weather balloon

Weather Balloons and Radiosondes
(and Pilot Balloons, Tracking Theodolites, Tracking Antennas and Equipment,
and Eole, Argos, and Other Un-Manned Stratospheric Balloons)


Below are checklists of the following types of weather balloons and balloon-related devices on postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.). Catalog numbers, years of issue, and notes on the items featured are given when available. If readers know of additional information or images, please contact the authors using the e-mail addresses at the bottom of this page.

Equipment carried aloft with weather balloons: Weather balloons always carry with them an instrument package known as a radiosonde. Some balloons also have a parachute that allows the package to drift gently back to the surface after the balloon bursts. Some older systems also carried a boxy radar reflector that would efficiently reflect the energy from a tracking radar. As will be seen in the table of weather balloon stamps, different systems can have different combinations of these three attachments.


CountryCatalog Number*Type of Item**Year of IssueType of Weather Balloon or Radiosonde
Weather Balloons and Radiosondes
Afghanistan13601989Weather balloon / radiosonde
Albania12101969Weather balloon / radiosonde
Algeria351 (Mi451)
i351
1966Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde with vertical sequencer
Algeria351 fdcStamp on FDC
Angola8601993Weather balloon
ArgentinaNoneCachet on cover1969Two weather balloons / radiosondes, one with horizontal sequencer
Argentina977 fdc1Cachet on FDC1972Weather balloon / radiosonde with horizontal sequencer
Argentina977 fdc2Cachet (different) on FDC1972Weather balloon / radiosonde with horizontal sequencer
Argentina977 cover1Cancel and cachet on cover1972Weather balloon / radiosonde with horizontal sequencer
Argentina977 cover2Cachet on cover, abbreviated balloon (different color)1972Weather balloon / radiosonde with horizontal sequencer
ArgentinaNoneCachet on cover1988Two weather balloons: one with ozonesonde (left), and with radiosonde (right)
ArgentinaNoneCachet on cover1990Weather balloon / ozonesonde
ArgentinaNoneCachet on cover1993Weather balloon / radiosonde
Australia431 fdcCachet on FDC1968Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde with vertical sequencer
Australia431-432 fdc1Cachet (different color) on FDC1968Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde with vertical sequencer
Australia431-432 fdc2Cachet (different color) on FDC1968Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde with vertical sequencer
Australian Antarctic TerritoryL117nOne of MS20 (L117 (a-t))2001Weather balloon / radiosonde
BelgiumC161958Weather balloon / radiosonde
Brazil2127In (upper-right) margin of SS11988Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
British Antarctic Territory211969Two weather balloons / radar reflectors
British Antarctic Territory1441987Weather balloon / radar reflector
British Antarctic Territory1761991Weather balloon / ozonesonde
British Antarctic Territory2371996Weather balloon
British Antarctic Territory239In (right) margin of SS11996Weather balloon
Burma2751980Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
Canada4791968Weather balloon
Canada479 fdc1Stamp on FDC
Canada479 fdc2Stamp on FDC (different)
Canada479 fdc3Stamp on FDC (different)
Canada479 fdc4Stamp on FDC (different)
Canada479 fdc5Stamp on FDC (different)
Canada479 fdc6Stamp and cachet on FDC
Canada479 scSouvenir Card
Central Africa RepublicC1151973Weather balloon / radar reflector
Central Africa RepublicC115 proof1Die proof (blue)
Central Africa RepublicC115 proof2Die proof (black)
Central Africa RepublicC115 proof stripColor proof strip
Central Africa RepublicC115 fdcStamp on FDC
Chad2271970Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector / radiosonde
Chad227 proof1Die proof (orange)
Chad227 proof2Die proof (green)
Chad227 proof stripColor proof strip
China (Taiwan)13371962Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
China (Taiwan)1338 fdcCachet on FDC1962Weather balloon
China (Taiwan)13391962Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
China (Taiwan)1337+1339 fdcCancel on FDC1962Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
China (Taiwan)1651-1652 fdcCancel and cachet on FDC1970Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
China (People's Republic)3681958Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde with 4-cup horizontal sequencer
