TIROS

TIROS/ESSA
series


Below is a checklist of Television and InfraRed Observation Satellite (TIROS) and Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA) series postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.). Catalog numbers, years of issue, and notes on the satellites 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.

Farther below is a list of TIROS and ESSA series launch covers, anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers.


CountryCatalog Number*Type of Item**Year of IssueNotes on Content
TIROS / ESSA
Argentina977 coverCachet on cover1972TIROS; also APT5
ArgentinaNoneCachet on cover1972TIROS; also APT5
ArgentinaNoneAerogramme, also back1973TIROS; also APT5
Australia431 fdcCachet on FDC1968TIROS
Australia431-432 fdc1Cachet (different) on FDC1968TIROS/ESSA2
Australia431-432 fdc2Cachet (different color) on FDC1968TIROS/ESSA2
Australia431-433 fdcCachet (different color) on FDC1968TIROS
AustraliaNoneCachet on cover1968TIROS/ESSA2
AustriaNoneCancel1965TIROS (early-type)1
Bahamas346 (Mi354)1973TIROS (early-type)1
BelgiumNoneIn (upper-left) margin of cinderella of 2 imperforates196?TIROS
Burma276 (Mi277)1980TIROS
Chad707d (Mi1502)One of MS6 (707 (a-f)) (Mi1499-1504)1997TIROS-6 (early-type)1
China (Taiwan)1338 fdc (Mi1398 fdc)Cachet on FDC1962TIROS/ESSA2
Czechoslovakia1295 (Mi1521)1965TIROS (on left)
Dominica354 (Mi354)1973TIROS launch
Dominica354-360 fdcOne stamp on FDC
Dominica2238a (Mi2896)One of MS6 (2238 (a-f))2000TIROS (early-type)1 (not ESSA-8)3
Dominican Republic6731970TIROS/ESSA2
Dominican RepublicC1781970TIROS/ESSA2
Dubai123 (Mi367)1970TIROS (early-type)1
Equatorial GuineaBL266
iBL266
SS11977TIROS
Ethiopia663 (Mi749)1973TIROS (early-type)1
FujeiraMi771966TIROS
FujeiraMi156Mi77 overprinted new currency1967TIROS
FujeiraMi344Mi77 overprinted "Apollo-8"1969TIROS
FujeiraMiA348Imperforate Mi344 gold foil1969TIROS
FujeiraBL4A
BL4B
MS2 (Mi76-77)1966TIROS
FujeiraBL8A
BL8B
MS2 (Mi155-156), BL4 overprinted new currency1967TIROS
FujeiraBL11A
BL11B
MS2 (Mi343-344), BL4 overprinted "Apollo-8"1969TIROS
FujeiraBL11A (inverted o/p)
BL11B (inverted o/p)
MS2 (Mi343-344), BL4 inverted overprint "Apollo-8"
FujeiraBL12BL4 gold foil1969TIROS
Germany (West)NoneCachet on cover1966TIROS (early-type)1
Germany (West)NoneMeter1968ESSA
Ghana166aIn (right) margin of imperforate MS4 (4x 166)1964TIROS
Ghana5041973TIROS (early-type)1
Ghana507aOne of MS2 (507 (a-b))1973TIROS (early-type)1
Grenada1158SS11983TIROS/ESSA2
Grenada1250SS1, 1158 overprinted1984TIROS/ESSA2
India508 (Mi492)1970TIROS (early-type)1
Indonesia8191972ESSA-8
IsraelNoneCinderella on cover1972TIROS (early-type)1
Israel952+labelSingle + label1986TIROS4
Israel952 misperfMis-perforation
Israel952 folderStamp on FDC folder
Kathiri State of Seiyun (South Arabia)Mi84B-88B+selvedgeOn selvedge of imperforates1966TIROS
Kathiri State of Seiyun (South Arabia)MiB90+selvedgeOn selvedge of imperforate1966TIROS
Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania2621973TIROS
Korea (North)1436In (upper-left) margin of imperforate SS11976TIROS
Korea (North)1506One of MS7 (1511a (1506-1512 + label))1976TIROS
Korea (North)1646One of MS7 (1651a (1646-1652 + label)), 1511a overprinted1977TIROS
Korea (South)858 (Mi865)1973TIROS
Korea (South)858a (BL360)MS2 (2x 858)1973TIROS
Liberia6531973TIROS
Malagasy RepublicC781964TIROS (early-type)1
Malagasy RepublicC78 die-proofDie proof
Malagasy RepublicC78 deluxe-proofDeluxe proof
Maldive Islands4641974TIROS (early-type)1
Maldive Islands4691974TIROS (early-type)1
MauritaniaC25
iC25
1963TIROS (early-type)1
MauritaniaC25 proofDeluxe proof
MexicoC3231967TIROS
MexicoC323 fdcStamp and cachet on FDC
Mongolia3631964TIROS (early-type)1
Morocco1201965TIROS (early-type)1
NigerC411964TIROS-1 (early-type)1
NigerC41 fdcStamp and cachet on FDC
Panama457C (Mi781)1964TIROS-2 (early-type)1
PanamaC334a (BL36)
iC334a (BL37)
In (right) margin of MS2 (C333-C334), changed colors on imperforate1965TIROS (early-type)1
Panama491 (Mi1101a)
i491 (Mi1102a)
459 overprinted in black, changed colors on imperforate1968TIROS
Panama491 var (Mi1101b)
i491 var (Mi1102b)
459 overprinted in gold, changed colors on imperforate1968TIROS
Panama491A (Mi1103a)
i491A (Mi1104a)
459G overprinted in black, changed colors on imperforate1968TIROS
Panama491A var (Mi1103b)
i491A var (Mi1104b)
459G overprinted in gold, changed colors on imperforate1968TIROS
Panama491b (BL97a)
i491b (BL98a)
SS1, 459G overprinted in black, changed colors on imperforate1968TIROS
Panama491b var (BL97b)
i491b var (BL98b)
SS1, 459G overprinted in gold, changed colors on imperforate1968TIROS
Panama492 (Mi1105a)472 overprinted in black1968TIROS
Panama492 var (Mi1105b)472 overprinted in gold1968TIROS
Panama492A (Mi1106a)472A overprinted in black1968TIROS
Panama492A var (Mi1106b)472A overprinted in gold1968TIROS
Panama492B (BL99a) (o/p1)
492B (BL99a) (o/p2)
i492B (BL100a)
MS2, 472c overprinted in black, changed colors on imperforate1968TIROS
Panama492B var (BL99b)
i492B var (BL100b)
MS2, 472c overprinted in gold, changed colors on imperforate1968TIROS
Paraguay816 (Mi1313)
i816 (Mi1321)
1964TIROS-7 (early-type)1
PhilippinesBL2SS11968TIROS (early-type)1
PhilippinesBL2 (o/p)SS1, BL2 overprinted "SNV"1968?TIROS (early-type)1
Qatar3271972TIROS (early-type)1
Ras Al KhaimaBL7Imperforate SS11966TIROS (early-type)1
Ras Al KhaimaBL19Imperforate SS1, BL7 overprinted new currency1966TIROS (early-type)1
Rwanda136In (upper-right) margin of MS2 (136 (a-b))1965TIROS (early-type)1
St. Pierre and MiquelonC601976TIROS (early-type)1
St. Thomas and Prince Islands906SS11989TIROS (early-type)1
Salvador, El7811968TIROS
Salvador, El782
Salvador, ElKessler #1Aerogramme (20c face value)1968TIROS
Salvador, ElKessler #2Aerogramme (35c face value)
Satellite Beach FL (U.S.)LocalSet-C06 (blue)1964TIROS
Satellite Beach FL (U.S.)LocalSet-C06 (blue) overprinted new value in gold1965TIROS
