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Molniya
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Molniya
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This page contains philatelic information on the Molniya-series satellites. 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.
The Molniya name was later used for a series of Russian launch vehicles and to describe highly-elliptical (Molniya) orbits. Postal items featuring Molniya launch vehicles or mentioning Molniya orbits are not covered in this checklist.
| 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) |
|---|---|---|
| Molniya (Russia/USSR) | Molniya (Russia/USSR) | Molniya (Russia/USSR) |
| Molniya (on other than Molniya launch covers) |
Below is a list of Molniya-series satellite postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.).
| Country | Catalog Number | Type of Item | Year of Issue | Notes on Content* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Molniya (Russia/USSR) | ||||
| Abkhazia | Mi342 | One of MS8 (Mi338-345 + label) | 1999 | Molniya-1 |
| Austria | None | (Pictorial) cancel and (green printed) cachet on postal card | 1965 | "Molniya" (in cachet text) |
| Austria | None | (Blue printed) cachet on cover | 1974 | Molniya-1 |
| Belarus | 100 (Mi89) | 1995 | Molniya-2/3 type | |
| Bulgaria | 1632 (Mi1760) | 1967 | "Molniya-1" (also launch date for Molniya-1-1 on stamp) | |
| Bulgaria | 1632 var | 1632 with missing purple color | ||
| Bulgaria | 1632-1634 fdc | One of three stamps on FDC | ||
| Bulgaria | 2108 (BL42) 2108a (BL43) | In (upper) margin of SS1 In (upper) margin of imperforate SS1, changed colors | 1973 | Molniya-1 |
| Bulgaria | 2583 (Mi2774) | 1979 | Molniya-1 | |
| Bulgaria | 2584 (BL88A) i2584 (BL88B) | In (upper-right) margin of SS1 In (upper-right) margin of imperforate SS1 | ||
| Bulgaria | 2631 var (BL95) | In (upper-right) margin of imperforate SS1, 2631 margin overprinted in gold | 1979 | "Molniya-1" |
| Buriatia Republic | Local | Mongolia 1689 overprinted on 2x Russia 57253 (Mi5896), from strip of 5, also partial overprint template | 1994 | Molniya-1 |
| Buriatia Republic | Local | Mongolia 1689 overprinted on 2x Russia 57333 (Mi5904), from strip of 5, also partial overprint template | ||
| Buriatia Republic | Local | Mongolia 1689 overprinted on 2x Russia 5987 (Mi6180), from strip of 5, also partial overprint template | ||
| Buriatia Republic | Local | In (upper-right) corner of Russia 5987 (Mi6180) overprinted1 with various satellites | 1995 | Molniya-1 |
| Cameroun | C100 (Mi534) | 1968 | Molniya-1 (without solar panels) | |
| Cameroun | C100 fdc | Stamp and (Éditions So.Ge.Im.) cachet on FDC | ||
| Cameroun | C101 (Mi535) | Molniya-1 (mis-spelled "Molnia" in text) obtained or transmitted2 image of Earth | ||
| Cameroun | C101 fdc | Stamp and (Éditions So.Ge.Im.) cachet on FDC | ||
| Central African Republic | 1173b (Mi1876A) i1173b (Mi1876B) | One of MS4 (1173 (a-d)) (Mi1875A-1878A) One of imperforate MS4 (i1173 (a-d)) (Mi1875B-1878B) | 1997 | "Molniya"-2/3 type |
| Chad | 705d (Mi1490A) i705d (Mi1490B) | One stamp and in selvedge of MS6 (705 (a-f)) (Mi1487A-1492A) One stamp and in selvedge of imperforate MS6 (i705 (a-f)) (Mi1487B-1492B) | 1997 | "Molniya-1" (in selvedge text) |
| Chad | Unknown a (Mi?) | One of MS9 (a-i) | 2001 | Molniya-1 |
| Comoro Islands | Mi427A Mi427B | Imperforate | 1978 | Molniya-1 |
| Comoro Islands | 479 (Mi578) | Mi427A overprinted | 1979 | Molniya-1 |
| Cuba | 1282-1283+1287-1288 fdc (Mi1351-1352+1356-1357 fdc) | (Pictorial) cancel on FDC | 1967 | Molniya-1 |
| Cuba | 1284-1286+1289 fdc (Mi1353-1355+1358 fdc) | (Pictorial) cancel on FDC | ||
| Cuba | 1289a fdc (BL30 fdc) | (Pictorial) cancel on FDC | ||
| Cuba | 1793 (Mi1868) | 1973 | "Molniya-1" | |
| Cuba | 1941 (Mi2016) | 1974 | Molniya-1 | |
| Cuba | 1942 (Mi2017) | |||
| Cuba | C283 (Mi2300) | 1978 | Molniya-1 | |
| Cuba | C304 (Mi2344) | 1978 | Molniya-1 | |