China (People's Republic)367-369 fdcOne stamp and cachet on FDC
China (People's Republic)4841960Weather balloon / radar reflector / radiosonde with horizontal sequencer
China (People's Republic)13841978Weather balloon / radiosonde
China (People's Republic)1384-1388 fdcStamp on FDC
China (People's Republic)30672000Balloon tethersonde
China (People's Republic)3066-3069 fdc1One stamp on FDC2000Balloon tethersonde
China (People's Republic)3066-3069 fdc2One stamp and cachet on FDC2000Balloon tethersonde, weather balloon / radiosonde
Cuba9621965Weather balloon
Cuba12211967Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
Cuba15921971Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
Cyprus960On stamp and on selvedge of block of 4 (4x 960)2000Weather balloon / radiosonde
Denmark10041994Wegener's weather balloon, 1906-1908 Danish Greenland expedition
Dominica3561973Weather balloon / radar reflector / radiosonde with vertical sequencer
Dominica354-360 fdcOne stamp on FDC
Dubai1211970Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector
Dubai1221970Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector / radiosonde with 6-cup vertical sequencer
Finland5311973Weather balloon / radiosonde
Finland9381994Weather balloon / radiosonde
France1903 fdcCachet on FDC1983Weather balloon / radiosonde
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNoneCachet on cover1984Weather balloon / radiosonde
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesC921986Weather balloon
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesC92 covStamp and cachet on cover1986Weather balloon
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNoneCachet on cover1988Weather balloon / radiosonde
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNone(Dark blue) cachet on cover1991Weather balloon
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesC116a cover(Blue) cachet on cover1991Weather balloon
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNoneCachet on cover1992Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNoneCachet on cover (blue)1993Weather balloon / radiosonde
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNoneTwo cachets on cover (both black)1993Two weather balloons / radiosondes
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNoneCachet on cover199411,000th weather balloon / radiosonde
French Southern and Antarctic Territories294fOn stamp and in (upper-left) margin of page from souvenir booklet of 28 (2x 294 (a-n))2001Weather balloon / radiosonde
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNoneCachet on cover2003Weather balloon / ozonesonde
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNoneCachet on cover2004Weather balloon / ozonesonde
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNoneCachet on cover2007Weather balloon
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNoneCachet on cover2007"Ballon sonde météorologique"
Gabon170 fdcCachet on FDC1964Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
Germany (East)NoneCancel and cachet on cover1986Sounding balloon, 1911-1912 German Antarctic expedition
Germany (East)NoneCachet on cover1989Weather balloon / ozonesonde
Germany (West)None(Blue) cachet on cover1981Weather balloon / radiosonde (above the ship's stern)
Ghana5031973Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector / radiosonde with vertical sequencer
Gilbert and Ellice Islands2201973Weather balloon / radiosonde / radar reflector
Gilbert and Ellice Islands218-221 fdcOne stamp on FDC
GreeceNoneCachet (design based on United Nations 49 and 50) on cover1970Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
Grenada4931973Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde with vertical sequencer
Hungary1664
i1664
1965Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector / radiosonde
Indonesia840 fdcCachet on FDC1973Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde with horizontal sequencer
Iraq6441972Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde with horizontal sequencer
Iraq645
Ivory Coast2131964Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
Jamaica7461991Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
Jamaica747
Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania2601973Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector / radiosonde with possible horizontal sequencer
Korea (South)2142One of MS4 (2142a (4x 2142)), or one of MS20 (2142b (20x 2142))2004Symbolic weather balloon (light-blue shape)
