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Mars
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| Mars-1 type | Mars-2/7 type | Mars-8 |
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Mars
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| Mars-1 type | Mars-2/7 type | Mars-8 |
This page contains philatelic information on the Mars-series spacecraft. Catalog numbers, years of issue, and notes 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) |
Reference images (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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mars (Russia/USSR) | Mars (Russia/USSR) | Mars (Russia/USSR) | Mars (Russia/USSR) |
| Mars (on other than Mars launch covers) |
Below is a list of Mars-series spacecraft postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.).
| Country | Catalog Number | Type of Item | Year of Issue | Notes on Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mars (Russia/USSR) | ||||
| Abkhazia | Mi341 | One of MS8 (Mi338-345 + label) | 1999 | Mars-3, and lander (on Mars) |
| Adzharia Republic | Local1 | Cuba 2505 overprinted on 4x Russia 45203 (Mi4497), from strip of 5, also partial overprint template | 1994/5? | (probable) Mars-3 lander (with heat shield attached) |
| Adzharia Republic | Local2 | Cuba 2505 overprinted on 4x Russia 57333 (Mi5904), from strip of 5, also partial overprint template | ||
| Adzharia Republic | Local3 | Cuba 2505 overprinted on 4x Russia 5984 (Mi6177), from strip of 5, also partial overprint template | ||
| Adzharia Republic | Local4 | Cuba 2505 overprinted on 4x Russia 6067A (Mi252), from strip of 5, also partial overprint template | ||
| Albania | C72 (Mi783) | 1963 | Mars-1 | |
| Albania | C68-C72 fdc | One of five stamps on FDC | ||
| Altai Republic | Local1 | Overprint on 4x Russia 57232 (Mi5894), from strip of 5, also overprint template | 2000 | "Mars-3" lander (with heat shield attached) |
| Altai Republic | Local2 | Overprint on 4x Russia 6064 (Mi261), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Altai Republic | Local3 | Overprint on 4x Russia 6066A (Mi262), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Altai Republic | Local4 | Overprint on 4x Russia 6067 (Mi251), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Altai Republic | Local5 | Overprint on 4x Russia 6069 (Mi253), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Altai Republic | Local fdc1 | Strip of 5 overprints on local post FDC | ||
| Altai Republic | Local fdc2 | Two strips of 5 overprints on local post FDC | ||
| Altai Republic | Local fdc3 | Two strips of 5 overprints on local post FDC (different) | ||
| Bashkortostan | Local | Unknown design overprinted on 2x Russia 6066A (Mi262), from a strip of 5 such overprints, also overprint template | 1996 | Mars-3 lander (with heat shield attached) |
| Benin | Unknown d (Mi none) | One of MS4 (a-d) [known illegal issue] | 2012 | "50 ans Mars-1" (50th anniv. launch of Mars-1) |
| Benin | Unknown d (Mi none) | One of MS4 (a-d) (different) [known illegal issue] | 2012 | "Mars-1" (in text, but MSL lander depicted) |
| Bulgaria | C97 (Mi1366) | 1963 | "Mars-1" | |
| Bulgaria | C98 (Mi1367) | "Mars-1" launch | ||
| Bulgaria | C97-C98 fdc1 | Two stamps and (cyan and pink printed and red rubber-stamp) cachet on FDC | (As above for stamps) | |
| Bulgaria | C97-C98 fdc2 | Two stamps and (pictorial) cancel (design like cachet in item above but black) and (cyan and pink printed) cachet on FDC | ||
| Bulgaria | 3295 purple (BL174_IA) | In (left) margin of MS2 (3295 (a-b)) with purple margins | 1987 | "Mars-2" |
| Bulgaria | 3295 purple fdc | MS2 with purple margins on FDC | ||
| Bulgaria | 3295 (BL174_IIA) | In (left) margin of MS2 (3295 (a-b)) with purple-black margins and corrected text | ||
| Bulgaria | 4761 (BL416) | In (upper) margin of SS1 | 2016 | "Mars-3" (in Cyrillic text and depicted, also launch date in text) |
| Bulgaria | i4761 (BL417) | In (upper) margin of imperforate SS1, overprinted | ||
| Cambodia | 1103 (Mi1181) | 1990 | "Mars-1" | |
| Cambodia | 1149 (Mi1227) | 1103 overprinted | 1991 | "Mars-1" |
| Central African Republic | 1175d (Mi1886A) i1175d (Mi1886B) | One of MS4 (1175 (a-d)) (Mi1883A-1886A) One of imperforate MS4 (i1175 (a-d)) (Mi1883B-1886B) | 1997 | "Mars-1" |
