 3/1918
• from 7/1918 as Feldkirch-Rankweil company

Field Post Office 611 23th January 1918

Field Post Office 615 9th September 1916

Field Post Office 393 20th November 1916

WW II

From 1941 to 1945 the Valduna became a Reserve hospital with an average of 500 patients.	back side
	File:Rankweil (AT) 239.jpg

Marginal

Postage Paid at the Post Office

Private Carrier

Rural Delivery	Postal Receipt	Cancelled Afterwards
Back side Postal Receipt		Postal Stationary 3 Schilling "Beautiful Austria" (1981) written 8th March 1989 uprated value impression 50 Groschen "Buildings" uprated 50 Groschen stamp "Buildings" accidentally escaped the cancellation - subsequently postmarked in Rankweil 1st March 1981 3 schilling postcard domestic rate 1st February 1984 3.50 Schilling postcard domestic rate 1st February 1986 4 Schilling postcard domestic rate

Delivery Base / Supporting Point
RANKWEIL Delivery Base	Letter from Rankweil 11th December 2003 * franked with 55 cents for a single letter * Post-taxed at 70 cents for the 2nd weight level to Tisis * Recipient not found - notified 12th December 2003 * RS: 6800 FELDKIRCH Delivery Base 12th December 2003 * RS: 6807 FELDKIRCH-TISIS 15th December 2003 * "T" Supporting Point / postage due 70 cents * Adhesive note "not fixed" 6807 Feldkirch-Tisis 30th December 2003 BACK - RETURN to 6830 * "T" Supporting Point 6830 Rankweil / postage due 70 cents 70 cents are collected from the original sender	Postmarks on Back side: FELDKIRCH Delivery Base 12th December 2003; FELDKIRCH-TISIS 15th December 2003

German Postal Stationary