Kuwait2721965Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector / radiosonde
Kuwait273
Kuwait274
Kuwait11321990Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
Kuwait1133
Kuwait1134
Libya2761965Four weather balloons
Libya277
Libya278
Libya3591969Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
Macedonia185 fdcFDC2000Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
Mali451963Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
Mali46
Mali47
Mali45-47 fdcThree stamps on FDC
MexicoC323 fdcCachet on FDC1967Weather balloon / radiosonde with horizontal sequencer
Namibia6901991Weather balloon / radiosonde
New ZealandNoneCachet on cover1961Weather balloon / radiosonde
New Zealand7941984Weather balloon / radiosonde
New Zealand794aMS4 (791-794)1984Weather balloon / radiosonde
Norway1500In (lower-left) margin of MS2 (1500 (a-b)) (BL34)2007Weather balloon
Poland29761990Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
Poland2976-2977 fdcStamp on FDC
Portugal11141971Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
Portugal1113-1115 fdcOne stamp on FDC
Qatar3481973Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector / radiosonde with vertical sequencer
RomaniaNoneStamped envelope1984Weather balloon / radiosonde
Russia (USSR)17651955Weather balloon
Russia (USSR)17661955Weather balloon
Russia (USSR)20911958Weather balloon / radiosonde
Russia (USSR)22341959Weather balloon
Russia (USSR)22351959Weather balloon / radiosonde
Russia (USSR)24951961Weather balloon / radiosonde
Russia (USSR)3251 fdcCachet on FDC1966Weather balloon / radiosonde
Russia (USSR)37001970Weather balloon
Russia (USSR)NoneStamped envelope1979Weather balloon / radiosonde, 50 years of Soviet radiosondes
Russia (USSR)48981981Weather balloon / radiosonde
Russia (USSR)NoneStamped envelope1981Weather balloon / radiosonde
Russia (USSR)NoneStamped envelope1982Weather balloon / radiosonde
Russia (USSR)NoneCancel and cachet on postal card1984Weather balloon / radiosonde
Russia (USSR)NoneCachet1988Weather balloon
RussiaNoneCachet1991Weather balloon / radiosonde
RussiaNone(Rubber-stamp) cachet on stamped envelope1991Weather balloon
RussiaNoneSquare (rubber-stamp) cachet on stamped envelope1992Weather balloon
RussiaNoneCachet on cover1994Weather balloon / radiosonde
RussiaNoneCachet1994Weather balloon / radiosonde
Russia6575aIn margin of MS5 (6571-6575 + label)2000Weather balloon
RussiaKM-unknown (new issue)100 roubles (coin)2007Weather balloon
St. Pierre and Miquelon431 (Mi495A)
i431 (Mi495B)
1974Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector
Salvador, El1195-1196 fdcCachet on FDC1989Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
Saudi Arabia4561967Weather balloon / radiosonde with horizontal sequencer emphasized
Saudi Arabia457
Saudi Arabia458
Saudi Arabia459
Saudi Arabia460
Saudi Arabia6701975Weather balloon / radar reflector
SenegalC621968Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde with vertical sequencer
SenegalC62 proof1Die proof (green)
SenegalC62 proof2Die proof (blue)
Senegal1442
i1442
2000Weather balloon / radiosonde
Senegal1442 deluxe-proofDeluxe proof
South AfricaNoneCachet on cover1979Balloon tethersonde
South Africa6131983Weather balloon
South Africa610-613 fdc1One stamp on FDC
South Africa610-613 fdc2One stamp on FDC (different)
South AfricaNoneCachet on cover1995Weather balloon / radiosonde
SpainNoneAerogramme1999Weather balloon / radiosonde
Staffa (Scotland)Local1978Weather balloon
Staffa (Scotland)Local fdcStamp on FDC
SyriaC4521970Weather balloon / radiosonde with possible horizontal sequencer
SyriaC453
Thailand1173One of booklet pane of 5 (1173a (5x 1173))1987Weather balloon / radiosonde
Thailand14611992Weather balloon / radiosonde
Thailand14721992Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
Thailand1472 fdcFDC, also insert
Tunisia441 fdcCachet on FDC1964Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
United Nations49 (Mi55)1957Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
United Nations49 fdc1Stamp and cachet on FDC
United Nations49 fdc2Block of 4 and cachet on FDC
United Nations50 (Mi56)
United Nations50 fdc1Stamp and cachet on FDC
United Nations50 fdc2Stamp and cachet (different) on FDC
United Nations50 fdc3Block of 4 and cachet on FDC
United Nations49-50 fdc1Two stamps on FDC
United Nations49-50 fdc2Two stamps and cachet on FDC
United Nations188 fdcCachet on FDC, also detail1968Weather balloon
United Nations188-189 fdcCachet on FDC, also detail1968Weather balloon
