A-1

A-1 / Astérix
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)
Central African RepublicC116 (Mi327)1973
ChecheniaLocalOverprint on 4x Russia 5984 (Mi6177), from strip of 5, also overprint template1996(small) A-1
ChecheniaLocalOverprint on 4x Russia 6069 (Mi253), from strip of 5, also overprint template
Comoro IslandsC15 (Mi72)
iC15		From pair (C16a (C15-C16 + label)), CD121
From imperforate pair (iC16a (iC15-iC16 + label))		1966Diamant rocket2
Comoro IslandsC16 (Mi73)
iC16		"A-1"
Comoro IslandsC16 proof1Signed proof (blue)
Comoro IslandsC16 proof2Signed proof (brown)
Comoro IslandsC16a fdc1Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions PAC) cachet on FDC(As above for stamps)
Comoro IslandsC16a fdc2Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (PJ) cachet on FDC
Comoro IslandsC16a fdc3Pair 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 rocket2 (in stamp and in upper-left margin)
DjiboutiUnknown fdc1MS2 and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC
DjiboutiUnknown fdc2MS2 on FDC
Ecuador756 (Mi1283)1966Striped A-11; also Diamant rocket2
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
France1137 (Mi1530)
i1137		From pair (1138a (1137-1138 + label)), CD121
From imperforate pair (i1138a (i1137-i1138 + label))		1965Diamant rocket2
France1138 (Mi1531)
i1138		"A-1"
France1138a fdc1Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (PJ) cachet on FDC(As above for stamps); also "A1" (in cancel); also Diamant rocket (in many of the maxicards and FDC cachets)
France1138a fdc2Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (PJ) cachet (different colors) on FDC
France1138a fdc3Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (PJ) cachet (different colors) on FDC
France1138a fdc4Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC
France1138a fdc5Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions J.F.) cachet (different) on FDC
France1138a fdc6Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions PAC) cachet on FDC
France1138a fdc7Pair 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 fdc8Pair 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
France1137 maxiMaxicard
France1138 maxi1Maxicard
France1138 maxi2Maxicard (different)
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"; also Diamant rocket2
France1137 cover1 (Mi1530 cover1)Stamp and (pictorial) cancel on cover (red and blue printed cachet)1967Also Diamant rocket2 (on stamp)
France1137 cover2 (Mi1530 cover2)Stamp on cover (Lollini cachet)1976
France
United States		1137 cover
1710 cover		Stamp on cover (Lollini cachet; also extra cancel for Shuttle Enterprise test flight 5)1976
1977
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)Pair of stamps and (black printed) cachet on FDC1977A-1 (in one stamp); also Diamant rocket2 (in the other stamp; both in the cachet)
France1148 card (Mi1539 card)(Éditions PAC) cachet on FDOI card1966"A-1" (in text only); also Diamant rocket2 (in cachet)
France1184 (Mi1583)
i1184
Imperforate		1967
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 maxiMaxicard
France1270 fdc (Mi1705 fdc)(Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC1970non-striped A-1; also Diamant rocket2
France1184 cover (Mi1583 cover)Stamp and (pictorial) cancel and (? black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover1975
France1835 cover (Mi2335 cover)(Pictorial) cancel and (blue printed) cachet on cover1985Striped A-1 (in cancel), non-striped A-1 (in cachet); also Diamant rocket2
FranceNone(Aérospatiale Philatélie Aquitane/SEP Philatélie le Haillan) cachet on cover1985"A-1"
France4920 (Mi6321)From MS60 (4920a (60x 4920))201550th anniv. launch "Astérix" (A-1); (see 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)
FranceMi7766One 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"Asterix" (A-1); (see previous item)
France6100a (Mi8049)In (surrounding) margin of MS15 (15x 6100), also annotated2021Diamant-A rocket [#1] launched the A-2 satellite [#2] in 1965
France6100 fdc1(Pictorial) cancel on FDC (Éditions J.F. cachet)A-1
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 PolynesiaC40 (Mi52)
iC40		From pair (C41a (C40-C41 + label)), CD121
From imperforate pair (iC41a (iC40-iC41 + label))		1966Diamant rocket2
French PolynesiaC41 (Mi53)
iC41		"A-1"
French PolynesiaC40 dsDeluxe sheet (C40)(As above for stamps)
French PolynesiaC41 dsDeluxe sheet (C41)
French PolynesiaC41a fdc1Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (black and brown printed) cachet on FDC(As above for stamps); also Diamant rocket2 (on cancel and cachet)
French PolynesiaC41a fdc2Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (PJ) cachet on FDC(As above for stamps); also Diamant rocket2 (on cancel and cachet)
French PolynesiaC41a fdc3Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (P.A.C.) cachet on FDC(As above for stamps); also Diamant rocket2 (on cancel and cachet)
French PolynesiaC41a fdc4Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC(As above for stamps); also Diamant rocket2 (on cancel)
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesC9 (Mi33)
iC9		From pair (C10a (C9-C10 + label)), CD121
From imperforate pair (iC10a (iC9-iC10 + label))		1966Diamant rocket2
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesC10 (Mi34)
iC10		"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 stamps)
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesC10a fdc1Pair and (PJ) cachet on FDC
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesC10a fdc2Pair and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC
