A-1

A-1 / Astérix
satellite
(first French satellite)


This page contains philatelic information on the French A-1 / Astérix satellite. 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.

Launch information
(found elsewhere)
Launch covers
(including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers)
(farther below)
Other postal items
(stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.)
(immediately below)
A-1 / Astérix
(France)
A-1 / Astérix
(France)
A-1 / Astérix
(France)
A-1 (on other than A-1 launch covers)


Below is a list of A-1 / Astérix satellite postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.).

CountryCatalog NumberType of ItemYear of IssueNotes on Content
A-1 / Astérix (France)
Andorra (French Admin.)171 sc (Mi197 sc)Souvenir card1966"Diamant A-1 le 6 décembre [1965]" (launch of A-1 by Diamant on 6 December [1965])
Central African RepublicC116 (Mi327)1973
ChecheniaLocalOverprint on 4x Russia 5984 (Mi6177), from strip of 5, also overprint template1996
ChecheniaLocalOverprint on 4x Russia 6069 (Mi253), from strip of 5, also overprint template
Comoro IslandsC16 (Mi73)
iC16
One of pair (C16a (C15-C16 + label)), CD121
One of imperforate pair (iC16a (iC15-iC16 + label))
1966"A-1"
Comoro IslandsC16 proof1Signed proof (blue)
Comoro IslandsC16 proof2Signed proof (brown)
Comoro IslandsC16a fdc1One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions P.A.C.) cachet on FDC(As above for stamp C16); also Diamant launch rocket (in stamp C15 and in the FDC cancels and cachets)
Comoro IslandsC16a fdc2One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions P.J.) cachet on FDC
Comoro IslandsC16a fdc3One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC
Cuba777 cover (Mi837 cover)(Red and brown printed) cachet on cover1967"A-1"
DjiboutiUnknown b (Mi none)
Unknown ib
On one stamp and in (upper-left) margin of MS2 (a-b) [known illegal issue]
On one stamp and in (upper-left) margin of imperforate MS2 (a-b)
2013Striped A-11 / "Astérix"; also Diamant launch rocket (in stamp and in left margin of MS2)
DjiboutiUnknown fdc1MS2 and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC
DjiboutiUnknown fdc2MS2 on FDC
Ecuador756 (Mi1283)1966Striped A-11; also Diamant launch rocket
Ecuador756 pairTête-bêche pair
Ecuador756B (Mi1285)Striped A-11
Ecuador756B pairTête-bêche pair
Ecuador756Bc (BL29)
i756Bc (BL30)
MS3 (756-756B)
Imperforate MS3 (i756-i756B), changed colors
France1138 (Mi1531)
i1138
One of pair (1138a (1137-1138 + label)), CD121
One of imperforate pair (i1138a (i1137-i1138 + label))
1965"A-1"
France1138 maxi1Maxicard
France1138 maxi2Maxicard (different)
France1138a fdc1One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions P.J.) cachet on FDC(As above for stamp 1138); also "A1" (in cancel); also Diamant launch rocket (in stamp 1137 and in the cancels and many of the maxicards and FDC cachets)
France1138a fdc2One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions P.J.) cachet (different colors) on FDC
France1138a fdc3One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions P.J.) cachet (different colors) on FDC
France1138a fdc4One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC
France1138a fdc5One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions J.F.) cachet (different) on FDC
France1138a fdc6One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions P.A.C.) cachet on FDC
France1138a fdc7One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Comité des Oeuvres Sociales du Centre National d'Études des Télécommunications, Section Philatélie) cachet on FDC
France1138a fdc8One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel on FDC
France1138a folderFDC folder (Comité des Oeuvres Sociales du Centre National d'Études des Télécommunications, Section Philatélie), also detail from back
France1138a maxi1Maxicard
France1138a maxi2Maxicard (Comité des Oeuvres Sociales du Centre National d'Études des Télécommunications, Section Philatélie)
France1138a maxi3Maxicard (different)
France1137-1138+1148_ms3
1137-1138+1148 ims3
MS3 (1137-1138+1148)
Imperforate MS3 (i1137-i1138+i1148)
1966"A-1" (in stamp 1138); also Diamant launch rocket (in stamp 1137)
France1137 cover (Mi1530 cover)(Pictorial) cancel on cover (red and blue printed cachet)1967A-1; also Diamant launch rocket (on stamp)
France1138 cover1 (Mi1531 cover1)Stamp on cover (Lollini cachet)1976
France1138 cover2 (Mi1531 cover2)Stamp and (multi-color printed) cachet on cover1976
France1138a cover (Mi1530-1531 cover)One of pair of stamps and (black printed) cachet on FDC1977A-1 (in stamp 1138); also Diamant launch rocket (in stamp 1137; both are in the cachet)
France1148 card (Mi1539 card)(Éditions P.A.C.) cachet on FDOI card1966"A-1" (in text only); also Diamant launch rocket (in cachet)
France1184 (Mi1583)
i1184

