50 Francs 1st series

Switzerland's first unified paper currency series launched in 1907, ending decades of fractured note issuance by cantonal banks and private institutions — a system that had produced over thirty different circulating note types simultaneously. The Swiss National Bank had only received its federal charter in 1905, and these inaugural notes were printed abroad at Bradbury Wilkinson in London while domestic printing infrastructure was still absent.

The design collaboration between Albert Walch and Josef von Storck drew on established Viennese decorative traditions; von Storck was a prominent Austrian arts educator rather than a professional banknote designer. Pick #1 is among the rarest of the series — the 50 Francs denomination saw limited distribution before design revisions were already under discussion.