Explorer-1

Explorer-1
satellite
(first U.S. satellite,
launched 1958-01-31)


Below is a checklist of Explorer-1 satellite postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.). Catalog numbers, years of issue, and notes on the satellites featured are given when available. The remainder of the Explorer-series satellites are covered separately. If readers know of additional information or images, please contact the authors using the e-mail addresses at the bottom of this page.

Farther below is a list of Explorer-1 launch covers, anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers.

For Explorer-1 launch information see the Explorer-series table on the scientific/research satellites page.


CountryCatalog Number*Type of Item**Year of IssueNotes on Content
Explorer-1
AjmanMi2571968
Antigua and Barbuda2360bOne of MS6 (2360 (a-f))2000
BatumLocal_eOne of MS6 (a-f), also imperforate MS6 (a-f)1997
BatumLocal_e_opOne of MS6 (a-f) overprinted in gold1998
BoliviaBL130In (lower) margin of imperforate SS11982
Burkina Faso1168fOne of MS6 (1168 (a-f))2000
Cuba2136Stamp-on-stamp: Yugoslavia 8701977
DjiboutiC189 (Mi379)1983
DjiboutiC189a (BL89A)
iC189a (BL89B)
SS1 (C189)
Grenada Carriacou2126bOne of MS6 (2126 (a-f))1999
Guyana2106bOne of MS25 (2106 (a-y)), 280 overprinted in gold1989Explorer-1 name
Guyana2106b specimenOne of MS25 (2106 specimen (a-y)), 280 overprinted in gold
Guyana2107bOne of MS25 (2107 (a-y)), 280 overprinted in silver
Guyana2107b specimenOne of MS25 (2107 specimen (a-y)), 280 overprinted in silver
HungaryCB30bIn (upper-left) margin of MS4 (CB27-CB30)1967Poorly-depicted Explorer-1
MacedoniaUnknown (new issue)2008
MalawiUnknown fdc (new issue)Cachet on FDC2007
Maldive IslandsUnknown ms4 (new issue)On stamps and in (right) margin of MS42008
ManamaMi87A
Mi87B
1968
Marshall Islands345cOne of MS25 (345 (a-y))1989Explorer-1 launch
Marshall IslandsKM51$50. (coin)1989
Micronesia81b (Mi133)One of MS9 (81 (a-i))1989Explorer-1 launch
Micronesia344a (Mi721)One of MS20 (344 (a-t)) and on selvedge1999
Montserrat1200MS42008
Montserrat1200 fdcMS4 and cachet on FDC
Montserrat1201SS1
Montserrat1201 fdcSS1 on FDC
ParaguayC405SS11975
Poland11801963
Poland2248a labelOn one label of MS6 (2248a (6x 2248 + 2 labels))1977
Poland2248 cancelCancel on FDC1977
PolandNoneCancel1977
RomaniaUnknown (new issue)2008
RomaniaUnknown maxi (new issue)Maxicard
RomaniaUnknown fdc (new issue)Stamp and cachet on FDC
RomaniaUnknown (new issue)Aerogramme
St. Thomas and Prince IslandsUnknown (new issue)In (upper-right) margin of SS12008
St. Thomas and Prince IslandsUnknown (new issue)SS1 on FDC
St. Thomas and Prince IslandsUnknown (new issue)Impeforate SS1 on FDC
St. Vincent2080fOne of MS9 (2080 (a-i))1994
St. Vincent2080f specimenOne of MS9 (2080 specimen (a-i))
St. Vincent2081fOne of MS9 (2081 (a-i))
St. Vincent2081f specimenOne of MS9 (2081 specimen (a-i))
St. Vincent2702aOne of MS9 (2702 (a-i))1999
United States1107 fdcCachet on FDC1958
United StatesNoneCancel on cover198325 years space exploration: Explorer-1
United States3187d
3187d back
One of pane of 15 (3187 (a-o))1999Explorer-1 launch
United States3187d fdc1Cachet on FDCExplorer-1 launch
United States3187d fdc2Cachet (different) on FDCExplorer-1 launch
United States3187d fdc3Cachet (different) on FDC
United States3187d fdc4Cachet (different) on FDC
United States3187d fdc5Cachet (different) on FDC
United States3187d fdc6Cachet (different) on FDC
United States3187d fdc7Cachet (different) on FDCExplorer-1 launch
United States3187d fdc8Cachet (different) on FDCExplorer-1 launch
United States3187d fdc9Cachet (different) on FDCExplorer-1 launch
United States3187d fdc10Cachet (different) on FDCExplorer-1 launch
United States3187d fdc11Cachet (different) on FDC
United States3187d fdc12Cachet (different) on FDCExplorer-1 launch
United StatesCP537FCommemorative panel (3187)1999First U.S. artificial satellite launched (in text only)
United StatesNoneCancel on Acrimsat launch cover1999
United StatesNoneCancel on Jason-1 and TIMED launch cover2001
Yugoslavia870 (Mi1216)1967

*Scott catalog number, unless prefixed with Mi or BL for Michel; "i" prefix denotes imperforate version; KM = Krause and Mishler coin catalog number.
**FDC = first day cover; SS# = souvenir sheet, MS# = miniature sheet, where # = number of stamps in sheet, and the numbers in parentheses are the catalog numbers of the stamps in the sheet.


Below is a list of Explorer-1 launch covers, anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers.


CountryCancel DateCancel LocationType of ItemNotes on Content
Explorer-1
United States1958-01-31Port Canaveral FL(Sarzin) cachet on coverExplorer-1 launch
United States1958-01-31Patrick AFB, FL(Goldcraft) cachet on coverExplorer-1 launch
United States1958-01-31Patrick AFB, FL(?) cachet on coverExplorer-1 launch
United States1970-03-31Cape Canaveral FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverExplorer-1 re-entry
United States1970-03-31Houston TX(MSCS) cachet on coverExplorer-1 re-entry
United States1973-01-31Redstone Arsenal AL(Smithsonian no.3) cachet on cover15th anniv. Explorer-1 launch
United States1983-01-31Pasadena CA(JPL) cachet on cover25th anniv. Explorer-1 launch
United States1983-01-31Cape Canaveral FL(?) cachet on cover25th anniv. Explorer-1 launch
United States1988-04-30?Huntsville AL(?) cachet on cover30th anniv. Explorer-1 launch
United States2008-01-31Cape Canaveral FL(?) cachet on cover50th anniv. Explorer-1 launch


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Updated: 2008-11-16