Imperforate
1967A-1; also Diamant launch rocket (at left in stamp and in the cachets of FDC1 and FDC4)
France1184 fdc1Stamp on (airmail) FDC (PAC cachet)
France1184 fdc2Stamp on FDC (ArtCraft-like cachet)
France1184 fdc3Stamp on FDC (FOS06 cachet)
France1184 fdc4Stamp and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC
France1184 maxi1Maxicard
France1184 maxi2Maxicard (different)
France1270 fdc (Mi1705 fdc)Stamp and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC1970A-1; also Diamant launch rocket (in stamp and FDC cachet)
France1184 cover (Mi1583 cover)Stamp and (pictorial) cancel and (purple printed) cachet on cover1975A-1; also Diamant launch rocket (in stamp and pictorial cancel)
France1835 cover (Mi2335 cover)(Pictorial) cancel and (blue printed) cachet on cover1985Striped A-11 (in cancel), A-1 (in cachet); also Diamant launch rocket (in cachet)
FranceNone(Aérospatiale Philatélie Aquitane/SEP Philatélie le Haillan) cachet on cover1985"A-1"
France4920 (Mi6321)From MS60 (4920a (60x 4920))201550th anniv. launch "Astérix" (striped A-11); (see also next item)
France4920 fdc1Stamp and (pictorial) cancel on FDC (blank/no cachet)
France4920 fdc2Stamp and (pictorial) cancel and (MPSSG?) cachet on FDC
France4920 fdc3Stamp and (pictorial) cancel and (Éditions CEF) cachet on FDC
France4920 maxi1Maxicard
France4920 maxi2Maxicard (different)
FranceMi7766Same design as 4920 but different face value; one of booklet pane of 4 (Mi7763-7766) from booklet of 18 (Mi7758-7775) plus a pane of 4 different (un-numbered) stamps on private order for a booklet of 22 (Mi_MH77), with booklet front2020"Astérix" (A-1); (see also previous item)
France6100a (Mi8049)In (surrounding) margin of MS15 (15x 6100), also annotated2021A-1 satellite [#2] launched in 1965 by the Diamant-A rocket [#1]
France6100 fdc1(Pictorial) cancel on FDC (Éditions J.F. cachet)Striped A-11
France6100 fdc2(Pictorial) cancel on FDC (Éditions J.F. cachet, different)
France6100 card(Pictorial) cancel and one separate depiction on FDC-card, also annotated
French PolynesiaC41 (Mi53)
iC41
One of pair (C41a (C40-C41 + label)), CD121
One of imperforate pair (iC41a (iC40-iC41 + label))
1966"A-1"
French PolynesiaC41 dsDeluxe sheet (C41)
French PolynesiaC41a fdc1One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (black and brown printed) cachet on FDC(As above for stamp C41); also Diamant launch rocket (in stamp C40 and the FDC cancels and cachets)
French PolynesiaC41a fdc2One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions P.J.) cachet on FDC
French PolynesiaC41a fdc3One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (P.A.C.) cachet on FDC
French PolynesiaC41a fdc4One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesC10 (Mi34)
iC10
One of pair (C10a (C9-C10 + label)), CD121
One of imperforate pair (iC10a (iC9-iC10 + label))
1966"A-1"
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesC10 dsImperforate deluxe sheet (C10)
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesC10 proofSigned proof (C10)
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesC10a dsDeluxe sheet (C10a)(As above for stamp C10); also Diamant launch rocket (in stamp C9 and in the FDC cancels and cachets)
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesC10a fdc1One of pair and (Éditions P.J.) cachet on FDC
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesC10a fdc2One of pair and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesC10a fdc3One of pair and (Éditions P.A.C.) cachet on FDC
FujeiraUnlisted (Mi unlisted)
Unlisted imperf
Silver
Imperforate silver
1972
FujeiraUnlisted fdc
Unlisted imperf fdc
Silver on FDC
Imperforate silver on FDC
FujeiraUnlisted1 (Mi unlisted1)
Unlisted imperf1
Gold
Imperforate gold
FujeiraUnlisted1 fdc
Unlisted imperf1 fdc
Gold on FDC
Imperforate gold on FDC
FujeiraUnlisted2 (Mi unlisted2)
Unlisted imperf2
Gold (different)
Imperforate gold (different)
FujeiraUnlisted2 (Mi unlisted2)
Unlisted imperf2
Silver (different)
Imperforate silver (different)
GabonC43 (Mi244)
iC43