| Cuba | 2323 (Mi2472) | 1980 | Molniya-1 | |
| Czechoslovakia | 1936 (Mi2200) | From MS24 (1936a (25x 1936)) | 1974 | Molniya-1 |
| Czechoslovakia | 1936 fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Czechoslovakia | 1936 card | Stamp on FDC card | ||
| Czechoslovakia | 1967 (Mi2227) | 1974 | Molniya-1 | |
| Czechoslovakia | 2094 (Mi2355) | 1976 | Molniya-1 | |
| Czechoslovakia | 2305 (Mi2560) | 1980 | Molniya-1 | |
| Czechoslovakia | 2303+2305-2306 fdc | One of three stamps on FDC | ||
| Czechoslovakia | 2414 (BL49) | In (upper-left) margin of MS2 (2x 2414a) | 1982 | large image of Molniya (without solar panels), in addition to small image of Molniya symbolically scanning the Earth |
| Czechoslovakia | None | Printed stamp on stamped envelope | 1983 | Molniya-1 |
| Czechoslovakia | None | Printed stamp (like 1936, except different face value) on stamped envelope | 1984 | Molniya-1 |
| Czechoslovakia | 2671 (Mi2926) | 1987 | Molniya-1 | |
| Djibouti | C234a (BL142A) iC234a (BL142B) | In (lower-right) margin of SS1 (C234) In (lower-right) margin of imperforate SS1 (iC234) | 1987 | "Molniya-3" |
| Djibouti | C234a fdc | SS1 on FDC | ||
| Djibouti | Unknown e (Mi none) Unknown ie | One of MS9 (a-i) [known illegal issue] One of imperforate MS9 (a-i) | 2010 | Molniya-1 (mis-spelled "Molnya" in text) |
| Djibouti | Unknown e proof Unknown ie proof | One of MS9 proof (a-i) One of imperforate MS9 proof (a-i) | ||
| Djibouti | Unknown ms proof fdc Unknown ims proof fdc | MS9 proof on FDC Imperforate MS9 proof on FDC | ||
| Dominica | 2238f (Mi2901) | One of MS6 (2238 (a-f)) (Mi2896-2901) | 2000 | Molniya-1 |
| Equatorial Guinea | BL139 | On stamp of SS1 | 1974 | Molniya-1 |
| Eritrea | Unknown o/p (Mi?) | Overprint, one of MS8 (a-h) | 1991 | Molniya-1 |
| Gabon | Unknown ms (Mi?) Unknown ims | In (lower-left) margin of MS2 (a-b) In (lower-left) margin of imperforate MS2 (a-b) | 2007 | Molniya-2/3 type |
| Germany (East) | 1267 (Mi1641) | One of MS8 (1269a (1262-1269)) (Mi1636-1643) | 1971 | Molniya-1 |
| Germany (East) | 1269a fdc | MS8 on FDC | ||
| Germany (East) | None c | (Gesellschaft für Deutsch-Sowjetische Freundschaft) cinderella, one of cinderella MS20 (a-t + 5 labels) | 1975 | Molniya-1 (at right) |
| Germany (East) | None t | (Gesellschaft für Deutsch-Sowjetische Freundschaft) cinderella, one of cinderella MS20 (a-t + 5 labels) | 1981 | Two Molniya satellites |
| Germany (East) | None b | (Gesellschaft für Deutsch-Sowjetische Freundschaft) cinderella, one of cinderella MS20 (a-t + 5 labels) | 1984 | Molniya-1 (not "Interkosmos" as in text) |
| Germany (East) | 2823 (Mi3335) | 1990 | Molniya-1 | |
| Germany (East) | 2824 (BL101) | In (upper-right) margin of SS1 | ||
| Great Britain | 1375a+1377a fdc (Mi1337-1340 fdc) | Insert from FDC, also front (Benham cachet, and second cancel for 30th anniv. Gagarin's flight) | 1991 | "The Intelsat series and the Soviet Molniya have proved vital to world communications" |
| Guinea Republic | 952 (BL168A) i952 (BL168B) | On stamp of SS1 On stamp of imperforate SS1 | 1985 | Molniya-2/3 type |
| Guinea-Bissau | 368E (Mi402) | 1976 | Molniya-1 | |
| Guinea-Bissau | 368-368A-E fdc | One of six stamps on FDC | ||
| Guinea-Bissau | 368Ef (BL35) | |||
| Guinea-Bissau | 465 (Mi666) | 1983 | Molniya-1 | |
| Guinea-Bissau | 537-540 fdc (Mi699-702 fdc) | (Multi-color printed) cachet on FDC | 1983 | |
| Guinea-Bissau | 541-543 fdc (Mi703-705 fdc) | (Multi-color printed) cachet on FDC | ||
| Hungary | C255 (Mi2196A) iC255 (Mi2196B) | Imperforate | 1965 | "Molniya-1" |
| Hungary | C255-C256+C259 fdc | One of three stamps on FDC (Hungary Post cachet) | ||
| Hungary | B300 (Mi2813) | 1972 | Molniya-1 | |
| Hungary | 2410 (Mi3105) | From MS4 (2410a (4x 2410)) | 1976 | Molniya-1 |
| Hungary | 2540 (Mi3315A) i2540 (Mi3315B) | Imperforate | 1978 | Molniya-1 |
| Hungary | 2540 fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Hungary | 2806 (Mi3636) i2806 | Imperforate | 1983 | Molniya-1 |