| Chad | 707f (Mi1504A) i707f (Mi1504B) | One stamp and in selvedge of MS6 (707 (a-f)) (Mi1499A-1504A) One stamp and in selvedge of imperforate MS6 (i707 (a-f)) (Mi1499B-1504B) | 1997 | "Mars-1" (in selvedge text) |
| Congo Republic | C55 (Mi136) | 1967 | "Mars-1" (and "Mariner-4") | |
| Congo Republic | C55 ds | Deluxe sheet (C55) | ||
| Congo Republic | C55 proof1 | Signed proof (black) | ||
| Congo Republic | C55 proof2 | Signed proof (red) | ||
| Congo Republic | C55 fdc | Stamp and (Congo Post) cachet on FDC | ||
| Congo Republic | C55 maxi | Stamp on maxicard | ||
| Congo Republic | C54-C55 fdc | One of two stamps on FDC (Éditions J.F. cachet) | ||
| Cuba | 873 (Mi935) | One of block of 5 (877a (873-877 + label)) (Mi933-937), or four of MS20 (877b (4x (873-877))) (Mi933-937) | 1964 | Mars-1 |
| Cuba | 1286 (Mi1355) | 1967 | "Mars-1" | |
| Cuba | 1284-1286+1289 fdc | One of four stamps on FDC | ||
| Cuba | 1289a (BL30) | One of simulated-perforation MS8 (1282-1289) | ||
| Cuba | 1289a fdc | MS8 on FDC | ||
| Cuba | 1515 (Mi1587) | 1970 | Mars-1 (or Venera-1) | |
| Cuba | 1794 (Mi1869) | 1973 | "Mars-3" (in text, but Mars-1 depicted) | |
| Cuba | 2133 (Mi2209) | On stamp, not stamp-on-stamp: Hungary 1216 (Mi1575) | 1977 | Mars-1 (on stamp); Luna-1 (on stamp-on-stamp) |
| Cuba | 2505 (Mi2654) | 1982 | (probable) Mars-3 lander (with heat shield attached) | |
| Cuba | 2585 (Mi2734) | 1983 | "Mars-2" | |
| Cuba | 2696 (Mi2847) | On stamp of SS1 | 1984 | "Mars-5" (in text, but Mars-6/7 type lander depicted with heat shield attached) |
| Czechoslovakia | 1172 (Mi1399) | 1963 | Mars-1 | |
| Czechoslovakia | 1171-1173 fdc | One of three stamps on FDC | ||
| Czechoslovakia | 1175 (BL19) | Imperforate SS1 | ||
| Czechoslovakia | 1175 fdc | Imperforate SS1 on FDC | ||
| Dahomey | C240 (Mi602) iC240 | Imperforate | 1979 | Mars-3 |
| Dahomey | C240a (BL46) | On stamp of SS1 (C240) | ||
| Djibouti | Unknown f (Mi none) Unknown if | One of MS9 (a-i) [known illegal issue] One of imperforate MS9 (a-i) | 2010 | "Mars-1" |
| Djibouti | Unknown proof | Signed-proof imperforate MS9 | ||
| Fujeira | Mi960A Mi960B | One of MS20 (Mi957A-976A) Imperforate | 1972 | Mars-1 |
| Gagouzia | Local | Cambodia 1103 overprinted on 4x Russia 45172 (Mi4494), from strip of 5, also overprint template | 1996? | Mars-1 |
| Gagouzia | Local | Cambodia 1103 overprinted on 4x Russia 45202 (Mi4497), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Gagouzia | Local | Cambodia 1103 overprinted on 4x Russia 57262 (Mi5897), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Gagouzia | Local | Cambodia 1103 overprinted on 4x Russia 57272 (Mi5898), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Gagouzia | Local | Cambodia 1103 overprinted on 4x Russia 57322 (Mi5903), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Gagouzia | Local | Cambodia 1103 overprinted on 4x Russia 57332 (Mi5904), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Gagouzia | Local | Cambodia 1103 overprinted on 4x Russia 5984 (Mi6177), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Gagouzia | Local | Cambodia 1103 overprinted on 4x Russia 6061 (Mi225), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Gagouzia | Local | Cambodia 1103 overprinted on 4x Russia 6068A (Mi268), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Gambia | 2169 (Mi3271) i2169 | Imperforate | 1999 | "Mars-3 orbiter and lander" |
| Germany (East) | None p | (Gesellschaft für Deutsch-Sowjetische Freundschaft) cinderella, one of cinderella MS20 (a-t + 5 labels) | 1975 | Mars-1 (or Venera-1) |
| Germany (West) | None | Cinderella (poster stamp), one of MS30 cinderella | ~1966 | "Mars-1" |
| Grenada | 1999h (Mi2285) | From MS9 (1999 (a-i)) (Mi2278-2286) | 1991 | "Mars-2" |
| Grenada | 1999i (Mi2286) | "Mars-3" lander (with heat shield attached) | ||
| Grenada | i1999h proof | Imperforate proofs, from imperforate MS9 proof (i1999 (a-i)) | "Mars-2" | |
| Grenada | i1999i proof | "Mars-3" lander (with heat shield attached) | ||
| Guinea Republic | Mi10445 | One of MS4 (Mi10442-10445) | 2014 | "Mars-3" lander |
| Guinea Republic | Mi10442-10445_ms fdc | MS4 on FDC | ||