Imperforate
1966Striped A-11; also Diamant launch rocket
GabonC43 fdcStamp and (Éditions So.Ge.Im.) cachet on FDC
GabonC43 proofSigned-proof
GabonUnknown b (Mi none)
Unknown ib
One of MS4 (a-d) [known illegal issue]
One of imperforate MS4 (a-d)
2017"Astérix" and "A-1" (also "Diamant-A" and launch date in text)
GabonUnknown ms proofSigned-proof MS4 (a-d)
GabonUnknown ms fdc
Unknown ims fdc
MS4 and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC
Imperforate MS4 on FDC
GabonUnknown a-d fdcOne of four stamps on FDC
ISO (Sweden)Local_ssIn (upper-right) margin of imperforate silver local post SS11978Striped A-11
ISO (Sweden)Local_ssIn (upper-right) margin of imperforate gold local post SS1
ISO (Sweden)Local_msIn (upper) margin of perforated and imperforate silver local post MS2
ISO (Sweden)Local_msIn (upper) margin of perforated and imperforate gold local post MS2
Ivory CoastUnknown a (Mi none)
Unknown ia
One of MS4 (a-d) [known illegal issue]
One of imperforate MS4 (a-d)
2012Striped A-11 / "Astérix" (also "Fusée Diamant" and launch date in text)
Ivory CoastUnknown fdc
Unknown ifdc
MS4 on FDC
Imperforate MS4 on FDC
Ivory CoastUnknown a-d fdcOne of four stamps and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC
Ivory CoastUnknown ms proofSigned-proof MS4 (a-d)
MalawiUnknown d (Mi?)
Unknown id
One of MS4 (a-d)
One of imperforate MS4 (a-d)
2012Striped A-11 / "Astérix"
MalawiUnknown a proof
Unknown ia proof
One of proof MS4 (a-d)
One of imperforate proof MS4 (a-d)
MalawiUnknown ms proofSigned-proof MS4 (a-d)
MalawiUnknown fdc
Unknown ifdc
MS4 and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC
Imperforate MS4 on FDC
MalawiUnknown a-d fdcOne of four stamps on FDC
Maldive Islands247 (Mi252)1968Striped "A-1"1
Maldive Islands252 (Mi257)
MaliC43 (Mi142)
iC43

Imperforate
1967"A-1"
MaliC43 proofSigned proof (blue)
MaliC42-C44 fdcOne of three stamps and (Éditions So.Ge.Im.) cachet on FDC(As above for stamp C43); also "Diamant" launch rocket (in stamp C42 and in cachet)
MauritaniaC45 (Mi267)
iC45