| Hungary | 2812 (BL167A) i2812 (BL167B) | On stamp of SS1 On stamp of imperforate SS1 | ||
| Kabardino-Balkaria | Local | In (upper-right) corner of Russia 5987 (Mi6180) overprinted1 | 1992 | Molniya-1 |
| Kazakhstan | Local | In (upper-right) corner of Russia 5987 (Mi6180) overprinted1 | 1992 | Molniya-1 |
| Kolyma | Local | Russia 3288 overprinted on 4x Russia 57263 (Mi5897), also overprint template | 1994 | Molniya-1 |
| Kolyma | Local | Russia 3288 overprinted on 4x Russia 6064 (Mi261), also overprint template | ||
| Kolyma | Local | Russia 3288 overprinted on 4x Russia 6066 (Mi232), also overprint template | ||
| Korea (North) | 1710 (BL49) | In (lower-right) margin of SS1 | 1978 | Molniya-1 |
| Korea (North) | 1768a (Mi1780) | One of MS4 (1767a (1765-1767 + 1768a)) (Mi1777-1780) | 1978 | Molniya-1 |
| Korea (North) | 1768 (BL52) | On stamp and in (upper-right) margin of SS1 | ||
| Korea (North) | 1801a (Mi1797-1801) i1801a | In (upper-right) margin of MS6 (1801 (a-f)), also detail In (upper-right) margin of imperforate MS6 (i1801 (a-f)) | 1979 | Molniya-1 |
| Korea (North) | 2025a (Mi_2098-C2098) | In (upper) margin of MS4 (2023-2026) | 1981 | Molniya-1 |
| Korea (North) | 2032 (BL?) | In (upper-right) margin of SS1 | ||
| Korea (North) | 2063 (BL_A49) | In (lower-right) margin of SS1, 1710 overprinted | 1981 | Molniya-1 |
| Korea (North) | 2085 (BL98) i2085 | In (upper-left) margin of SS1 In (upper-left) margin of imperforate SS1 | 1981 | Molniya-1 |
| Korea (North) | 2216 (Mi_A2094-A2097) i2216 | In (upper) margin of MS4 (2216 (a-d)), 2025a overprinted in blue In (upper) margin of imperforate MS4 (i2216 (a-d)), i2025a overprinted in blue | 1982 | Molniya-1 |
| Korea (North) | 2275 (BL_A98) i2275 | In (upper-left) margin of SS1, 2085 overprinted In (upper-left) margin of imperforate SS1, i2085 overprinted | 1983 | Molniya-1 |
| Korea (North) | 2332a (Mi2403) i2332a | One of MS3 (2332 (a-c)) (BL153) One of imperforate MS3 (i2332 (a-c)) | 1983 | Molniya-1 |
| Korea (North) | 2432+cancel (BL190+cancel) | (Pictorial) cancel on SS1 | 1984 | Molniya-1 |
| Korea (North) | 2507 (BL203) | In (lower-left) margin of SS1 | 1985 | Molniya-1 |
| Korea (North) | 2658b (Mi2843-2844) | In (upper-left) margin of MS10 (5x 2658a (2657-2658)) | 1987 | Molniya-1 |
| Korea (North) | 3136a (Mi3334-3338) | In (upper-left) margin of MS4 (3133-3136 + label) | 1992 | Molniya-1 |
| Korea (North) | 3265b (BL?) | MS3 (3265+3267-3268) | 1993 | Molniya-1 |
| Korea (North) | 3268 (Mi3486) | |||
| Korea (North) | 3710 (Mi4014) | 1998 | Molniya-1 | |
| Korea (North) | 3711a (Mi4014-4016) | MS6 (2x (3710-3712)) | ||
| Korea (North) | 3711 pane (Mi4014-4015 pane) | Booklet pane of 10 (5x (3710-3711)) | ||
| Korea (North) | 3805 (Mi4106) i3805 | Imperforate | 1999 | Molniya-1 |
| Korea (North) | 3906 (Mi4209) i3906 | Imperforate | 1999 | Molniya-1 |
| Liberia | 665 (Mi909) i665 | Imperforate | 1974 | Molniya-1 |
| Liberia | 665 ds | Deluxe sheet (665) | ||
| Libya | 1306f (Mi1664) | One of MS6 (1306 (a-f)) (Mi1659-1664) | 1986 | Molniya-2/3 type |
| Mali | C97 (Mi234) iC97 | Imperforate | 1970 | Molniya-1 |
| Mali | C108 (Mi245) | C97 overprinted | 1970 | Molniya-1 |
| Mali | Unknown ms (Mi none) | In (upper-left) margin of MS3 (a-c) [known illegal issue] | 2013 | "Molniya-1" |
| Mali | Unknown ms (Mi none) | In (upper-left) margin of MS3 (a-c) [known illegal issue] | "Molniya-3" | |
| Mali | Unknown ms (Mi none) | In (upper-left) margin of MS3 (a-c) [known illegal issue] | "Molniya-3" | |
| Mali | Unknown fdc | MS3 on FDC | ||
| Mongolia | 442 (Mi455) | 1966 | "Molniya-1" (also launch date in text) | |
| Mongolia | C16 (Mi694) | 1972 | Molniya-1 | |
| Mongolia | C91 (BL49) | On stamp of SS1 | 1977 | Molniya-1 |
| Mongolia | 977 (Mi1098) | 1977 | Molniya-1 | |
| Mongolia | C109 (BL53) | 1978 | Molniya-1 (at lower-right) | |
| Mongolia | 1377 (BL100) i1377 | In (upper) margin of SS1 In (upper) margin of imperforate SS1 | 1984 | Molniya-1 |