Sharjah48b (BL4)Imperforate SS11964TIROS-3 (early-type)1
Togo5011964TIROS (early-type)1
Togo5031964TIROS (early-type)1
Togo505aImperforate MS4 (502-505)1964TIROS (early-type)1
Tonga786aOne of strip of 3 (786 (a-c))1991TIROS (early-type)1
Tonga786a specimenSpecimen
Tonga786a color-proofCromalin proof
Tonga786a mono-proofMonochrome proof
Tunisia653 (Mi860)1975TIROS; also APT5
Umm Al QiwainMi791966TIROS (early-type)1
Umm Al QiwainMi90Mi79 overprinted new currency1967TIROS (early-type)1
United Nations113 fdcCachet on FDC1962TIROS-1 (early-type)1
United Nations188 fdcCachet on FDC1968TIROS (early-type)1
United Nations550 fdcCachet on FDC1989TIROS-1 (early-type)1
United Nations551 fdcCachet on FDC1989TIROS-1 (early-type)1
United StatesNone (blue)One of INTERPEX MS4 (blue)1962TIROS-1 (early-type)1
United StatesNone (yellow)One of INTERPEX MS4 (yellow)1962TIROS-1 (early-type)1
United StatesNoneCachet on Explorer-14 launch cover1962TIROS (early-type)
United StatesUX57 fdc1Cachet on postal card FDC1970TIROS
United StatesUX57 fdc2Cachet (different) on postal card FDC1970TIROS (early-type)1
United StatesUX57 fdc3Cachet (different) on postal card FDC1970TIROS-1 (early-type)1
United StatesUX57 fdc4Cachet on postal card FDC (different)1970TIROS/ESSA2
United StatesNoneCachet on cover198020th anniv. TIROS-1 (early-type)1
United StatesUC58 fdcCachet on FDC198525th anniv. TIROS-1 (early-type)
United StatesNoneCachet on NOAA-10 launch cover1986TIROS-1 (early-type)
United StatesNoneCachet (different color) on NOAA-10 launch cover1986TIROS-1 (early-type)
United StatesNoneCachet on NOAA-11 launch cover1988TIROS-1 (early-type)
United StatesNoneCachet (different color) on NOAA-11 launch cover1988TIROS-1 (early-type)
United StatesNoneCachet on cover1990TIROS-1 (early-type)1
Upper VoltaC28 (Mi181)
iC28
1966TIROS/ESSA2
Upper VoltaC28 fdcStamp and cachet on FDC
Yemen Arab RepublicMi4581966TIROS/ESSA2
Yemen Arab RepublicBL43Imperforate SS1 (Mi458)
Yemen Mutawakelite KingdomMi741-745_ims5In (upper-left) margin of imperforate MS5 (Mi741-745)1969TIROS
Yemen Mutawakelite KingdomMi741-745_ms10In (upper-left) margin of MS10 (2x (Mi741-745))1969TIROS
Yemen Mutawakelite KingdomMi746-750_ims5In (upper-left) margin of imperforate MS5 (Mi746-750)1969TIROS
Yemen Mutawakelite KingdomMi746-750_ms10In (upper-left) margin of MS10 (2x (Mi746-750))1969TIROS
Yemen Mutawakelite KingdomMi950-954_ms5In (upper-left) margin of MS5 (Mi950-954), Mi741-745 overprinted1969TIROS
Yemen Mutawakelite KingdomMi950-954_ms10In (upper-left) margin of MS10 (2x (Mi950-954)), Mi741-745 overprinted1969TIROS
Yemen Mutawakelite KingdomMi955-959_ms5In (upper-left) margin of MS5 (Mi955-959), Mi746-750 overprinted1969TIROS
Yemen Mutawakelite KingdomMi955-959_ms10In (upper-left) margin of MS10 (2x (Mi955-959)), Mi746-750 overprinted1969TIROS
YugoslaviaNoneCachet on cover1966TIROS
Yugoslavia871 (Mi1217)1967TIROS
Yugoslavia1046 (Mi1410)1971TIROS (early-type)1