| Guyana | 2874a (Mi4920) i2874a | One of MS9 (2874 (a-i)) (Mi4920-4928) One of imperforate MS9 (i2874 (a-i)) | 1994 | "Mars-3" |
| Hungary | 1568 (Mi1997A) i1568 (Mi1997B) | Imperforate | 1964 | Mars-1 |
| Hungary | 1562+1565+1567-1568 fdc1 | One of four stamps on FDC | ||
| Hungary | 1562+1565+1567-1568 fdc2 | One of four stamps on FDC (different) | ||
| Hungary | 2133 (Mi2740) | One of strip of 2 (2133a (2132-2133 + label)) (Mi2739-2740), or from MS8 (2133b (4x (2132-2133) + 4 labels)) | 1992 | Mars-1 (lander detaching from orbiter) (on stamp, not stamp-on-stamp) |
| Hungary | 2273 (Mi2931) | 1974 | Mars-3 or Mars-7 lander (probably the latter) detaching from the spacecraft | |
| Hungary | 2274 (Mi2932) | "Mars-2" (in text, but Mars-1 depicted) | ||
| Hungary | 2277 (Mi2935) | "Mars-3" lander/capsule (but should be of 4-petal design) and parachute (would have separated before landing) | ||
| Hungary | 2275-2278 fdc | One of four stamps on FDC | (As above for stamps) | |
| Hungary | C348 (BL104) | On stamp of SS1 | "Mars-7" lander (with heat shield attached) | |
| Hungary | C348 fdc | SS1 on FDC | ||
| Hungary | 2499-2500+2503 fdc (Mi3215-3216+3219 fdc) | (Yellow-orange and black printed) cachet on FDC | 1977 | Mars-1 (and/or Venera-1) |
| Hungary | C375 fdc (BL125 fdc) | (Yellow-orange and black printed) cachet on FDC (different) | ||
| Hungary | 2502 (Mi3218A) i2502 (Mi3218B) | Imperforate | "Mars-3" | |
| Hungary | 2499+2501-2502 fdc | One of three stamps on FDC | ||
| Ivory Coast | Unknown d (Mi none) | One of MS4 (a-d) [known illegal issue] | 2012 | "Mars-4" |
| Ivory Coast | Unknown d (Mi none) | One of MS4 (a-d) (different) [known illegal issue] | "Mars-1" | |
| Korea (North) | 1985 (Mi2045) | 1980 | "Mars-3" | |
| Korea (North) | 1985 proof | Deluxe proof (2x 1985) | ||
| Korea (North) | 1985a (Mi2044-2045) | On one of MS2 (1985-1986) | ||
| Korea (North) | 1986_stamp (Mi2045) | "Mars-5" lander (with heat shield attached) | ||
| Korea (North) | 1986 (BL82) | SS1 | ||
| Korea (North) | 1986 proof | Deluxe proof (2x 1986 stamp) | ||
| Korea (North) | 2299 (Mi2360) | 1983 | Mars-1 (but comsat theme) | |
| Korea (North) | 2609 (Mi2783) | From MS10 (2609a (10x 2509)) | 1986 | (Venera-type) Mars or Venera (but comsat theme) |
| Korea (North) | 2683 (Mi2869) | 1987 | (Venera-type) Mars or Venera | |
| Laos | 785 (Mi992) i785 | Imperforate | 1987 | "Mars"-1 |
| Malagasy (DR) | 928 (Mi1210) | 1989 | "Mars-1" | |
| Malagasy (DR) | 928 ds (BL none) | Imperforate deluxe sheet (928) | ||
| Malagasy (DR) | 929 (Mi1211) | "Mars-3" lander (with heat shield attached); also lander and parachute | ||
| Malagasy (DR) | 929 ds (BL none) | Imperforate deluxe sheet (929) | ||
| Madagascar | 1537a (Mi2479) | From MS6 (1537 (a-f)) (Mi2479-2484) | 2000 | "Mars-1" |
| Madagascar | 1537f (Mi2484) | "Mars-3" (with folded solar panels) | ||
| Mali | 1034 (Mi2255-2258) i1034 | In (left) margin of MS4 (1034 (a-d)) In (left) margin of imperforate MS4 (i1034 (a-d)) | 1999 | Mars-1 (or Venera-1) |
| Mali | 1039 (Mi2275-2278) i1039 | In (lower-right) margin of MS4 (1039 (a-d)) In (lower-right) margin of imperforate MS4 (i1039 (a-d)) | 1999 | Mars-2/3 type |
| Mali | Unknown ms (Mi none) | In (lower-right) margin of MS3 (a-c) [known illegal issue] | 2013 | "Mars-3" |
| Micronesia | 334g (Mi707) | From MS20 (334 (a-t)) (Mi701-720) | 1999 | "Mars-1" |
| Micronesia | 334p (Mi716) | "Mars-3" | ||
| Mongolia | 322 (Mi327) | 1963 | Mars-1 (by launch date in text, fantasy image of launch rocket) | |
| Mongolia | 318-322 fdc | One of five stamps on FDC | ||
| Mongolia | 365 (Mi369) | 1964 | "Mars probe" (fantasy image of launch rocket) | |
| Mongolia | C33a (Mi739) | One of MS12 (C33 (a-l)) (Mi736-747) | 1972 | "Mars-1" |
| Mongolia | C123 (Mi1265) | 1979 | "Mars-3" | |
| Mongolia | C128 (BL60) | In (upper) margin of SS1 | Mars (and Mariner-5) | |
| Mongolia | C145 (BL68) | In (left) margin of SS1 | 1980 | "Mars-6" |
| Mordovia | Local (450 value) | Cuba 2133 overprinted on 4x Russia 45203, from strip of 5, also overprint template | 1994 | Mars-1 (on stamp, not stamp-on-stamp) |
