thermometer

Thermometers, Temperatures
and Temperature Units


Below are checklists of the following thermometers and temperatures 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.

See also the following topics on the Weather Maps page:

See also the following Contributors to Meteorology whose names were used for temperature units:


CountryCatalog Number*Type of Item**Year of IssueThermometer and/or Temperatures (scales and/or units)
Thermometers (and Thermographs)
Afghanistan1360 (Mi1644)1989Open instrument shelter (thermometers inferred)
ArgentinaUnknown (new issue)MS2 (a-b)2009Graduated thermometer (°C)
ArgentinaUnknown fdc (new issue)MS2 on FDC
British Antarctic Territory319 (Mi345)2002Four thermometers (minimum, maximum, dry, wet-bulb) and thermograph in open instrument shelter
Canada479 fdc1 (Mi420)Cachet on FDC1968Two thermometers in open instrument shelter
Canada479 fdc2Cachet (different) on FDC, also detail1968Thermometer in hand
Canada479 fdc3Cachet (different) on FDC1968Two thermometers (on left and right edges of cachet)
Canada479 fdc4Cachet (different) on FDC1968Two thermometers (on left and right edges of cachet)
Canada479 fdc5Cachet (different) on FDC1968Thermometer (in text)
Canada1287 fdc (Mi1196 fdc)Cachet on FDC1990Two thermometers on wall
Canada2205a (Mi2391-2392)In (right) margin of MS2 (2204-2205), see detail2007Graduated thermometer (°C)
Canada2205bIn gutter of MS16 (8x 2204-2205), see detail2007Graduated thermometer (°C)
China (People's Republic)1387 (Mi1396)1978Grass minimum thermometer
China (People's Republic)1384-1388 fdcStamp on FDC
China (People's Republic)1516 (Mi1522)1979Thermometer in hand of girl
China (People's Republic)NonePostal card2002Thermometer
China (People's Republic)NonePostal card2005Graduated thermometer (with 100°C for all markings!)4
China (People's Republic)NonePostal card2005Digital thermometers
China (People's Republic)NonePostal card2006Automatic observing station with temperature sensor in small aspirated shelter
Colombia680 (Mi827)1958Thermometer in boiling water
ColombiaC309 (Mi828)
Colombia680+C309 fdcTwo stamps and cachet on FDC
ColombiaC310 (Mi829)
DenmarkNoneCinderella193?Thermometer (°C)
DenmarkNoneCinderella19??Single and dual-scale thermometers (°C/°F)
Denmark489 fdcCachet on FDC1972Two thermometers(dry and wet-bulb)
Finland767 fdcCancel on FDC1988Graduated thermometer
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesC19 fdcCancel on FDC1970Graduated thermometer
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNoneCachet on cover1994Thermometer
GermanyNoneCachet on cover1933Carl Rose thermometer advertisement
GermanyNoneCachet on cover1933Hugo Voigt thermometer advertisement
GermanyNoneCachet on cover1935Paul Remdt thermometer advertisement
GermanyNoneMeter1935Thermometer advertisement
GermanyNoneMeter on cover1941Thermometer advertisement
Germany (West)NoneMeter1954Thermometer advertisement
Germany (West)NoneMeter1980Thermometer advertisement
GermanyNoneCinderella19??Fever thermometer (°C)
Germany2143+cancelCancel2001Two small aspirated shelters for temperature sensors on right side of tower section
Ghana573 (Mi633?)1976Three temperatures (0°C, 37°C, 100°C), fever thermometer (37°C shown), correctly given as degrees "Celsius"3 (in text)
Gilbert and Ellice Islands218 (Mi213)1973Four thermometers and thermograph in open instrument shelter
Gilbert and Ellice Islands219 (Mi214)
Gilbert and Ellice Islands218-221 fdcTwo stamps on FDC
Great Britain1130 (Mi1056)1986Portion of dual-scale fever thermometer (37°C/98.6°F in red)
Great Britain (Jersey)1300 (Mi1331)2008Dual-scale dial thermometer (°C/°F)
Great Britain (Jersey)1297-1301 fdcOne of five stamps on FDC, also back
India708 (Mi662)1975Automatic observing station with temperature sensor in small aspirated shelter (cylinder with conical top)
India708 fdcStamp and cachet on FDC
India708 folder1FDC folder
India708 folder2FDC folder (different)
India708 folder3FDC folder (same, but with Trivandrum cancel)
Iraq959 (Mi1039)
i959
1980Graduated thermometer (-60°C to +60°C)