| Mongolia | 1658 (BL125) | In (upper-left) margin of SS1 | 1987 | Molniya-1 |
| Mongolia | 1689 (Mi1978) | 1988 | Molniya-1 | |
| Mongolia | 1704 (BL130) | In (upper-right) margin of SS1 | 1988 | "Molniya-3" (in Cyrillic) |
| Nagorno-Karabakh | Local1 | Russia 5987 overprinted in red | 1993 | Molniya-1 |
| Nagorno-Karabakh | Local2 | Russia 5987 overprinted in red and green | ||
| Oman State | Unlisted h (Mi unlisted) Unlisted ih | One of MS8 (a-h) One of imperforate MS8 (a-h) | 1974 | "Molniya"-1 |
| Oman State | Unlisted fdc | MS8 on FDC | ||
| Oman State | Unlisted h o/p1 (Mi unlisted) | One of MS8 overprinted in silver (a-h) | 1998 | "Molniya"-1 |
| Oman State | Unlisted h o/p1 inv (Mi unlisted) | One of MS8 overprinted in silver inverted (a-h) | ||
| Oman State | Unlisted h o/p2 (Mi unlisted) | One of MS8 overprinted in gold (a-h) | ||
| Osetia Republic | Local (350 value) | Cuba 2323 overprinted on 4x Russia 45173 (Mi4494), from strip of 5, also overprint template | 1994 | Molniya-1 |
| Osetia Republic | Local (850 value) | |||
| Osetia Republic | Local (350 value) | Cuba 2323 overprinted on 4x Russia 45193 (Mi4496), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Osetia Republic | Local (850 value) | |||
| Osetia Republic | Local (350 value) | Cuba 2323 overprinted on 4x Russia 45203 (Mi4497), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Osetia Republic | Local (850 value) | |||
| Osetia Republic | Local (350 value) | Cuba 2323 overprinted on 4x Russia 45213 (Mi4498), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Osetia Republic | Local (850 value) | |||
| Osetia Republic | Local (350 value) | Cuba 2323 overprinted on 4x Russia 57243 (Mi5895), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Osetia Republic | Local (850 value) | |||
| Osetia Republic | Local (350 value) | Cuba 2323 overprinted on 4x Russia 57323 (Mi5903), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Osetia Republic | Local (850 value) | |||
| Osetia Republic | Local (350 value) | Cuba 2323 overprinted on 4x Russia 57333 (Mi5904), from strip of 5, also overprint template | ||
| Osetia Republic | Local (850 value) | |||
| Ossetia Republic [two s's] | Local o/p | Overprint of local post stamp | 1998 | Molniya-1 |
| Ossetia Republic [two s's] | Local fdc | Overprinted local post stamp and (pictorial) cancel on FDC | ||
| Poland | None | Postal card | 1984 | Molniya-1 |
| Romania | 1804 (Mi2467) | 1965 | Molniya-1 | |
| Romania | 2422 cover (Mi3128 cover) | (Magenta printed) cachet on cover | 1983 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 3195 (Mi3207) | From MS25 (3195a (25x 3195)) | 1966 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 3245 (Mi3270) | 1966 | Molniya-1 | |
| Russia (USSR) | 3273 (Mi3295) | 1966 | Molniya-1 | |
| Russia (USSR) | 3288 (Mi3312) | 1966 | Molniya-1 | |
| Russia (USSR) | 3288-3289 fdc | One of two stamps on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Blue printed) cachet on (airmail) stamped envelope | 1966 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on stamped envelope | 1966 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 3358 (Mi3378) | 1967 | Molniya-1 | |
| Russia (USSR) | 3543 (BL53) | MS3 (3543 (a-c + 3 labels)) | 1968 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Red pictorial) cancel and (multi-color printed) cachet on stamped envelope | 1968 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Black pictorial) cancel and (multi-color printed) cachet on stamped envelope, also extra (Russia 3195) stamp | 1968 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet (different) on (airmail) stamped envelope | 1968 | "Molniya-1" |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Postcard back | late 1960s | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 3841 (Mi3868) | 1971 | Molniya-1 | |
