DFS

DFS / Kopernikus
series

This page contains philatelic information on DFS (Deutscher Fernmelde Satellit) / Kopernikus series. 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)
DFS / Kopernikus
(Germany) 		DFS / Kopernikus
(Germany) 		DFS / Kopernikus
(Germany)

Below is a list of DFS / Kopernikus series postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.).

CountryCatalog NumberType of ItemYear of IssueNotes on Content
DFS / Kopernikus (Germany)
BoliviaBL203 (Mi1120C)On label in SS1 + label1993"Satelite de communicaciones 'Copernico' - Deutsche Aerospace" (DFS / Kopernikus)
BoliviaBL203 muestraBL203 with extra "muestra" perforations
Burkina Faso1024a (BL_E149A)
i1024a (BL_E149B)		In (upper-right) margin of SS1 (1024, Mi1359A)
In (upper-right) margin of imperforate SS1 (i1024, Mi1359B)		1995"Kopernicus" (DFS)
Burkina Faso1030a (BL_D153A)
i1030a (BL_D153B)		In (upper-right) margin of SS1 (1030, Mi1366A)
In (upper-right) margin of imperforate SS1 (i1030, Mi1366B)		"DFS-2"
Central African Republic941a (BL479A)
i941a (BL479B)		In (upper-left) margin of SS1 (941)
In (upper-left) margin of imperforate SS1 (i941)		1989"DFS / Kopernikus"
Central African Republic1105a (BL_B579A)
i1105a (BL_B579B)		In (upper-left) margin of SS1 (1105)
In (upper-left) margin of imperforate SS1 (i1105)		1996"DFS / Kopernikus"
Central African Republic1108b (BL_B580A)
i1108b (BL_B580B)		In (upper-left) margin of SS1 (1108)
In (upper-left) margin of imperforate SS1 (i1108)		1996"Kopernikus" (DFS)
China (People's Republic)2818 (Mi2865)1997DFS / Kopernicus
China (People's Republic)2818-2821 fdc1One of four stamps on FDC (China National Philatelic Corporation cachet), also back
China (People's Republic)2818-2821 fdc2One of four stamps on FDC (multi-color printed cachet)
China (People's Republic)2818-2821 folderFDC folder
Germany (Berlin)9N578 maxi (Mi? maxi)Maxicard1989DFS (in maxicard image); Unknown/fantasy comsat (on stamp)
Germany (Berlin)9N578 cover (Mi? cover)Cover, also back1989DFS (in cover image); Unknown/fantasy comsat (on stamp)
Germany1643 (Mi1527)1991"Deutscher Fernmeldesatellit Kopernikus" (DFS)
Germany1643 fdc1Stamp and (ETABO) cachet on FDC
Germany1643 fdc2Stamp and (FIDACOS) cachet on FDC
Germany1643 fdc3Stamp and (CEPT) cachet on FDC
Germany1643 maxi1Maxicard, also back
Germany1643 maxi2Maxicard (different), also back
Germany1642-1643 fdcOne of two stamps on FDC (Lollini cachet)
Germany1642-1643 folderFDC folder, also inside
Germany1642-1643 scSouvenir card
Germany1643 cinderella (Mi1527_cinderella)Cinderella SS1 (1643)1992"Deutscher Fernmeldesatellit Kopernikus" (DFS)
Germany1643 cover (Mi1527_cover)Stamp and (blue printed) cachet on cover1992"Deutscher Fernmeldesatellit Kopernikus" (DFS)
GermanyNone(Pictorial) cancel on cover1997"DFS" (but TDF or TV-Sat depicted)
GermanyNone(Pictorial) cancel (different) on cover"Deutscher Fernmeldesatellit Kopernikus"
GermanyNone(Blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover1999DFS/Kopernicus (except depicted with four sections in each solar array rather than three)
Guinea Republic1237Ab (BL485)
i1237Ab		In (upper-right) margin of SS1 (1237A), gold foil
In (upper-right) margin of imperforate SS1 (i1237A), gold foil		1992"Kopernikus" (DFS)
Guinea Republic1257C (BL479A)
i1257C (BL479B)		In (upper-left) margin of SS1, gold foil
In (upper-left) margin of imperforate SS1, gold foil		1993"DFS" / "Kopernikus"
Iran2489e (Mi2489)One of strip of 5 (2489 (a-e)) (Mi2485-2489)1992
Madagascar1173Ht (BL243A)
i1173Ht (BL243B)		In (upper-right) margin of SS1 (1173H)
In (upper-right) margin of imperforate SS1 (i1173H)		1994"Kopernikus" (DFS)
Madagascar1173Kt (BL248A)
i1173Kt (BL248B)		In (upper) margin of SS1 (1173K), gold foil
In (upper) margin of imperforate SS1 (i1173K), gold foil
Madagascar1255B (BL258A)
i1255B (BL258B)		In (upper-right) margin of SS1, gold foil
In (upper-right) margin of imperforate SS1, gold foil		1994"Kopernikus" (DFS)
Mali754a (BL?)
i754a		In (upper-left) margin of SS1 (754)
In (upper-left) margin of imperforate SS1 (i754)		1995
Mali754a artwork754a artwork
MaliBL_IIIA
BL_IIIB		In (upper-left) margin of SS1
In (upper-left) margin of imperforate SS1		1996
Nicaragua1985a (Mi3292)One of MS16 (1985 (a-p)) (Mi3292-3307)1994"Satellite Copernicus" (DFS / Kopernikus)
Poland3158 (Mi3451)1993(possible) DFS / Kopernicus (except the antenna is much too big)
St. Thomas and Prince IslandsUnknown ss (BL none)
Unknown iss		On stamp of SS1: stamp-on-stamp: Germany 1643 [known illegal issue]
On stamp of imperforate SS1		2005"Deutscher Fernmeldesatellit Kopernikus" (DFS)
St. Thomas and Prince IslandsUnknown ss fdc
Unknown iss fdc		SS1 on FDC
Imperforate SS1 on FDC
Uruguay1440 (Mi1975)1992
ZaireBL64A
BL64B		In (upper-left) margin of SS1
In (upper-left) margin of imperforate SS1		1996"Kopernicus" (DFS)
ZaireBL_F68A
BL_F68B		In (upper-left) margin of MS2 (Mi1252A-1253A)
In (upper-left) margin of imperforate MS2 (Mi1252B-1253B)		1996"Kopernikus-1" (but Olympus depicted)