Imperforate
1966Striped "A-1"1
MauritaniaC45 proof1Signed proof (blue)
MauritaniaC45 proof2Signed proof (dark-green)
MauritaniaC45 proof3Signed proof (reddish-purple)
MauritaniaC45 dsDeluxe sheet (C45)
MauritaniaC45 fdcStamp and (text) cancel and (Éditions So.Ge.Im.) cachet on FDC(As above for stamp C45); also Diamant launch rocket (in stamp C44)
MauritaniaC44-C45 fdcOne of two stamps and (text) cancel and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC
Nagaland (India)Local_cOne of local post MS6 (a-f)1979
New CaledoniaC45 (Mi419)
iC45
One of pair (C45a (C44-C45 + label)), CD121
One of imperforate pair (iC45a (iC44-iC45 + label))
1966"A-1"
New CaledoniaC45 proof1Signed proof (brown)
New CaledoniaC45 proof2Signed proof (blue)
New CaledoniaC45a fdc1One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (black and brown printed) cachet on FDC(As above for stamp C45); also Diamant launch rocket (in stamp C44 and in the FDC cancels and cachets)
New CaledoniaC45a fdc2One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions P.J.) cachet on FDC
NigerC59 (Mi125)
iC59

Imperforate
1966Striped "A-1"1
NigerC59 fdcStamp and (text) cancel and (black and blue printed) cachet on FDC
Panama474 (Mi943A)
i474 (Mi943B)
i474 var (Mi949)
474+selvedge
On stamps and in (top and bottom) selvedges of MS25 (474a (25x 474))
Imperforate
Imperforate with changed colors
On stamp and selvedge
1966Striped "A-1"1
Panama474B+selvedgeOn selvedge of 474B
Panama474E+selvedgeOn selvedge of 474E
Panama474Eg fdcCachet (only) on FDC
Panama474+474B+474E fdc
i474+i474B+i474E var fdc
One of three stamps and (black printed) cachet on FDC
One of three imperforate stamps with changed colors and (black printed) cachet on FDC
Reunion359 (Mi446)
i359
One of pair (359a (358-359 + label)), CD121, France 1138a overprinted
One of imperforate pair (i359a (i358-i359 + label)), CD121, France i1138a overprinted
1966"A-1"
Reunion359a fdcOne of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions P.J.) cachet on FDC(As above for stamp 359); also Diamant launch rocket (in stamp 358 and in FDC cancel and cachet)
St. Pierre and MiquelonC31 (Mi414)
iC31
One of pair (C31a (C30-C31 + label)), CD121
One of imperforate pair (iC31a (iC30-iC31 + label))
1966"A-1"
St. Pierre and MiquelonC31 dsDeluxe sheet (C31)
St. Pierre and MiquelonC31a dsDeluxe sheet (C31a)(As above for stamp C31)
St. Pierre and MiquelonC31a fdc1One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (P.A.C.) cachet on FDC(As above for stamp C31); also Diamant launch rocket (in stamp C30 and FDC cancels and cachets)
St. Pierre and MiquelonC31a fdc2One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC
St. Pierre and MiquelonC31a fdc3One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (black printed) cachet on FDC(As above for stamp C31); also Diamant launch rocket (in stamp C30 and text cancel)
SenegalC43 (Mi324)
iC43

Imperforate
1966Striped "A-1"1
SenegalC43 proof1Signed proof (blue)
SenegalC43 proof2Signed proof (brown)
SenegalC43 proof3Signed proof (dark-green)
SenegalC43 proof4Signed proof (reddish-purple)
SenegalC43 fdcStamp and (text) cancel and (Éditions P.J.) cachet on FDC(As above for stamp C43); also Diamant launch rocket (in stamp C44 and the FDC cachets)
SenegalC43-C44 fdcOne of two stamps and (text) cancel and (Éditions So.Ge.Im.) cachet on FDC
Senegal345 (Mi457)
i345

Imperforate
1971Striped A-11
Senegal344-345 fdcOne of two stamps on FDC (Senegal Post cachet)
Somali CoastC40 (Mi372)
iC40
One of pair (C40a (C39-C40 + label)), CD121
One of imperforate pair (iC40a (iC39-iC40 + label))
1966"A-1"
Somali CoastC40 proof1Proof (blue)
Somali CoastC40 proof2Proof (brown)
Somali CoastC40a fdc1One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (red-brown and black) printed) cachet on FDC(As above for stamp C40); also Diamant launch rocket (in stamp C39 and in the FDC cancels and cachets)
Somali CoastC40a fdc2One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions P.J.) cachet on FDC
Somali CoastC40a fdc3One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC
Togo594 (Mi560A)
i594 (Mi560B)