| Russia (USSR) | 3844 (BL69) | In (lower-left) margin of MS4 (3844 (a-d)) | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 3844 fdc | MS4 on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Red-brown and blue and grey printed) cachet on (un-stamped) envelope (with cancel) | 1971 | "Molniya-1" |
| Russia (USSR) | 4014 (Mi4049) | 1972 | Edge-on view of Molniya | |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Extra (4014) stamp and (similarly-designed) cachet on stamped envelope | 1972 | Edge-on view of Molniya |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Similarly-designed) cachet on stamped envelope (same) | 1972 | Edge-on view of Molniya |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on (airmail) stamped envelope | 1974 | Molniya-2/3 type |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Pictorial) cancel and (multi-color printed) cachet on (airmail) stamped envelope | ||
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on (airmail) stamped envelope (different) | 1974 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (New Year) greeting card, also (blue and gold and dark-green and magenta printed) cachet from (greeting card) envelope | 1974 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on (airmail) stamped envelope | 1975 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 4428 (Mi4461) | 1976 | Molniya-1 | |
| Russia (USSR) | 4428 fdc | Stamp and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 4528 (Mi4505) | Like 46073 (Mi4640w) | 1976 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 4595 (BL122, Mi4654) | In (upper-right) margin of SS1 | 1977 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 4595 fdc1 | SS1 and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 4595 fdc2 | SS1 and (multi-color printed) cachet (and signatures) on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 4595_stamp fdc | (Fleetwood) cachet on FDC (of stamp from SS1), also back | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 4607 (Mi4640w) | Like 45283 (Mi4505) | 1977 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 4609 (Mi4661) | 1977 | Molniya-1 | |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on stamped envelope, also back | 1977 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Red and blue and black printed) cachet on stamped envelope (different) | 1977 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on (airmail) stamped envelope, and back; also un-canceled (airmail) stamped envelope | 1977 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Blue and red printed) cachet on stamped envelope, also back | 1977 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on (airmail) stamped envelope | 1977 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 4667 (Mi4732) | From MS36 (4667a (36x 4667)) | 1978 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 4667 fdc1 | Stamp and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC, also back | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 4667 fdc2 | Stamp and (multi-color printed) cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 4693 (Mi4766) | 1978 | Molniya-1 | |
| Russia (USSR) | 4727 (BL134, Mi4814) | In (upper) margin of SS1 | 1978 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on (airmail) stamped envelope | 1978 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 4635 sheet | In (upper-right) margin of exhibition sheet with 4635 | 1978 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Printed stamp on on stamped envelope, also back | 1978 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 4784 (Mi4791) | 1979 | Molniya-1 | |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on (airmail) stamped envelope, also detail | 1979 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Red and blue and black printed) cachet on (airmail) stamped envelope, also back | 1979 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Postal card back | 1979 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Card | 1980 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on stamped envelope | 1980 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 4916 (Mi5047) | 1981 | Molniya-1 | |
