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Metric System
(The International
System of Units (SI))


Below is a checklist of metric system (International System of Units (SI)) postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.). Catalog numbers, years of issue, and notes on the items featured are given when available. If readers know of additional information or images, please contact the author using the e-mail address at the bottom of this page.

For postal items focusing on the personalities behind the metric units names, see the metric names page. Those items are not double-listed here.
For postal items depicting metric units but not specifically about the metric system, see the metric measures page.

Sections/divisions of the table below
Metric system (SI)
100th Anniversary of the International Metre Convention (1875 — 1975)

CountryCatalog NumberType of ItemYear of IssueNotes on Content
Metric system (SI)
Algeria1727 (Mi1872)201731st anniv. National Office of Legal Metrology, 1986: SI base units
Algeria1727 fdcStamp and (pictorial) cancel and (Algeria Post) cachet on FDC
Algeria1727 folderFolder
Australia541 (Mi513)1973conversion to metric system: (kg/stones-and-pounds) mass, scale
Australia542 (Mi514)conversion to metric system: (°C/°F) temperature, fever
Australia543 (Mi515)conversion to metric system: (cm/feet-and-inches) length, tape measure
Australia544 (Mi516)conversion to metric system: (mL/fluid-ounces) volume, drinking glass
Australia541-544 fdc1Four stamps and (yellow and orange and pink and green printed) cachet on FDCconversion to metric system
Australia541-544 fdc2Four stamps and (green and orange and black printed) cachet on FDC
Bangladesh212 (Mi177)1983metric system: mail scale
Bangladesh213 (Mi178)metric system: weights, measures
Brazil940 (Mi1018)1962100th anniv. introduction of metric system, 1862: millimeter gauge
Cuba2173 (Mi2268)1977SI (metric system) system: 7 (seven) SI base units, map
Denmark1388 (Mi1476)2007100th anniv. metric system in Denmark
Estonia897 (Mi957)Stamp and slevedge, from MS25 (897a (25x 897))2019New SI base units and fundamental constants logo
Estonia897 fdcStamp and (pictorial) cancel and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC
Finland750 (Mi1010)1987100th anniv. use of metric system, 1887: X-cross section of standard meter bar
Finland750 fdcStamp and (blue and black printed) cachet on FDC
France732 (Mi1024)1954metric system introduction in France first: allegory
France869 fdc (Mi1182 fdc)(Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC1958"participated in the establishment of the metric system" (in French text)
France1435 (Mi1921)1975100th anniv. International Metre Convention, 1875: document, krypton atom, waves
France1435 fdc1Stamp and (pictorial) cancel and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC
France1435 fdc2Stamp and (pictorial) cancel and (Éditions P.J.) cachet on FDC
France1435 scSouvenir card
Ghana570 (Mi630)1976introduction of metric system, 1975-09: liter, water
Ghana571 (Mi631)introduction of metric system, 1975-09: kilogram, jam
Ghana572 (Mi632)introduction of metric system, 1975-09: meter, cloth
Ghana573 (Mi633)introduction of metric system, 1975-09: (°C) fever thermometer, ice, boiling tea kettle
Guinea RepublicBL1696In (upper-right) margin of SS12009"The name "Pascal" was given to the pressure unit in the SI system of units" (in French text)
Guyana437a (Mi726)From MS6 (437 (a-f)) (BL11)1982conversion to metric system, 1982-01-02: tape measure, truck
Guyana437b (Mi727)conversion to metric system, 1982-01-02: juggler, unit symbols (°C)
Guyana437c (Mi728)conversion to metric system, 1982-01-02: man, envelope
Guyana437d (Mi729)conversion to metric system, 1982-01-02: woman, baby, scale
Guyana437e (Mi730)conversion to metric system, 1982-01-02: Canje bridge (530 m long)