*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.

1TIROS (early-type) includes early TIROS-1 thru TIROS-8 with cameras on bottom.
2TIROS/ESSA includes TIROS-9 and TIROS-10 and ESSA-1 thru ESSA-9 with cameras thru side.
3TIROS (early-type) based on cameras on bottom, not ESSA-8 as indicated on this item.
4Rocket-like nozzle centered on bottom of satellite is not typical of TIROS.
5APT = Automatic Picture Transmission.


Below is a list of TIROS and ESSA series launch covers, anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers.


CountryCancel DateCancel LocationType of ItemNotes on Content
TIROS
United States1960-04-01Port Canaveral FL(Sarzin? green rubber-stamp) cachet on coverTIROS-1 launch
United States1960-04-01Port Canaveral FL(Sarzin? black rubber-stamp) cachet on coverTIROS-1 launch
United States1960-11-23Port Canaveral FL(Sarzin) cachet on coverTIROS-2 launch
United States1960-11-23Patrick AFB, FL(Rubber-stamp) cachet on coverTIROS-2 launch
United States1960-11-23Port Canaveral FL(Zaso?) cachet on coverTIROS-2 launch
United States1960-11-23Port Canaveral FL(Goldcraft) cachet on coverTIROS-2 launch
United States1960-11-23Patrick AFB, FL(Unknown rubber-stamp) cachet on coverTIROS-2 launch
United States1960-11-23Port Canaveral FL(Color) cachet on coverTIROS-2 launch
United States1960-11-23Patrick AFB, FL(Typed) cachet on coverTIROS-2 launch
United States1961-07-12Patrick AFB, FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverTIROS-3 launch
United States1961-07-12Port Canaveral FL(Unknown printed) cachet on coverTIROS-3 launch
United States1961-07-12Port Canaveral FL(Sarzin) cachet on coverTIROS-3 launch
United States1962-02-08Patrick AFB, FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverTIROS-4 launch
United States1962-02-08Port Canaveral FL(Unknown printed) cachet on coverTIROS-4 launch
United States1962-02-08Port Canaveral FL(Goldcraft) cachet on coverTIROS-4 launch
United States1962-02-08Port Canaveral FL(Sarzin) cachet on coverTIROS-4 launch
United States1962-02-08Patrick AFB, FL(Rubber-stamp) cachet on coverTIROS-4 launch
United States1962-06-19Patrick AFB, FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverTIROS-5 launch
United States1962-06-19Port Canaveral FL(Sokalsky?) cachet on coverTIROS-5 launch
United States1962-06-19Port Canaveral FL(Goldcraft) cachet on coverTIROS-5 launch
United States1962-06-19Port Canaveral FL(Sarzin?) cachet on coverTIROS-5 launch
United States1962-06-19Port Canaveral FL(Rubber-stamp) cachet on coverTIROS-5 launch
United States1962-06-19Port Canaveral FL(Unknown printed) cachet on coverTIROS-5 launch
United States1962-06-19Patrick AFB, FL(Rubber-stamp) cachet on coverTIROS-5 launch
United States1962-09-18Patrick AFB, FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverTIROS-6 launch
United States1962-09-18Cape Canaveral FL(Unknown printed) cachet on coverTIROS-6 launch
United States1962-09-18Cape Canaveral FL(Rank velvet) cachet on coverTIROS-6 launch
United States1962-09-18Cape Canaveral FL(Unknown printed) cachet on coverTIROS-6 launch
United States1962-09-18Cape Canaveral FL(Rubber-stamp) cachet on coverTIROS-6 launch
United States1962-09-18Cape Canaveral FL(Rubber-stamp and typed) cachet on coverTIROS-6 launch
United States1963-06-19Patrick AFB, FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverTIROS-7 launch
United States1963-06-19Cape Canaveral FL(Sokalsky?) cachet on coverTIROS-7 launch
United States1963-06-19Satellite Beach FL(Unknown printed) cachet on coverTIROS-7 launch
United States1963-06-19Cape Canaveral FL(Sarzin) cachet on coverTIROS-7 launch
United States1963-06-19 / 1963-12-21Cape Canaveral FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverTIROS-7 and 8 launches
United States1963-12-21Cape Canaveral FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverTIROS-8 launch
United States1963-12-21Cape Canaveral FL(Unknown printed) cachet on coverTIROS-8 launch; also APT1