| Mordovia | Local (850 value) | Cuba 2133 overprinted on 4x Russia 45203, from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Mordovia | Local (450 value) | Cuba 2133 overprinted on 4x Russia 57333, from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Mordovia | Local (850 value) | Cuba 2133 overprinted on 4x Russia 57333, from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Mordovia | Local (450 value) | Cuba 2133 overprinted on 4x Russia 59843, from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Mordovia | Local (850 value) | Cuba 2133 overprinted on 4x Russia 59843, from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Nagorno-Karabakh | Local1 (300 value) | Malagasy 928 overprinted on 4x Russia 45201 (Mi4497), from strip of 5, also partial overprint template | 1994 | Mars-1 |
| Nagorno-Karabakh | Local2 (700 value) | |||
| Nagorno-Karabakh | Local1 (300 value) | Malagasy 928 overprinted on 4x Russia 57331 (Mi5904), from strip of 5, also partial overprint template | ||
| Nagorno-Karabakh | Local2 (700 value) | |||
| Nagorno-Karabakh | Local1 (300 value) | Malagasy 928 overprinted on 4x Russia 5984 (Mi6177), from strip of 5, also partial overprint template | ||
| Nagorno-Karabakh | Local2 (700 value) | |||
| Nevis | 1212a (Mi1563) i1212a | From MS6 (1212 (a-f)) (Mi1563-1568) From imperforate MS6 (i1212 (a-f)) | 2000 | "Mars-IV probe" (in text, but Mars-6 lander, with heat shield attached, depicted in the Martian atmosphere) |
| Nevis | 1212c (Mi1565) i1212c | "Mars-1" | ||
| Nevis | 1213b (Mi1570) i1213b | One of MS6 (1213 (a-f)) (Mi1569-1574) One of imperforate MS6 (i1213 (a-f)) | "Mars-3" | |
| Nicaragua | 1660 (Mi2822) | 1987 | "Marte-1" (Mars-1) (in text, but Venera-1 depicted) | |
| Nicaragua | 1654+1657+1660 fdc | One of three stamps on FDC | ||
| Niger | 1076b (Mi1909A) i1076b (Mi1908B) | One of MS9 (1076 (a-i)) (Mi1908A-1916A) One of imperforate MS9 (i1076 (a-i)) | 2001 | "Mars-3" |
| Paraguay | C400 (BL236, Mi2614) | On stamp of SS1 | 1974 | Mars-2/3/6/7 type (at lower left) and lander with heat shield attached (at lower right) |
| Poland | 1187 (Mi1446) | 1963 | "Mars-1" | |
| Poland | 1179+1187 fdc | One of two stamps on FDC | ||
| Poland | 1187a (BL31_I) | Two of four stamps in MS4 (2x (1186-1187)) (Mi1445-1446) | ||
| Poland | 1187a_var (BL31_II) | Two of four stamps in MS4 (2x (1186-1187)) (Mi1445-1446), not perforated on top | ||
| Poland | 1187a fdc | MS4 on FDC | ||
| Poland | 1297 (Mi1559) | 1964 | "Mars-1" | |
| Romania | None | (Pictorial) cancel and (green and black printed) cachet on cover | 1987 | "25th anniv. Mars-1 exploration" |
| Russia (USSR) | 2662 (Mi2672) | In overprint on 2631 | 1962 | Mars-1 (by launch date in text) |
| Russia (USSR) | 2666 (Mi2676) | 1962 | "Mars-1" (in text, but propaganda design, detaching from launch rocket); (see also two Mars-1 1st anniv. covers) | |
| Russia (USSR) | 2666 fdc1 | Stamp and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 2666 fdc2 | Stamp and (multi-color printed) cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 2666 fdc3 | Stamp on FDC (Kniga International cachet) | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 2666 cover (Mi2676 cover) | Stamp on cover | 1962? | "Mars-1" (in text, but propaganda design, detaching from launch rocket) |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Red printed and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | 1963 | Cosmonauts Day, and "Mars-1" |
| Russia (USSR) | 2666 card (Mi2676 card) | Stamp on card | 1964 | (As above for stamp) |
| Russia (USSR) | 2884 (Mi2896A) i2884 (Mi2896B) | Imperforate | 1964 | "Mars-1" (same design as cachet on Russia stamped envelope 1964) |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Soviet Ministry of Communications blue and orange and black) cachet on stamped envelope | 1964 | "Mars-1" (same design as Russia 2884); "106 million km" (from Earth) is the distance at which radio contact was lost, and was at that time the farthest-ever radio contact from a spacecraft. |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Soviet Ministry of Communications blue and orange and black) cachet on stamped envelope (canceled), and back | ||
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Soviet Ministry of Communications blue and orange and black) cachet on (airmail) stamped envelope | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 3040 label6 (BL39 label6) | On one of six labels in SS0 (3040 (6 labels only) (Mi none) | 1965 | Mars-1 (or Venera-1) |