| Russia (USSR) | 4916 fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 4962 (Mi5095) | 1981 | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 4966 (Mi5096) | |||
| Russia (USSR) | 4966 fdc | Stamp and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 4978 (Mi5108) | 1981 | Molniya-1 | |
| Russia (USSR) | 4978 fdc | Stamp and (pictorial) cancel and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 5000 (Mi5131) | 1981 | Molniya-1 | |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on (airmail) stamped envelope, also canceled | 1981 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on stamped envelope | 1981 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on stamped envelope (different) | 1981 | Molniya-2/3 type |
| Russia (USSR) | 5043 (Mi5174) | 1982 | Molniya-1 | |
| Russia (USSR) | 5058 fdc (Mi5189 fdc) | (Blue and black printed) cachet on FDC, also detail | 1982 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on postal card | 1982 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on (airmail) stamped envelope | 1982 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on stamped envelope | 1982 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on stamped envelope (different) | 1982 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on stamped envelope (different) | 1982 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 5127 (BL162, Mi5257) | In (upper-left) margin of SS1 | 1983 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on stamped envelope | 1983 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on stamped envelope, also detail | 1983 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 5245 (Mi5375) | In (lower-right) corner of stamp | 1984 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 5245 fdc | Stamp and (Soviet Ministry of Postal Services and Telecommunications?) cachet on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 5245 maxi | Stamp on maxicard | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 5299 (BL176, Mi5441) | In (left) margin of SS1 | 1984 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 5299 fdc | SS1 on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Blue and brown printed) cachet on stamped envelope | 1984 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 5342 (Mi5483) | 1985 | Molniya-1 | |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on stamped envelope | 1985 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on stamped envelope (different) | 1985 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 5442a (Mi5591) | In (lower-right) margin of MS8 (8x 5442) | 1986 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 5443a (Mi5592) | In (lower-left) margin of MS8 (8x 5443) | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 5444a (Mi5593) | In (lower-right) margin of MS7 (7x 5444 + label) | ||
| Russia (USSR) | None | Extra (4693) stamp and (black rubber-stamp) cachet on stamped envelope | 1986 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Pictorial) cancel on stamped envelope | 1986 | Molniya-2/3 type |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Multi-color printed) cachet on stamped envelope | 1987 | Molniya-2/3 type |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Pictorial) cancel and (multi-color printed) cachet on stamped envelope | 1987 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Pictorial) cancel on cover | 1987 | "20th anniv. "Orbita" satellite network"4 |
| Russia (USSR) | 5720 (Mi5892) | 46073 (Mi4640w) overprinted in red | 1988 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | 1989 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 5880 fdc (Mi6070 fdc) | (Multi-color printed) cachet on FDC | 1990 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Pictorial) cancel on stamped envelope | 1991 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Black and red printed) cachet on cover, also detail | 1991 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 5979 (Mi6184) | 1991 | Molniya-1 | |