Iraq959+962 dualDual deluxe sheet
Iraq960 (Mi1040)
i960
Iraq960+963 dualDual deluxe sheet
Iraq961 (Mi1041)
i961
Iraq961+964 dualDual deluxe sheet
Israel1613 (Mi?)Also MS15 (1613a (15x 1613))2006Digital fever thermometer (37.8°C)
Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania226 (Mi?)1971Two thermometers (0°C to 100°C, 32°F to 212°F)
Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania225-228 fdc1One of four stamps on FDC
Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania225-228 fdc2One of four stamps on FDC (different cancel)
Korea (South)2285d (Mi?)One of block of four (2285 (a-d)), or four of (2285e (4x (a-d)))2008Five graduated thermometers (°C)
Malagasy Republic1062 (Mi1389)1992Two symbolic thermometers, two temperatures (25°C, 35°C)
Montserrat997 (Mi1106)1999Graduated thermometer
Mozambique1105 (Mi1187)1989Two or more thermometers in open instrument shelter
Namibia692 (Mi700)1991Four thermometers (minimum, maximum, dry, wet-bulb) in open instrument shelter
NetherlandsNoneCancel1936Portion of dual-scale thermometer, two temperatures (0°C, 32°F)
NetherlandsNoneCachet on cover1945Thermometer, "De Juiste Temperatuur"
NetherlandsB650 (Mi1379)From book of 4 (B652a (B650-B651 + 2x B652))1990Graduated thermometer (°C) scales
NetherlandsB651 (Mi1380)
NetherlandsB650-B652 fdcTwo of three stamps on FDC
New Zealand594 (Mi677)1976Symbolic thermometer
New Zealand794 (Mi892)1984Open instrument shelter (thermometers inferred)
New Zealand794 fdcStamp on FDC
New Zealand794a (BL?)MS4 (791-794)
Norway355-357 fdcCachet on FDC1957Graduated thermometer (on left side of globe)
Papua New Guinea184 (Mi?)1964Thermometer in doctor's hand
PolandNoneCancel1939Graduated thermometer
Russia6130d (Mi292)One of strip of 5 (6130 (a-e))1993Thermometer
RussiaUnknown (new issue)From MS82009Temperature sensor in small aspirated shelter
RussiaUnknown fdc (new issue)One of two stamps on FDC
South Africa610-613 fdc1 (Mi626-629 fdc1)Cancel on FDC1983Four thermometers (minimum, maximum, dry, wet-bulb) in open instrument shelter
South Africa610-613 fdc2 (Mi626-629 fdc2)Cancel (same) on on FDC (different)1983Four thermometers (minimum, maximum, dry, wet-bulb) in open instrument shelter
Spain1487 (Mi1708)1967Symbolic thermometer
Spain2136 (Mi2401)1979Symbolic thermometer
Spain3544 (Mi4290)2008Graduated thermometer (°C/°F)
Spain3543-3544 fdcOne of two stamps and cancel on FDCGraduated thermometer (°C/°F); medical/fever thermometer (in cancel)
Sweden1402 (Mi1188)One of booklet pane of 6 (1402a (6x 1402)), also inside cover1982Graduated thermometer (0°C shown)
Sweden1401-1402 fdcStamp on FDC
Tanganyika46 (Mi?)Also booklet pane of 41961Thermometer in nurse's hand
TanganyikaO22 (Mi?)46 overprinted "official"
Tunisia1435 (Mi?)2008Automatic observing station with temperature sensor in small aspirated shelter
Tunisia1435 dsDeluxe sheet
Tunisia1435 fdcStamp on FDC
Tunisia1435 folderFDC folder, also inside, also back
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus337 (Mi344)1992Dual-scale thermometer (-20°C to 50°C, 0°F to 120°F)
Tuvalu1030d (Mi?)From MS6 (1030 (a-f))2007Graduated thermometer
Tuvalu1030f (Mi?)
Uganda1194 (Mi1326)1994Automatic observing station with temperature sensor in small aspirated shelter
Uganda1197 (Mi1329)1994Open instrument shelter (thermometer inferred)
Uganda1198 (Mi1330)1994Automatic observing station with temperature sensor in small aspirated shelter
Uganda1200 (BL207)SS11994Minimum/maximum thermometer and thermograph
United StatesNoneCachet on cover1904Thermometer dial (on oven door) advertisement
United StatesNoneCachet on cover1906Fever thermometer advertisement
United StatesNoneCachet on cover1916Thermometer advertisement: "Where the good thermometers come from"
United StatesUX27 adPostal card (UX27), also front1917Thermometer advertisement: E. Kessling Thermometer Co.
United StatesNoneCachet on cover1917Thermometer advertisement: "Where Tycos thermometers come from"
United StatesNoneCachet on cover (different)1917Thermometer advertisement: "Where the good thermometers come from"