| Russia (USSR) | 3397 (BL49, Mi3423) | In (upper and left) margins of SS1 | 1967 | Mars-1 (or Venera-1) |
| Russia (USSR) | 3963 (Mi3996) | 1972 | "Mars-2"; also, the drawing at the upper-left of the stamp represents these pennants1, which were among those carried by some of the Mars spacecraft, including Mars-2 | |
| Russia (USSR) | 3963 maxi | Maxicard | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 3964 (Mi3998) | "Mars-3" lander (with heat shield attached) | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 4012 (Mi4045) | From MS6 (4012a (6x 4012)) | 1972 | Mars-3 lander (on Mars) |
| Russia (USSR) | 4045 (BL82) | Imperforate MS2 (4045 (a-b)) | 1972 | "Mars-3" (and "Venera-8") |
| Russia (USSR) | 4045 fdc | MS2 on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 4045 cover (BL82 cover) | MS2 and (blue and orange-brown printed) cachet on cover | 1972 | "Mars-3" (and "Venera-8") |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Russia 4012) stamp and (multi-color printed) cachet on (airmail) stamped envelope | 1972 | "Mars-3" |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on (airmail) stamped envelope | 1972 | (poorly-depicted) Mars-1 type (upper satellite); Venera-4/8 type (lower satellite) |
| Russia (USSR) | 4071 fdc (Mi4107 fdc) | (Multi-color printed) cachet on FDC, also back | 1973 | Mars-3 (and Venera-8) |
| Russia (USSR) | 4072 fdc (BL86 fdc) | (Multi-color printed) cachet on MS3 FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 4255 (Mi4294) | 1974 | "Mars-4", "Mars-5", "Mars-6", "Mars-7" (in Cyrillic text) | |
| Russia (USSR) | 4255 fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on (airmail) stamped envelope | 1974 | "Mars-4", "Mars-5", "Mars-6", "Mars-7" (in Cyrillic text) |
| Russia (USSR) | 4429 (Mi4462) | 1976 | Mars-2/7 type (in background); Kosmos-97/145 type (in foreground) | |
| Russia (USSR) | 4429 fdc | Stamp and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC | Mars-2/7 type (in red); (also Venera-9/10 lander, in blue) | |
| Russia (USSR) | 4593 (Mi4652) | From MS30 (4593a (30x 4593)) | 1977 | Mars-2/7 type ("Mars-6" in text on fdc2 back); (and Venera-9/14 type and Luna-16) |
| Russia (USSR) | 4593 fdc1 | Stamp and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC, also (airmail) stamped envelope unused | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 4593 fdc2 | Stamp and (Fleetwood) cachet on FDC, also back | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 4593 fdc3 | Stamp and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 4593 maxi | Maxicard | ||
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Pink and yellow and green printed) cachet on stamped envelope | 1977 | Mars-2/7 type (and Venera-4/8 type and Luna-16) |
| Russia (USSR) | 4669 (BL129, Mi4734) | In (right) margin of SS1 | 1978 | Mars-2/7 type (and Venera-9/14 type) |
| Russia (USSR) | 4669 fdc | SS1 on FDC, also back | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 5296 fdc (Mi5438 fdc) | (Multi-color printed) cachet on FDC | 1984 | Mars-2/7 type (and Venera-9/14 type and Lunokhod-1/2) |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on stamped envelope | 1987 | Mars-2/7 type (and Venera-9/14 type and Lunokhod-1/2) |
| Russia (USSR) | 5547 (Mi5700) | On stamp and in (lower-right) margin of MS8 (5547a (8x 5547)) | 1987 | "Mars-1" |
| Russia (USSR) | 5547 fdc | Stamp and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 5547 maxi | Maxicard | ||
| Russia | 7582a folder (Mi1208 folder) | MS15 folder | 2016 | "Mars-3" |
| Rwanda | Unknown b (Mi none) | One of MS4 (a-d) [known illegal issue] | 2012 | "Mars-1" |
| Sierra Leone | 1073f (Mi1244) | From MS9 (1073 (a-i)) (Mi1239-1247) | 1989 | "Mars-2" |
| Sierra Leone | 1073i (Mi1247) | "Mars-3" lander (with heat shield attached) | ||
| Sierra Leone | 1073f specimen | From MS9 (1073 specimen (a-i)) | "Mars-2" | |
| Sierra Leone | 1073i specimen | "Mars-3" lander (with heat shield attached) | ||
| Sierra Leone | 1167h (Mi1363) | From MS9 (1167 (a-i)) (Mi1356-1364) | 1990 | "Mars-2" |
| Sierra Leone | 1167i (Mi1364) | "Mars-3" lander (with heat shield attached) | ||
| Sierra Leone | 1167 fdc | MS9 on FDC | (As above for stamps) | |
