Crescent Moon European Southern Observatory
Astronaut saluting the flag

Exploring the Moon 

on stamps

Click on a stamp for an enlargement on a new page 

1969 USA 6c stamp Apollo 8

1969 USA 6 c 

Earth rising over the limb of the Moon, based on this famous photograph taken by the crew of Apollo 8, the first humans to go into lunar orbit. During a transmission to Earth they read from the book of Genesis, hence the Biblical quotation on the stamp. 

SG 1358


1969 USA 10c stamp Apollo 11

1969 USA 10 c 

Commemoration of the landing of Apollo 11 on the Moon. The illustration is an artist’s impression of Neil Armstrong talking his ‘one small step’ onto the surface. This stamp was intended for airmail postage, hence the prefix ‘A’ to the Stanley Gibbons reference number.  

SG A1367 

1970 Poland 2.50z stamp Luna 16

1970 Poland 2.50 z 

The Luna 16 upper stage leaving the Moon and returning to Earth after having grabbed a handful of lunar soil. 

SG 2021

1970 Russia 10 k x 3 

A set of three stamps showing, in sequence, the landing of Luna 16 on the Moon, the takeoff of its upper stage containing Moon samples, and the sample capsule parachuting to Earth. The set was accompanied by a souvenir sheet containing three stamps. Note slight differences in design and colour between the illustrations on the three individual stamps and those on the sheet, as well as differences in face value. 

SG 3885, 3886, 3887, MS3888 

1970 Russia 10k stamps Luna 16
1970 Russia 10k stamps Luna 16
1970 Russia 10k stamps Luna 16
1970 Russia stamp sheet Luna 16
1971 Russia stamps Luna 17
1971 Russia stamps Luna 17

1971 Russia 10 k, 12 k, 12 k, 16 k 

Four stamps commemorating the landing of Luna 17 which delivered the Lunokhod 1 lunar rover to the Moon. The stamps were also issued on a souvenir sheet. 

SG 3918, 3919, 3920, 3921


1971 Russia stamps Luna 17
1971 Russia stamps Luna 17

Background image:

The waning crescent Moon. 

(European Southern Observatory


Text © Ian Ridpath


These pages support Ian’s talk on Exploring the Moon