United States1963-12-21Cape Canaveral FL(Unknown multi-color) cachet on coverTIROS-8 launch
United States1963-12-21Patrick AFB, FL(Sokalsky) cachet on coverTIROS-8 launch
United States1963-12-21Cape Canaveral FL(Sarzin) cachet on coverTIROS-8 launch
United States1965-01-22Cape Canaveral FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverTIROS-9 launch
United States1965-01-22Cape Canaveral FL(Exquisite/Sokalsky) cachet on coverTIROS-9 launch
United States1965-01-22Satellite Beach FL(Goldcraft) cachet on coverTIROS-9 launch
United States1965-07-02Cape Canaveral FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverTIROS-10 launch
United States1965-07-02Cape Canaveral FL(Sokalsky?) cachet on coverTIROS-10 launch
United States1965-07-02Cape Canaveral FL(Sarzin) cachet on coverTIROS-10 launch
United States1965-07-02Cape Canaveral FL(Unknown) cachet on coverTIROS-10 launch
United States1965-07-02Cape Canaveral FL(Boudwin? rubber-stamp) cachet on coverTIROS-10 launch
TIROS anniversary
United States1975-04-01Kennedy Space Center FL(Smithsonian multi-color printed) cachet on cover15th anniv. TIROS-1 launch
United States1980-04-01Washington DC(NASA/NOAA/RCA multi-color printed) cachet on cover20th anniv. TIROS-1 launch
United States1985-03-23Park Forest ILCancel on cover25th anniv. TIROS-1 launch
United States1985-03-24Park Forest ILCancel and cachet on cover25th anniv. TIROS-1 launch; also SARSAT2
United States1985-04-01Washington DCCancel on cover25th anniv. TIROS-1 launch (many other satellites are shown in the cachet, but are not listed separately)
United States1990-03-31Arlington VACancel on cover30th anniv. TIROS-1 launch
United States1990-09-02San Jose CACancel on cover30th anniv. TIROS-1 launch
ESSA
United States1966-02-03Cape Canaveral FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverESSA-1 launch
United States1966-02-03Cape Canaveral FL(Sarzin) cachet on coverESSA-1 launch (wrong image)3
United States1966-02-03Cape Canaveral FL(Centennial?) cachet on coverESSA-1 launch
United States1966-02-28Cape Canaveral FL(Centennial?) cachet on coverESSA-2 launch
United States1966-02-28Cape Canaveral FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverESSA-2 launch
United States1966-02-28Cape Canaveral FL(Sarzin) cachet on coverESSA-2 launch
United States1966-10-02Vandenberg AFB, CA(Sarzin) cachet on coverESSA-3 launch (TIROS-1/8 image)
United States1966-10-02Vandenberg AFB, CA(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverESSA-3 launch
United States1967-01-26Vandenberg AFB, CA(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverESSA-4 launch
United States1967-01-26Vandenberg AFB, CA(Sarzin) cachet on coverESSA-4 launch
United States1967-04-20Vandenberg AFB, CA(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverESSA-5 launch
United States1967-04-20Vandenberg AFB, CA(Centennial?) cachet on coverESSA-5 launch
United States1967-11-10Vandenberg AFB, CA(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverESSA-6 launch
United States1967-11-10Vandenberg AFB, CA(Centennial?) cachet on coverESSA-6 launch
United States1968-08-16Vandenberg AFB, CA(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverESSA-7 launch
United States1967-12-15Vandenberg AFB, CA(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverESSA-8 launch; also APT1
United States1967-12-15Vandenberg AFB, CA(Orbit) cachet on coverESSA-8 launch; also APT1
United States1967-12-15Vandenberg AFB, CA(Centennial?) cachet on coverESSA-8 launch
United States1969-02-26Patrick AFB, FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverESSA-9 launch
United States1969-02-26Cape Canaveral FL(Orbit) cachet on coverESSA-9 launch

1APT = Automatic Picture Transmission.
2COSPAS/SARSAT = Search And Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking.
3The satellite depicted on this item is no known satellite design.


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