| Staffa (Scotland) | Local_g Local_ig | One of local post MS8 (a-h) One of imperforate local post MS8 (a-h) | 1974 | "Mars-3" |
| Staffa (Scotland) | Local g o/p1 | One of local post MS8 overprinted in silver (a-h) | 1998 | "Mars-3" |
| Staffa (Scotland) | Local g o/p2 | One of local post MS8 overprinted in gold (a-h) | ||
| Tartari Republic | Local fdc | (Multi-color printed) cachet on local post FDC | 1995 | Mars-2 (same design as Cuba 2585) |
| Udmurtia | Local | Cambodia 1103 overprinted on 4x Russia 45202 (Mi4497), from strip of 5, also overprint template | 1997 | Mars-1 |
| Udmurtia | Local | Cambodia 1103 overprinted on 4x Russia 57332 (Mi5904), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Udmurtia | Local | Cambodia 1103 overprinted on 4x Russia 5984 (Mi6177), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Udmurtia | Local fdc1 | On strip of 5 on local post FDC | ||
| Udmurtia | Local fdc2 | On two strips of 5 on local post FDC | ||
| Umm Al Qiwain | Mi1066A Mi1066B | One of MS16 (Mi1066A-1081A) One of imperforate MS16 (Mi1066B-1081B) | 1972 | (possible) Mars-1 series satellite inside the fourth stage booster of its launch rocket (from which it will separate to begin its Mars journey) |
| Umm Al Qiwain | Mi1066A ds1 | Deluxe sheet (Mi1066A), white border | ||
| Umm Al Qiwain | Mi1066A ds2 | Deluxe sheet (Mi1066A), blue border | ||
| Umm Al Qiwain | Mi1066B ds1 | Imperforate deluxe sheet (Mi1066B), pink border | ||
| Umm Al Qiwain | Mi1066B ds2 | Imperforate deluxe sheet (Mi1066B), white border | ||
| Umm Al Qiwain | Mi1075A Mi1075B | One of MS16 (Mi1066A-1081A) One of imperforate MS16 (Mi1066B-1081B) | Mars-1 (or Venera-1) | |
| Umm Al Qiwain | Mi1075A ds1 | Deluxe sheet (Mi1075A), white border | ||
| Umm Al Qiwain | Mi1075A ds2 | Deluxe sheet (Mi1075A), blue border | ||
| Umm Al Qiwain | Mi1075B ds1 | Imperforate deluxe sheet (Mi1075B), pink border | ||
| Umm Al Qiwain | Mi1075B ds2 | Imperforate deluxe sheet (Mi1075B), white border | ||
| Umm Al Qiwain | Mi1082A Mi1082B | One of MS16 (Mi1082A-1097A) One of imperforate MS16 (Mi1082B-1097B) | 1972 | (possible) Mars-1 series satellite inside the fourth stage booster of its launch rocket (from which it will separate to begin its Mars journey) |
| Umm Al Qiwain | Mi1091A Mi1091B | One of MS16 (Mi1082A-1097A) One of imperforate MS16 (Mi1082B-1097B) | 1972 | Mars-1 (or Venera-1) |
| United States | None | (Midwest Postage Stamp and Coin Show/ATA) cachet (with reproduction of Czechoslovakia 1172) on cover | 1977 | Mars-1 |
| Vietnam (North) | 251 (Mi258) i251 | Imperforate | 1963 | "Fire Star-1" (Mars-1) |
| Vietnam (North) | 252 (Mi259) i252 | Imperforate | ||
| Vietnam (North) | 253 (Mi260) i253 | Imperforate | "Mars-1" | |
| Vietnam (North) | 254 (Mi261) i254 | Imperforate | ||
| Vietnam (North) | 251-254 fdc1 i251-i254 fdc1 | Four stamps on FDC (blank/no cachet) Four imperforate stamps on FDC (blank/no cachet) | (As above for stamps) | |
| Vietnam (North) | 251-254 fdc2 | Four stamps and (black and orange printed) cachet on FDC | ||
| Vietnam (North) | 251-254+i251-i254 fdc | Four perforated stamps and four imperforate stamps on FDC (blank/no cachet) | ||
1The word "pennant" usually refers to a tapering flag on a ship or, in North America, a flag identifying a sports championship or team. The word has, however, a particular meaning in the context of early Soviet lunar and planetary spacecraft, which carried small embossed and/or engraved highly-durable titanium "plaques" with artwork (done in thermoresistant polysiloxane enamels) and information related to the Soviet Union (USSR) and to the mission. Those small plaques are referred to as "pennants". A few dozen of each type were minted, some of which were installed in the spacecraft, while others were given to VIPs and top scientists. Some of the Mars spacecraft did carry such pennants. Many of the Soviet Luna and Venera spacecraft also carried them. More information on Soviet spacecraft pennants can be found here.
2See here for a list of engraved/lithographed Russian definitive pairs known to exist with satellite overprints.
3See here for a list of engraved/lithographed Russian definitive pairs known to exist with satellite overprints.