Imperforate
1967Striped "A-1"1
Togo594 maxiMaxicard
Togo595 maxi(Text) cancel only on maxicard"Lancement du 1er satellite français" (launch of the first French satellite (A-1))
Togo596 maxi(Text) cancel only on maxicard
Togo597 (Mi563A)
i597 (Mi563B)

Imperforate
Striped "A-1"1
Togo593+597 fdcOne of two stamps and (text) cancel on (airmail) FDC (blank/no cachet)(As above for stamp 597); "Launch of first French satellite" (in French text in cancel)
Togo594+597 fdcTwo stamps and (text) cancel and (J.G.) cachet on FDC(As above for stamps 594 and 597); "Launch of first French satellite" (in French text in cancel)
Togo593-598+C65-C66 fdcTwo of eight stamps and (text) cancel on FDC (blank/no cachet)(As above for stamps 594 and 597); "Launch of first French satellite" (in French text in cancel); also Diamant launch rocket (in stamps C65 and C66)
TogoC66a fdc(Text) cancel on FDC (blank/no cachet)"Launch of first French satellite" (in French text)
Upper VoltaC184 (BL23)
iC184
In (upper-middle) margin of SS1
In (upper-middle) margin of imperforate SS1
1974Striped A-11; also Diamant launch rocket (in stamp and in right margin)
Wallis and Futuna IslandsC23 (Mi210)
iC23
One of pair (C23a (C22-C23 + label)), CD121
One of imperforate pair (iC23a (iC22-iC23 + label))
1966"A-1"
Wallis and Futuna IslandsC23a dsDeluxe sheet (C23)(As above for stamp C23); also Diamant launch rocket (in stamp C22 and in the FDC cancels and the cachets of FDC1 and FDC2)
Wallis and Futuna IslandsC23a fdc1One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions P.J.) cachet on FDC
Wallis and Futuna IslandsC23a fdc2One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC
Wallis and Futuna IslandsC23a fdc3One of pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (brown and green printed) cachet on FDC

1On these items A-1 has wide light-and-dark stripes, whereas there are no stripes on the other items. See the San Marco-series satellite page for a similar dilemma about stripes on that spacecraft.


Below is a list of A-1 / Astérix satellite launch covers (including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers).

CountryCancel DateCancel LocationType of ItemNotes on Content
1965-11-26: A-1 / Astérix (France)
No launch cover images available yet
A-1 / Astérix (anniversaries)
France1985-11-24St. Médard en Jalles(Pictorial) cancel and (Philespace 85) cachet on cover20th anniv. first Diamant-A rocket launch (its payload was A-1, so 20th anniv. A-1 launch as well)
France1985-11-26St. Médard en Jalles(Red pictorial) meter and (green and black printed) cachet on postcard20th anniv. A-1 launch
A-1 (on other than A-1 launch covers)
French Guiana1988-03-11Kourou(C.E. SEP Section Philatélie) cachet on Telecom-1C and Spacenet-3R launch coverA-1 [#4 in the cachet]
United States1992-08-22Cape Canaveral FL(Gold printed and red rubber-stamp) cachet on Galaxy-1R launch [failed] coverStriped A-11
French Guiana1997-12-02Kourou(C.E. SEP Section Philatélie) cachet on JCSat-5 and Equator-S launch cover"The Diamant-A rocket carried the first French satellite, A1, into orbit" (in French text)
French Guiana2008-04-18Kourou(Association Philatélique du C.E. SPS) cachet on StarOne-C2 and Vinasat-1 launch coverStriped A-11

1On these items A-1 has wide light-and-dark stripes, whereas there are no stripes on the other items. See the San Marco-series satellite page for a similar dilemma about stripes on that spacecraft.


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