Below is a list of DFS / Kopernikus series launch covers (including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers).

CountryCancel DateCancel LocationType of ItemNotes on Content
DFS / Kopernikus (Germany)
1989-06-05: DFS-1 (and SuperBird-A)
France1989-06-05Paris(Club Philatélique ESA/Lollini) cachet on coverDFS-1 launch
French Guiana1989-06-05Kourou(Aérospatiale Philatélie) cachet on coverDFS-1 launch
French Guiana1989-06-05Kourou(Cyan printed and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on coverDFS-1 launch
French Guiana1989-06-05Kourou(Multi-color printed) cachet on coverDFS-1 launch
French Guiana1989-06-05Kourou(C.E. SEP Section Philatélie) cachet on coverDFS-1 launch
French Guiana1989-06-05Kourou(MBB-ERNO Philatelie) cachet on coverDFS-1 launch
French Guiana1989-06-05Kourou(CPK?) cachet on coverDFS-1 launch
French Guiana1989-06-05Kourou(CPK?) cachet on cardDFS-1 launch
French Guiana1989-06-05Kourou(?) cachet on cardDFS-1 launch
Germany (West)1989-06-05Wessling-Oberbay(Launch-dated) cancel on cover (Hermann E. Sieger, GmbH cachet)DFS-1 launch
1990-07-24: DFS-2 (and TDF-2)
French Guiana1990-07-24Kourou(Photo and black printed) cachet on coverDFS-2 launch
French Guiana1990-07-24Kourou(Club philatélique ESA?) cachet on coverDFS-2 launch
French Guiana1990-07-24Kourou(Multi-color printed) cachet on coverDFS-2 launch
French Guiana1990-07-24Kourou(CPK) cachet on coverDFS-2 launch
French Guiana1990-07-24Kourou(C.E. SEP Section Philatélie) cachet on coverDFS-2 launch
1992-10-12: DFS-3 / now HellasSat-1
United States1992-10-12Cape Canaveral FL(MBB-ERNO blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverDFS-3 launch
United States1992-10-12Kennedy Space Center FL(MBB-ERNO multi-color printed) cachet on coverDFS-3 launch

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Updated: 2024-06-20