Below is a list of Mars-series spacecraft launch covers (including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers).
| Country | Cancel Date | Cancel Location | Type of Item | Notes on Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mars (Russia/USSR) | ||||
| 1962-11-01: Mars-1 | ||||
| Russia (USSR) | 1962-11-01 | Vilnius | (Two printed) cachets on cover | Mars-1 launch |
| Russia (USSR) | 1962-11-01 | Vilnius | (Two printed) cachets on cover | Mars-1 launch |
| Russia (USSR) | 1962-11-01 (in cachet text) | no cancel | (Multi-color printed) cachet on stamped envelope | Mars-1 launch |
| Russia (USSR) | 1962-11-01 | Minsk | (Red and blue printed and red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Mars-1 launch |
| Russia (USSR) | 1962-11-01 | Baku | (Blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Mars-1 launch |
| Mars-1 (events) | ||||
| Russia (USSR) | 1962-11-17 | Vilnius | (Blue and black printed) cachet on cover | Mars-1 course correction?; Mars-1 launch date (in both cachets); also Russia 2666 FDC) |
| Russia (USSR) | 1962-11-17 | Vilnius | (Blue and black printed) cachets (colors reversed from item above) on cover | Mars-1 course correction?; Mars-1 launch date (in both cachets); also Russia 2666 FDC) |
| Russia (USSR) | 1962-12-14 | Perm | (Red printed and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Mars-1 at "15,000,000 km" from Earth |
| Russia (USSR) | 1962-12-20 | Lvov, Ukrainian SSR | (Multi-color printed and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Mars-1 at "17,577,000 km" from Earth |
| Russia (USSR) | 1962-12-20 | Lvov, Ukrainian SSR | (Multi-color printed and violet rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Mars-1 at "17,577,000 km" from Earth |
| Russia (USSR) | 1963-03-16 | Perm | (Blue printed and purple and gold rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Mars-1 at "100,000,000 km" from Earth |
| Russia (USSR) | 1963-05-20 | Archangelsk | (Blue and red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Mars-1 at "200 million kilometres" (in both cachets) |
| Russia (USSR) | 1963-05-20 | Archangelsk | (Purple and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Mars-1 at "200 million kilometres" (in both cachets) |
| Mars-1 (anniversaries) | ||||
| Russia (USSR) | 1962-12-01 | Minsk | (Two printed) cachets on cover | 1-month anniv. Mars-1 launch; Mars-1 launch date (in both cachets) |
| Russia (USSR) | 1962-12-01 | Archangelsk | (Black printed and red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | 1-month anniv. Mars-1 launch; Mars-1 launch date (in both cachets) |
| Russia (USSR) | 1962-12-01 | Tambov | (Blue and red and black printed and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | 1-month anniv. Mars-1 launch (in cancel and black cachet), also pennant1; Mars-1 launch date (in both cachets, but two transposed characters: "I-IX-62" instead of the correct "I-XI-62" in blue-and-red cachet) |
| Russia (USSR) | 1962-12-01 | Taganrog | (Red printed and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | 1-month anniv. Mars-1 launch; Mars-1 launch and event dates (in black rubber-stamp cachet) |
| Russia (USSR) | 1962-12-01 | Riga | (Purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | 1-month anniv. Mars-1 launch; Mars-1 launch date (in rubber-stamp cachet) |
| Russia (USSR) | 1963-11-01 | Tartu | (TKK/AA2 no.4 black printed and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | 1st anniv. Mars-1 launch |
| 1971-05-19: Mars-2 | ||||
| Russia (USSR) | 1971-05-20 | Tartu | (TKK/AA2 no.235 multi-color printed and orange rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Mars-2 launch |
| Russia (USSR) | 1971-05-20 | Tartu | (TKK/AA2 no.235 multi-color printed and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Mars-2 launch |
| Mars-2 (events) | ||||
| Germany (West) | 1971-11-27 | Bochum | (InterCover) cachet on cover | Mars-2 enters Mars orbit |
| Russia (USSR) | 1971-11-27 | Moscow International4 PO | (Swanson) cachet on cover | Mars-2 enters Mars orbit |
| Russia (USSR) | 1971-11-27 | Moscow International4 PO | (Swanson) cachet (and signature) on cover | Mars-2 enters Mars orbit |
| Germany (West) | 1971-12-02 1971-11-14 | Gmünd | (Red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | "Mars-2" orbiter in Mars orbit; "Mars-3" orbiter enters Mars orbit, and lander successful soft landing on Mars "Mariner-9" entry into Mars orbit |
| Russia (USSR) | 1971-12-28 | Tartu | (TKK/AA2 no.235 multi-color printed and red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Mars-2 orbiter in Mars orbit |
| 1971-05-28: Mars-3 | ||||
| Russia (USSR) | 1971-05-29 | Tartu | (TKK/AA2 no.236 multi-color printed and red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Mars-3 launch |
| Russia (USSR) | 1971-05-29 | Tartu | (TKK/AA2 no.236 multi-color printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Mars-3 launch |