United StatesNone(Lollini silk) cachet on GOES-1 launch cover1975Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
United StatesNone(Lollini silk) cachet on GOES-1 launch cover (different)1975Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
Upper VoltaC631969Weather balloon / radiosonde
Upper VoltaC63 die-proofDie proof
Upper VoltaC63 deluxe-proofDeluxe proof
Vanuatu5651992Weather balloon / radiosonde
Viet Nam (South)2351964Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde
Viet Nam (South)236
Viet Nam (South)237
Viet Nam (South)238
Viet Nam (South)235-238 fdc1Four stamps and cachet on FDC
Viet Nam (South)235-238 fdc2Four stamps and cachet (different color) on FDC
Viet Nam (South)235-238 fdc3Four stamps and cachet (different) on FDC
Viet Nam (South)235-238 fdc4Four stamps and cachet (different color) on FDC
Viet Nam (South)235-238 fdc5Four stamps and cachet (different) on FDC
Viet Nam (South)235-238 fdc6Four stamps and cachet (different) on FDC
Viet Nam (South)447 fdc1Cachet (black and white) on FDC1973Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector / radiosonde
Viet Nam (South)447 fdc2Cachet (green) on FDC
Viet Nam (South)447 fdc3Cachet (orange) on FDC
Viet Nam (South)447 fdc4Cachet (yellow) on FDC
Viet Nam (South)447 fdc5Cachet (red) on FDC
Viet Nam (South)447 fdc6Cachet (different) on FDC
Viet Nam (South)447 folder1Cachet on FDC folder, also inside
Viet Nam (South)447 folder2Cachet on FDC folder (different color)
Viet Nam (South)447 scSouvenir card
Viet Nam23381992Weather balloon / radiosonde
Viet Nam2338-2339 fdcOne stamp on FDC
Pilot Balloons (Pibals) and Tracking Theodolites
Australian Antarctic TerritoryL141966Pilot balloon and tracking theodolite
BelgiumB7991966Possible pilot balloon and tracking theodolite, 1963-1965 Belgian Antarctic expedition
British Antarctic Territory82-85 fdcCachet on FDC1981Pilot balloon tracking theodolite (no balloon shown)
French Southern and Antarctic Territories81957Pilot balloon tracking theodolite (no balloon shown)
French Southern and Antarctic Territories9
French Southern and Antarctic Territories10
French Southern and Antarctic Territories189One of pair (189a (188-189 + label))1993Pilot balloon tracking theodolite (no balloon shown)
RomaniaB415See balloon detail1948Pilot balloon and tracking theodolite
RomaniaB416aImperforate MS4 (B413-B416), colors (slightly) changed1948Pilot balloon and tracking theodolite
RomaniaNonePostal card1998Pilot balloon tracking theodolite (no balloon shown), 1898-1899 Belgica Antarctic expedition
Ross Dependency (New Zealand)L972006Triangular pilot balloon and tracking theodolite
United Nations188 fdcCachet on FDC, see theodolite detail1968Pilot balloon with possible light for night launch, and tracking theodolite
United StatesUX57 fdcCachet on FDC1970Pilot balloon with possible light for night launch
United StatesUX57 fdcCachet (different) on FDC1970Pilot balloon and tracking theodolite
Weather Balloon Tracking Antennas and Tracking Equipment
(See also APT-like tracking antennas at the bottom of the APT page.)
Belize9721991Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome
China (Taiwan)22221981Possible weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome on building
Gilbert and Ellice Islands2201973Wind-finding (weather balloon tracking) radar
Gilbert and Ellice Islands218-221 fdcOne stamp on FDC
Korea (North)29981991Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome
NigerC551966Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome on stern of ship
NigerC55 die-proofDie proof
NigerC55 deluxe-proofDeluxe proof
NigerC55 proof-pairColor proof pair
NigerC55 fdcStamp on FDC
NigerC55 maxiMaxicard
Panama457D (Mi782)1964Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome
Panama457D specimenSpecimen
Russia (USSR)NonePostal card1981Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome
Russia (USSR)NonePostal card1984Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome
Russia (USSR)NoneCachet on cover1994Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome
Russia6575aIn (lower-left) margin of MS5 (6571-6575 + label)2000Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome
Russia6939 (Mi1304)2005Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome
Russia6941aOn selvedge of MS6 (6936-6941)2005Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome
United Nations49 fdcCachet on FDC1957Weather balloon tracking antenna and tracking equipment
United Nations50 fdcCachet on FDC
Eole-Program Balloons1
(See also the Eole-series satellite page.)