Guyana437f (Mi731)conversion to metric system, 1982-01-02: liter bucket
Guyana557a (Mi870)From MS6 (557 (a-f)), 437 (a-f) overprinted (BL12)1982conversion to metric system, 1982-01-02: tape measure, truck
Guyana557b (Mi871)conversion to metric system, 1982-01-02: juggler, unit symbols (°C)
Guyana557c (Mi872)conversion to metric system, 1982-01-02: man, envelope
Guyana557d (Mi873)conversion to metric system, 1982-01-02: woman, baby, scale
Guyana557e (Mi874)conversion to metric system, 1982-01-02: Canje bridge (530 m long)
Guyana557f (Mi875)conversion to metric system, 1982-01-02: liter bucket
Hungary2418 (Mi3115)1976100th anniv. introduction of metric system, 1876: X-cross section standard meter bar, meter act
Hungary2419 (Mi3116)100th anniv. introduction of metric system, 1876: standard kilogram cylinder
Hungary2420 (Mi3117)100th anniv. introduction of metric system, 1876: interferometer, rocket
Italy1809 (Mi2147)199055th anniv. metric system in Italy, 1935: MKS, Giovanni Giorgi
Japan673 (Mi705)1959adoption of metric system: measuring glass, tape measure, scales
Japan673 fdc1Stamp and (pictorial) cancel and (Watanabe) cachet on FDC, also insert
Japan673 fdc2Stamp and (pictorial) cancel and (?) cachet on FDC
Japan673 fdc3Stamp and (pictorial) cancel and (?) cachet on FDC
Japan673 fdc4Stamp and (pictorial) cancel and (?) cachet on postcard FDC
Japan673 fdc5Stamp and (pictorial) cancel and (?) cachet on FDC
Japan673 fdc6Stamp and (pictorial) cancel and (JPS) cachet on FDC
Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania225 (Mi213)1971conversion to metric system: kilogram/pounds, pan balance
Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania226 (Mi214)conversion to metric system: two (°C/°F) thermometers
Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania227 (Mi215)conversion to metric system: liters, petrol
Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania228 (Mi216)conversion to metric system: kilometers, surveyors
Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania225-228 fdc1Four stamps and (East African Posts and Telecommunications) cachet on FDC (Nairobi Stamp Bureau cancel)conversion to metric system
Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania225-228 fdc2Four stamps and (East African Posts and Telecommunications) cachet on FDC (Nairobi cancel)
Korea (South)428 (Mi416)1964introduction of metric system: metric unit symbols ("kg" incorrectly given as "Kg")
Korea (South)2546 (Mi3380)From MS16 (MS16 (16x 2546))2019New SI base units and fundamental constants logo
Korea (South)2546 fdcStamp(s) and (pictorial) cancel(s) on FDC
Korea (South)2546 folderFDC folder
MexicoC241 (Mi1077)From MS50 (C241a (10x C241))1957100th anniv. adoption of metric system, 1857: measures, globe
MexicoC241 fdc1Stamp and (blue and black printed) cachet (same design as stamp) on (airmail) FDC
MexicoC241 fdc2Stamp on FDC (blank/no cachet)
Mexico2967 (Mi3953)2015125th anniv. acceptance of Treaty of the Meter in Mexico, 1890: measures, globe
Mexico2967 fdc1Stamp and (pictorial) cancel and (purple and black printed) cachet (design like stamp) on FDC
Mexico2967 scSouvenir card (2967)
New Zealand594 (Mi677)1976metric conversion, 1976: symbolic measures: weight, length, temperature (unscaled) thermometer
Nigeria394 (Mi377)1980World Standards Day: kilogram scale, centimeter ruler, emblem
Pakistan364 (Mi367)1974introduction of metric system: metric measures
PolandNonePostal card197960th anniv. Measurement Service, 1919: standards, SI units
PolandNonePostal card2019100th anniv. Measurement Service, 1919: SI units
Romania1873 (Mi2533)1966100th anniv. introduction of metric system, 1866: derivation meter
Romania1874 (Mi2534)100th anniv. introduction of metric system, 1866: metric unit symbols
Russia8037 (Mi2713)From MS9 (8037a (9x 8037))2019"International system of units" (in Cyrillic text); new SI base units and fundamental constants logo (in FDC cachet)