| Mars-3 (events) | ||||
| Russia (USSR) | 1971-12-02 | Moscow International4 PO | (Swanson) cachet on cover | Mars-3 successful soft landing on Mars |
| Russia (USSR) | 1971-12-02 | Moscow International4 PO | (Swanson) cachet (and signature) on cover | Mars-3 successful soft landing on Mars |
| Germany (West) | 1971-12-02 1971-11-14 | Gmünd | (Red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | "Mars-3" orbiter enters Mars orbit, and lander successful soft landing on Mars; "Mars-2" orbiter in Mars orbit "Mariner-9" entry into Mars orbit |
| Russia (USSR) | 1971-12-03 | Tartu | (TKK/AA2 no.236 multi-color printed and red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Mars-3 successful soft landing on Mars |
| 1973-07-21: Mars-4 | ||||
| Russia (USSR) | 1973-07-21 | Moscow International4 PO | (W. Anklam) cachet on cover | Mars-4 launch |
| Mars-4 (events) | ||||
| Russia (USSR) | 1974-02-10 | Moscow International4 PO | (W. Anklam) cachet on cover | Mars-4 flyby of Mars |
| 1973-07-25: Mars-5 | ||||
| Russia (USSR) | 1973-07-25 | Baikonur Karaganda Oblast | (Red and green printed and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on (known fake3) cover | Mars-5 launch |
| Russia (USSR) | 1973-07-28 | Moscow International4 PO | (Anklam) cachet on cover | Mars-5 launch (3 days earlier) |
| Mars-5 (events) | ||||
| Russia (USSR) | 1974-02-12 | Moscow International4 PO | (Anklam) cachet on cover | Mars-5 orbiting Mars |
| 1973-08-05: Mars-6 | ||||
| Russia (USSR) | 1973-08-05 | Moscow International4 PO | (Anklam) cachet on cover | Mars-6 launch |
| Mars-6 (events) | ||||
| Russia (USSR) | 1974-03-12 | Moscow International4 PO | (Anklam) cachet on cover | Mars-6 landing on Mars |
| 1973-08-09: Mars-7 | ||||
| Russia (USSR) | 1973-08-09 | Moscow International4 PO | (W. Anklam) cachet on cover | Mars-7 launch |
| Russia (USSR) | 1973-08-09 | Moscow International4 PO | (W. Anklam) cachet (and signature) on cover | Mars-7 launch |
| Mars-7 (events) | ||||
| Russia (USSR) | 1974-03-09 | Moscow International4 PO | (Wolfgang Anklam) cachet on cover | Mars-7 flyby of Mars |
| 1996-11-16: Mars-8 | ||||
| No launch cover images available yet | ||||
| Mars (on other than Mars launch covers) | ||||
| Russia (USSR) | 1983-03-12 | Baikonur Cosmodrome | (Green and orange printed) cachet on Ekran-10 launch cover | Mars-2/7 type |
| United States | 1992-09-25 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (NASA/GE/JPL) insert from Mars Observer launch cover, also insert back and cover front and cover back | The canceled Soviet spacecraft Mars-'94 (here is another drawing) would have deployed several scientific balloons designed to drift in the Martian atmosphere. |
1The word "pennant" usually refers to a tapering flag on a ship or, in North America, a flag identifying a sports championship or team. The word has, however, a particular meaning in the context of early Soviet lunar and planetary spacecraft, which carried small embossed and/or engraved highly-durable titanium "plaques" with artwork (done in thermoresistant polysiloxane enamels) and information related to the Soviet Union (USSR) and to the mission. Those small plaques are referred to as "pennants". A few dozen of each type were minted, some of which were installed in the spacecraft, while others were given to VIPs and top scientists. Some of the Mars spacecraft did carry such pennants. Many of the Soviet Luna and Venera spacecraft also carried them. More information on Soviet spacecraft pennants can be found here.
2AA no.: Tartuski Klub Kollektsionerov (TKK) [Tartu Collector Club] "Astronautika Annaalid" number. See Jim Reichman's Philatelic Study Report on Tartu Space Club Covers, 1962-1978, 2011. (e-mail: jgreichman (at) datawest.net).
3Known fake cover, with a made-up Baikonur postmark, suspected to have been created by Boris Khoroshev from Moscow, and sold by a stamp dealer in Western Europe. There were no Baikonur Cosmodrome official postmarks until 1975 for the Apollo-Soyuz events. Reference the article written by Russian collector Oleg Vaisberg published as an Appendix called "Russian (Soviet) Space Covers" to Bruce Cranford's book Space Covers: Dictionary and Identifier. See also, an analysis of the situation in a book published in 2008 called Commemorative Space Covers from Collector Clubs of the Soviet Union, 1957 to 1980. Another indicator on these fakes is the use of a "first day" cachet that appears on most, but not all, of these fakes.
4"Moscow International (Moskva Mezhdunarodnaya) Post Office" is the cancellation often used on the Soviet "Kniga International" ("International Book") philatelic covers; see Jim Reichman's Commemorative Space Covers from Collector Clubs of the Soviet Union, 2008 (e-mail: jgreichman (at) datawest.net).
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