Argentina9771972Eole-program balloon
Argentina977 fdc1Stamp on FDC
Argentina977 fdc2Stamp on FDC (different)
Argentina977 fdc3Stamp on FDC (different)
Central Africa RepublicC1151973Eole-program balloon
Central Africa RepublicC115 proof1Die proof (blue)
Central Africa RepublicC115 proof2Die proof (black)
Central Africa RepublicC115 proof stripColor proof strip
Central Africa RepublicC115 fdcStamp on FDC
GuyanaNoneCachet on cover1974Eole-program balloon
GuyanaNone(Lollini) cachet on Super Arcas 35-48 (sub-orbital) rocket launch cover1974Eole-program balloon
Mali1741972Eole-program balloon
Mali174 dsDeluxe sheet
United StatesNone(Space Voyage) cachet on Eole launch cover1971Earth as symbolic Eole-program balloon
United StatesNone(Orbit) cachet on Eole launch cover1971Thirteen (13) Eole-program balloons
United StatesNone(Sarzin) cachet on Eole launch cover1971Thirteen (13) Eole-program balloons
Argos-Program Balloons4
(See also the Argos Data Collection and Location System page.)
South AfricaNoneCachet on cover1981Argos-program balloon
Other Un-Manned Stratospheric Balloons2
AustraliaNoneStrato-balloon launch cover1973Mildura stratospheric balloon
Canada376 fdcCachet on FDC1958Stratospheric balloon
FranceNoneCachet on cover1973Stratospheric balloon
French Southern and Antarctic Territories241963Stratospheric balloon
French Southern and Antarctic Territories24 proof-strip Color proof strip
French Southern and Antarctic Territories24+C6 fdcStamp and cachet on FDC
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesC81One of strip of 2 (C82a (C81-C82 + label))1983Stratospheric balloon
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesC115One of strip of 2 (C116a (C115-C116 + label))1991Stratospheric balloon for ozone study
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesC116a coverStrip of 2 plus cachet on cover
Germany (East)3711958Stratospheric balloon
GermanyNoneCancel2000Stratospheric balloon
GuyanaNoneCachet on cover1974Program Essor stratospheric balloons
GuyanaNone(Lollini) cachet on Super Arcas 35-58 (sub-orbital) rocket launch cover1974Unknown super-pressure balloon
Mongolia3721965Stratospheric balloon
Mozambique9461985Stratospheric balloon
Sweden1892One of booklet pane of 3 (1893a (1891-1893))1991Stratospheric balloon
Sweden1893a folderInside of folder: includes 1893a (1891-1893)
Sweden1893a blackprint1893a blackprint
United StatesNoneBalloon launch cover1963Stratoscope Balloon II
United StatesNoneStrato-balloon launch cover, common design #11967Palestine TX stratospheric balloon3
United StatesNoneBalloon launch cover1971Stratoscope Balloon II
United StatesNoneBalloon launch cover (different)1971Stratoscope Balloon II
United StatesNoneStrato-balloon launch cover, common design #21974Palestine TX stratospheric balloon3
United StatesNoneStrato-balloon launch cover, common design #31975Palestine TX stratospheric balloon3

*Scott catalog number, unless prefixed with Mi or BL for Michel; "i" prefix denotes imperforate version.
**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.

1Instrumented earth-circling constant-density meteorological balloons tracked by French Eole-series satellites.
2Only un-manned stratospheric balloons are included in this checklist.
3Palestine TX stratospheric balloon launch covers are of three common designs that represent most, if not all, covers produced.
4Balloons tracked by Argos Data Collection and Location System on NOAA satellites.


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Updated: 2008-11-16