Russia8037 fdcStamp and (pictorial) cancel and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC
Singapore316 (Mi322)1979introduction of metric system: distance, kilometer
Singapore317 (Mi323)introduction of metric system: tape measure, centimeter
Singapore318 (Mi324)introduction of metric system: scale, kilogram
Singapore316-318 fdcThree stamps and (blue printed) cachet on FDCintroduction of metric system
Slovenia1324 (Mi1362)2019New SI base units and fundamental constants logo
Slovenia1324 fdcStamp and (pictorial) cancel and (Slovenia Post) cachet on FDC
South Africa497 (Mi534)1977introduction of metric system: world map, "M": 10th anniv. Metric Advisory Board, 1967
South Africa497 fdcStamp and (pictorial) cancel and (blue and black printed) cachet on FDC
Sri Lanka2109+label (Mi2173+label)Label with (year 2017) stamp2019-10-16"World Metrology Day - 2019" (New SI base units and fundamental constants logo)
Sri Lanka2109+label fdcLabel with stamp and (text) cancel and (Sri Lanka Post) cachet on FDC
Tonga449 (Mi701)1979introduction of metric system: decade of progress
United StatesNone(MSFC Station) cancel on cover (Colorano silk cachet)1985USMA-NASA Metric Conference, Huntsville AL
United StatesNone(MSFC Station) cancel on cover (USMA/MSFC cachet)1985USMA-NASA Metric Conference, Huntsville AL
United StatesNone(MSFC Station) cancel on cover (red and blue printed cachet)1985USMA-NASA Metric Conference, Huntsville AL
United StatesNone(MSFC Station) cancel on cover (red and blue printed cachet, different)1985USMA-NASA Metric Conference, Huntsville AL
United StatesNone(MSFC Station) cancel on cover (blank/no cachet)1985USMA-NASA Metric Conference, Huntsville AL
United StatesNone(MSFC Station) cancel on cover (blue printed cachet)1985USMA-NASA Metric Conference, Huntsville AL
Yugoslavia1180 (Mi1538)1974100th anniv. introduction of metric system, 1874: measure
100th Anniversary of the International Metre Convention (1875 — 1975)
Bulgaria2236 (Mi2381)1975100th anniv. International Metre Convention, 1875: standard kilogram cylinder, X-cross section standard meter bar
Bulgaria2236 fdcStamp and (text) cancel and (black printed) cachet on FDC
Indonesia941 (Mi809)1975100th anniv. International Metre Convention, 1875: X-cross section standard meter bar, standard kilogram cylinder, globe
Indonesia941 fdcStamp and (pictorial) cancel and (brown printed) cachet on FDC
Korea (South)975 (Mi979)1975100th anniv. International Metre Convention, 1875: metric unit symbols
Netherlands531 (Mi1056)1975100th anniv. International Metre Convention, 1875: symbolic scale
Norway655 (Mi704)1975100th anniv. International Metre Convention, 1875: Ole Jacob Broch
Romania2547 (Mi3263)1975100th anniv. International Metre Convention, 1875: emblem
Romania2547 fdcStamp and (text) cancel and (green and black printed) cachet on FDC
Russia (USSR)4304 (Mi4337)1975100th anniv. International Metre Convention, 1875: metric unit symbols
Russia (USSR)4304 cover (Mi4337 cover)Stamp and (pictorial) cancel and (blue and orange and black printed) cachet on cover1975100th anniv. International Metre Convention, 20 May 1875
Surinam421 (Mi695)1975100th anniv. International Metre Convention, 1875: symbolic design
Surinam422 (Mi696)
Surinam423 (Mi697)
Sweden1121 (Mi903)1975100th anniv. International Metre Convention, 1875: tape measure
Sweden1121-1123 fdc1One of three stamps and (green and black printed) cachet on FDC, also insert
Sweden1121-1123 fdc2One of three stamps on FDC (blank/no cachet), also insert
Switzerland599 (Mi1046)1975100th anniv. International Metre Convention, 1875: X-cross section standard meter bar, krypton spectrum
Switzerland599 fdcStamp and (Swiss Post) cachet on FDC
Switzerland599-602 fdcOne of four stamps on FDC (Swiss Post cachet)


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