United StatesNoneCachet (return address) on cover1921Hudson Thermometer Co.
United StatesNoneMeter, also detail1935Graduated thermometer (Abraham and Strauss, New York store ad)
United StatesNoneMeter1940"Thermometers for every purpose - accuracy guaranteed"
United StatesNoneAdvertising card1950Thermometer
United StatesNoneFIRE-1 (sub-orbital) launch cover1964"Flying Thermometer" (in text)
United StatesNoneFIRE-1 (sub-orbital) launch cover (different cancel location and date)
United StatesNoneMeter1973Thermometer company
United States3318 (Mi3141)One of strip of 4 (3320a (3317-3320)), or one of sheet of 20 (3320b (5x (3317-3320)))1999Dual-scale aquarium thermometer (°C/°F)
Upper Volta95 (Mi99)1962Symbolic thermometer on side of instrument shelter
Temperatures and Temperature Units (No Thermometers Depicted)
Australia542 (Mi514)1973Two fever temperatures (38°C, 100°F)
Australia541-544 fdc1One of four stamps on FDC
Australia541-544 fdc2One of four stamps on FDC (different)
British Antarctic Territory342 (Mi381-382)On one of pair (a-b)2004Map/chart: warming/cooling (°C per decade)
British Antarctic Territory343 (Mi383-384)On one of pair (a-b)Plot/graph: warm-to-cold
British Antarctic Territory344 (Mi385-386)On one of pair (a-b)Plot/graph: temperature (°C)
British Antarctic Territory342-344 fdcThree pairs of stamps on FDC[see above]
China (People's Republic)NonePostal card2001Hot weather warning: (35°C)
China (People's Republic)NonePostal card (different)2001Cold weather warning: (°C)
China (People's Republic)NonePostal card2002Cold temperature warning: (°C)
China (People's Republic)NonePostal card (different)2002Hot and cold temperature warnings: (°C)
China (People's Republic)NonePostal card2006Surface weather map: temperatures (°C)
Costa RicaNoneQSL card5; also back1938San Jose average temperature (22°C, 72°F)
CroatiaNoneCachet on WMD1 cover1991Plot/graph: temperatures: kelvin (K), given as (°K)2
CroatiaNoneCachet on WMD1 cover2002Plot/graph: temperature (°C)
CroatiaNoneCachet on WMD1 cover2003Plot/graph: temperature (°C)
Denmark936 (Mi1000)1991Satellite thermal image: water temperatures (°C)
Denmark937 (Mi1001)1991Satellite thermal image: land temperatures (°C)
France1435 (Mi1921)1975Temperature unit symbol: kelvin (K)
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNoneCachet on cover1994Record and previous record temperatures (25.8°C, 23.1°C)
Germany (West)1102 (Mi760)1973Surface weather map: temperatures (°C)
Germany (West)1102 fdc1Stamp on FDC
Germany (West)1102 fdc2Stamp on FDC (different)
Germany (West)1102 fdc3Two stamps and cachet (different) on FDC
Germany (West)1102 fdc4Stamp and cachet (different) on FDC
Germany (West)1102 fdc5Stamp and cachet (different) on FDC
Germany (West)1102 fdc6Stamp and cachet (different) on FDC
Germany (West)1102 fdc7Stamp on FDC (different)
Germany2090 (Mi2127)2000Surface weather map: temperatures (°C)
Germany2090 fdcStamp on FDC
Great Britain1963-1966 fdc1 (Mi1924-1927 fdc)Cachet on FDC2001Temperatures (°C)
Great Britain1963-1966 fdc2Cachet (same) on FDC (different)
Great Britain1963-1966 fdc3Cachet (same) on FDC (different)
Great Britain1963-1966 fdc4Cachet (same) on FDC (different)
Great Britain1963-1966 fdc5Cachet (same) on FDC (different)
Great Britain1963-1966 fdc6Cachet (different) on FDC
Great Britain1966a fdcCachet on FDC (different)
Guinea-BissauUnknown cOne of MS6 (a-f)2009Equation with temperature as a variable
Guinea-BissauUnknown fdcMS6 on FDC
Guyana437b (Mi?)One of MS6 (437 (a-f)) (BL11)1982Temperature unit symbol: °C
Guyana557b (Mi?)One of MS6 (557 (a-f)), 437 overprinted (BL12)1982Temperature unit symbol: °C
Italy714 (Mi972)1956"temperatura"
Japan2698d (Mi3008)One of MS10 (2698 (a-j))2000Surface weather map: temperatures (°C)
Macao (Macau)1152b (Mi1351)From MS16 (4x (1152 (a-d)))2004Cosmic background temperature of universe (2.7 K)
Macao (Macau)1152c (Mi1352)Temperature equation
Namibia690-693 fdc (Mi698-701 fdc)Cachet on FDC1991Average annual temperatures (°C)