FujeiraUnlisted (Mi unlisted)
Unlisted imperf		Silver
Imperforate silver		1972(small) A-1
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 rocket2
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"Asterix" and "A-1" (also 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-1 / "Astérix"
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-1 / "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)
MaliC42 (Mi141)
iC42
Imperforate		1967Diamant rocket2
MaliC42 proofSigned proof (black)
MaliC43 (Mi142)
iC43
Imperforate		"A-1"
MaliC42-C44 fdcOne of three stamps and (Éditions So.Ge.Im.) cachet on FDC(As above for stamp)
MauritaniaC44 (Mi266)
iC44
Imperforate		1966"Diamant" rocket2
MauritaniaC44 dsDeluxe sheet (C44)
MauritaniaC45 (Mi267)
iC45
Imperforate		Striped "A-1"1
MauritaniaC45 fdcStamp and (text) cancel and (Éditions So.Ge.Im.) cachet on FDC
MauritaniaC45 proof1Signed proof (blue)
MauritaniaC45 proof2Signed proof (dark-green)
MauritaniaC45 proof3Signed proof (reddish-purple)
MauritaniaC45 dsDeluxe sheet (C45)
MauritaniaC44-C45 fdcTwo stamps and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC(As above for stamps)
Nagaland (India)Local cOne of local post MS6 (a-f)1979A-1
New CaledoniaC44 (Mi418)
iC44		From pair (C45a (C44-C45 + label)), CD121
From imperforate pair (iC45a (iC44-iC45 + label))		1966Diamant rocket2
New CaledoniaC45 (Mi419)
iC45		"A-1"
New CaledoniaC45 proof1Signed proof (brown)
New CaledoniaC45 proof2Signed proof (blue)
New CaledoniaC45a fdc1Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (black and brown printed) cachet on FDC(As above for stamps)
New CaledoniaC45a fdc2Pair of stamps and label and (ext) cancel and (PJ) cachet on FDC
NigerC58 (Mi124)
iC58
Imperforate		1966Diamant rocket2
NigerC58 dsDeluxe sheet (C58)
NigerC58 fdcStamp and (text) cancel and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC
NigerC59 (Mi125)
iC59
Imperforate		Striped "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
Reunion358 (Mi445)
i358		From pair (359a (358-359 + label)), CD121, France 1138a overprinted
From imperforate pair (i359a (i358-i359 + label)), CD121, France i1138a overprinted		1966Diamant rocket2
Reunion359 (Mi446)
i359		"A-1"
Reunion359a fdcPair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (PJ) cachet on FDC(As above for stamps)
St. Pierre and MiquelonC30 (Mi413)
iC30		From pair (C31a (C30-C31 + label)), CD121
From imperforate pair (iC31a (iC30-iC31 + label))		1966Diamant rocket2
St. Pierre and MiquelonC31 (Mi414)
iC31		"A-1"
St. Pierre and MiquelonC30 dsDeluxe sheet (C30)(As above for stamps)
St. Pierre and MiquelonC31 dsDeluxe sheet (C31)
St. Pierre and MiquelonC31a dsDeluxe sheet (C31a)
St. Pierre and MiquelonC31a fdc1Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (P.A.C.) cachet on FDC(As above for stamps); also Diamant rocket2 (in cachet)
St. Pierre and MiquelonC31a fdc2Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC(As above for stamps)
St. Pierre and MiquelonC31a fdc3Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (black printed) cachet on FDC(As above for stamps)
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 (PJ) cachet on FDC
SenegalC44 (Mi325)
iC44
Imperforate		Diamant rocket2
SenegalC44 proof1Signed proof (blue)
SenegalC44 proof2Signed proof (brown)
SenegalC44 proof3Signed proof (green)
SenegalC44 proof4Signed proof (purple)
SenegalC44 fdcStamp and (PJ) cachet on FDC(As above for stamp)
SenegalC43-C44 fdcTwo stamps and (Éditions So.Ge.Im.) cachet on FDC
Senegal345 (Mi457)
i345
Imperforate		1971Striped A-11
Somali CoastC39 (Mi371)
iC39		From pair (C40a (C39-C40 + label)), CD121
From imperforate pair (iC40a (iC39-iC40 + label))		1966Diamant rocket2
Somali CoastC40 (Mi372)
iC40		"A-1"
Somali CoastC40 proof1Proof (blue)
Somali CoastC40 proof2Proof (brown)
Somali CoastC40a fdc1Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (red-brown and black) printed) cachet on FDC(As above for stamps)
Somali CoastC40a fdc2Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (PJ) cachet on FDC
Somali CoastC40a fdc3Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC
Togo593 (Mi559A)
i593 (Mi559B)
Imperforate		1967Diamant rocket2
Togo594 (Mi560A)
i594 (Mi560B)
Imperforate		Striped "A-1"1
Togo597 (Mi563A)
i597 (Mi563B)
Imperforate
TogoC65 (Mi565A)
iC65 (Mi565B)
Imperforate		Diamant rocket2
Togo594+597 fdcTwo stamps and (text) cancel and (J.G.) cachet on FDC(As above for stamps); "Launch of first French satellite" (in French text)
Togo595-598+C65-C66 fdcTwo of eight stamps and (text) cancel on FDC(As above for stamps); "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
Wallis and Futuna IslandsC22 (Mi209)
iC22		From pair (C23a (C22-C23 + label)), CD121
From imperforate pair (iC23a (iC22-iC23 + label))		1966Diamant rocket2
Wallis and Futuna IslandsC23 (Mi210)
iC23		"A-1"
Wallis and Futuna IslandsC23a fdc1Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (PJ) cachet on FDC
Wallis and Futuna IslandsC23a fdc2Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC
Wallis and Futuna IslandsC23a fdc3Pair of stamps and label and (text) cancel and (brown and green printed) cachet on FDC
Wallis and Futuna IslandsC23a dsDeluxe sheet (C23)

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.
2Diamant-A rockets were used to launch A-1 and other French satellites from 1965 to 1975. Only Diamant items also featuring the A-1 satellite, or belonging to sets related to the A-1 satellite, are shown here.

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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