| Russia (USSR) | 5987 (Mi6180) | In (upper-right) corner | 1991 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia | 6138 (Mi301) | 1993 | "Molniya-3" (in Cyrillic) | |
| Russia | 6138-6142 fdc | One of five stamps and (pictorial) cancel on FDC | Molniya-2/3 type | |
| Russia | 6143 fdc | (Pictorial) cancel on FDC | Molniya-2/3 type | |
| Russia | None | (Blue-grey and black printed) cachet on stamped envelope | 1997 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia | 6505 (BL25) | In (left) margin of SS1 | 1999 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia | 6569 (Mi786) | From MS25 (6569a (25x 6569)) | 2000 | (small) Molniya-1 |
| Russia | 6608e (Mi867) | One of MS12 (6608 (a-l)) (Mi863-874) | 2000 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia | None | (Pictorial) cancel and (multi-color printed) cachet on cover, also cachet detail | 2002 | Molniya-2/3 type |
| Russia | None | (Pictorial) cancel on cover (different) | 2002 | Molniya-2/3 type |
| Russia | None | (Pictorial) cancel on cover (different), also back | 2002 | Molniya-2/3 type |
| Russia | None | (Kniga International) cachet (with reproduction of Luna-1 anniversary cover and another cover; both with reproductions of Russia 5720) on cover | 2013 | Molniya-1 |
| Russia | 7871 (Mi2500) | From MS15 (7871a (15x 7871)) | 2017 | 50th anniv. "Orbita" system4: Molniya-1 |
| Russia | 7871 fdc | Stamp and (pictorial) cancel on FDC | ||
| Russia | None | Postal card | 2017 | 50th anniv. "Orbita" system4: Molniya-1 |
| Rwanda | 589 (Mi636) | 1974 | Molniya-1 | |
| St. Thomas and Prince Islands | 905 (Mi1150) | 1989 | Molniya-1 | |
| Sacha | 53-62? Locals 1 Locals 2 Locals 3 | In (upper-right) corner of Russia 5987 (Mi6180) overprinted1 in various ways | 199? | Molniya-1 |
| Smolensk | Local (150 val) | In (upper-right) corner of Russia 5987 (Mi6180) overprinted1, from overprinted block of 4 | 1994 | Molniya-1 |
| Smolensk | Local (250 val) | |||
| Smolensk | Local (400 val) | |||
| Smolensk | Local (600 val) | |||
| Tanzania | Unknown (Mi none) | 1999 | Molniya-1 | |
| Udmurtia | Local strip | Strip of 20 Russia 5987 (Mi6180) overprinted1 with rocket launch in blocks of 4 | 1997 | Molniya-1 |
| Ukraine | Local | In (upper-right) corner of Russia 5987 (Mi6180) overprinted1 | 1992 | Molniya-1 |
| Vietnam | 958 (Mi993) i958 | Imperforate | 1978 | Molniya-1 |
| Vietnam | 1335 (BL23) | On stamp of SS1 | 1983 | Molniya-1 |
| Yugoslavia | 871 (Mi1219) | 1967 | "Molniya"-1 (in Russian text) | |
| Yugoslavia | 870-875 fdc | One of six stamps on FDC (green and black printed cachet) | ||
| Yugoslavia | 870-871+875 fdc | One of three stamps on FDC (cyan and blue and tan printed cachet) | ||
*The Molniya number designations represent the Molniya series: 1, 2, or 3, which include many individual spacecraft. The Molniya-2 and 3 series have extensions on the six otherwise radial-only solar panels of the Molniya-1 series. The Molniya-1 series also have two fairly-large dish antennas, symmetrically placed on each side of the spacecraft body. On a few other items the Molniya series cannot be determined for various reasons.
1The definitive stamp, Russia 5987 (Mi6180), was overprinted by several republics after the breakup of the Soviet Union (USSR) in 1991.
2Early (1960s) Molniya communications satellites had imaging capabilities, but images from Molniya satellites are rare.
3See here for a list of engraved/lithographed Russian definitive pairs known to exist with satellite overprints.
4The "Orbita" system was deployed on 25 October 1967 when downlink stations in some cities in Siberia and the Far East began to receive regular TV programs from Moscow-based uplink stations via a constellation of Molniya satellites.