NetherlandsB652 (Mi1381)One of book of 4 (B652a (B650-B651 + 2x B652)), see detail1990Synoptic code message from DeBilt, Netherlands: temperature (12.9°C) and dew point temperature (8.9°C)
NetherlandsB650-B652 fdcTwo of three stamps on FDC
Netherlands841 (Mi1484)1993van der Waals equation: temperature
Netherlands1166b (Mi2193-2194)On 5 tabs of MS10 (5x 1165-1166 + 10 tabs)2004Five climatological temperatures (°C)
Pakistan771 (Mi847)1992Satellite thermal image: temperatures (°C)
Peru1423 (Mi1938)2004Temperature anomaly chart
Peru1423 folderFDC folder, also inside, and back
Portugal1114 (Mi1147)1971Surface weather map: temperatures (°C)
Portugal1113-1115 fdcOne of three stamps on FDC
Romania1874 (Mi2534)1966Temperature unit symbol: kelvin (K), given as "degrees" kelvin (°K)2
RomaniaNoneCachet on cover back, also front1992Temperature range (-23°C to -30°C)
Slovenia152 (Mi38)1993Stefan-Boltzmann Law: temperature
SwedenNoneCancel1980Two temperatures (12°C, 21°C)
Sweden1664 (Mi?)One of booklet pane of 5 (1665a (1661-1665)) (C127?)1987Cosmic background temperature of universe (3 K)
Sweden1749 (Mi1553)One of booklet pane of 6 (1754a (1749-1754))1989Climate: temperature anomaly plot (+/- degrees)
Switzerland1334From MS10 (1334a (10x 1334)2009+1.5°C (temperature rise, 1850-2008)
Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)NoneCinderella (red)1960sMonthly temperatures (°C), incorrectly given as degrees "centigrade"3 (in text)
Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)NoneCinderella (green)1960sMonthly temperatures (°C), incorrectly given as degrees "centigrade"3 (in text)
Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)NoneCinderella (tan)1960sMonthly temperatures (°F), "Fahrenheit" (in text)
Tuvalu810 (BL?)In (lower) margin of MS6 (810 (a-f))1999Mean annual temperature (30°C, 86°F)
Tuvalu1031d (Mi?)From MS6 (1031 (a-f))2007"Warmer temperature"
Tuvalu1033 (BL?)SS12007"Global temperatures"
United Nations (Geneva)177 (Mi177)Block of 4 (4x 177)1989Satellite thermal image: "temperatures" (in text)
United StatesNonePostmark on cover back1897Lansing MI forecast: Colder
United StatesNoneCachet on advertising cover1902Temperature differences: winter 8°F higher, summer 10°F lower (°F implied)
United StatesNonePostmark on cover1938Minimum (67°F) and maximum (74°F) temperatures (°F implied)
United StatesNoneCachet on cover1947"hot or cold" (in text)
United StatesNoneCinderella19??Extreme temperature range: 82°F (°F implied)
United States3351m (Mi3204)
3351m back
On back of one of MS20 (3351 (a-t))1999Temperature (100°C), incorrectly given as degrees "centigrade"3 (in text)
United States4070 (Mi4115)
4070_back
One of MS40 (4072a (4033-4072)), also back2006Hottest place in U.S.: Death Valley CA, 134°F in July 1913

*Scott 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.

1WMD = World Meteorological Day.
2The official name was changed to "kelvin" and symbol "K" by the 13th General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) in 1967.
3The official name was changed from "centigrade degree" to "Celsius degree" by the 9th General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) in 1948.
4An advertisement card for China Uniform, a big telecommunication company. The thermometer has all 100°C above, and Chinese city names (likely the capital for each province) below. The cities are located from north to south (colder to hotter) when you read from left to right. The markings are actually meant to represent "100-percent-special" in each city, the service being the same in each city with no "temperature" difference. The 100°C might also imply their good and warm service. [Translation provided by Fang Wang, Colorado State University]
5A QSL card is a written confirmation, meaning either "do you confirm receipt of my transmission" or "I confirm receipt of your transmission". QSL is not an acronym but is one of the many three-letter Q codes used in radiocommunication.


Back to Weather and Climate Philately.



Copyright © 2003-2009, Colorado State University. All rights reserved.
This Website created and maintained by Don Hillger and Garry Toth.
Updated: 2009-10-22