Below is a list of Molniya-series satellite launch covers (including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers).
| Country | Cancel Date | Cancel Location | Type of Item | Notes on Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Molniya (Russia/USSR) | ||||
| 1965-04-23: Molniya-1-01 | ||||
| Latvia | 1965-04-23 | Liepaja | (Red printed and red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Molniya-1-01 launch |
| Russia | 1965-04-23 | Archangelsk | (Green and black) cachet on cover | Molniya-1-01 launch |
| Russia | 1965-04-23 | Kaluga | (Red rubber-stamp) cachet on stamped envelope | Molniya-1-01 launch |
| Russia | 1965-04-23 | Baikonur Karaganda Oblast | (Multi-color printed and red rubber-stamp) cachet on (known fake3) cover | Molniya-1-01 launch |
| Molniya-1-01 (anniversaries) | ||||
| Russia | 1965-10-23 | Ivano-Frankovsk | (Black rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) stamped envelope | 6 month anniv. Molniya-1-01 launch |
| Russia | 1965-11-23 | Perm | (Red and green rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | 7 month anniv. Molniya-1-01 launch |
| Russia | 1965-11-23 | Perm (slightly different) | (Red and green rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | 7 month anniv. Molniya-1-01 launch |
| Russia | 1965-11-23 | Perm | (Green and red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | 7 month anniv. Molniya-1-01 launch |
| Russia | 1965-11-23 | Perm (slightly different) | (Green and red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | 7 month anniv. Molniya-1-01 launch |
| 1965-10-14: Molniya-1-02 | ||||
| Latvia | 1965-10-14 | Liepaja | (Red printed and red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Molniya-1-02 launch |
| Russia (USSR) | 1965-04-14 | Tartu | (TKK/AA1 no.60 green printed and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Molniya-1-02 launch |
| Russia (USSR) | 1965-10-14 (from cachet) | Tartu club | (TKK/AA1 no.60, overprinted 862, green printed and red rubber-stamp) cachet on (un-stamped and un-canceled) cover | Molniya-1-02 launch |
| Russia (USSR) | 1965-10-14 | Tartu | (TKK/AA1 no.60, overprinted 982. green printed and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Molniya-1-02 launch |
| 1972-04-04: Molniya-1-20 (and SRET-1) | ||||
| Russia (USSR) | 1972-04-04 | Moscow International PO | (Swanson) cachet on cover | Molniya-1-20 launch |
| 1972-10-14: Molniya-1-21 | ||||
| Russia (USSR) | 1972-10-14 | Moscow International PO | (Anklam) cachet on cover | Molniya-1-21 launch |
| 1975-06-05: Molniya-1-30 (and SRET-2) | ||||
| Russia (USSR) | 1975-06-05 | Moscow International PO | (CNES philatelic) cachet on cover | Molniya-1-30 launch |
| 1996-08-14: Molniya-1T-89 | ||||
| Russia | 1996-08-14 | Plesetsk | (Blue printed) cachet on cover | Molniya-1T-89 launch |
| 2003-04-02: Molniya-1-92 | ||||
| Russia | 2003-04-02 | Kosmodrome Plesetsk | (Multi-color printed) cachet on cover | Molniya-1-92 launch (Molniya-3 depicted) |
| Molniya (on other than Molniya launch covers) | ||||
| United States | 1971-03-20 | Lompoc CA, Vandenberg AFB | (Space Voyage) insert from Jumpseat-1 launch cover, also front | "Molniya communications satellites" |
| United States | 1971-03-20 | Lompoc CA, Vandenberg AFB | (InterSpace Cover) insert from Jumpseat-1 launch cover, also front | |
| Russia (USSR) | 1984-03-16 | Baikonur Cosmodrome | (Multi-color printed) cachet on Ekran-12 launch cover | Molniya-1 |
| Russia (USSR) | 1985-03-22 | Baikonur Cosmodrome | (Multi-color printed) cachet on Ekran-14 launch (airmail) cover | Molniya-1 |
| United States | 1985-03-12 | Lompoc CA, Vandenberg AFB | (Magenta and black printed) cachet on Geosat-1 launch cover | Molniya-1 |
| Russia | 1995-08-04 | Plesetsk | (Multi-color printed) cachet on Prognoz-11 launch postal card, also detail | Molniya-1 |
1AA 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).
2The Tartu Club assigned AA #60 to their cover for very first Molniya launch (Molniya-1-01) and other subsequent numbers to other satellite launches. A duplicate 60 was assigned to this supposedly-related follow-on event cover for the same Molniya, only to be changed later when it was discovered to be a different Molniya (Molniya-1-02) launch on that date. By that time all numbers through 97 had been used. The club therefore used the number "98" as an overprint on covers with the original "60", but the cover shown has "86", which is likely an error in which the "98" was added upside-down. Furthermore, the cover shown has no stamp or cancel, so it may have been simply set aside, unfinished, after the error was discovered. Instead, the cover that was stamped and then canceled has the "60" overprint with "98".
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.
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