American Topical Association
Astronomy Study Unit - Astronomy & Philately
Check out the top 10 astrophilately stamps for 2025!
The purpose of the Astronomy Study Unit is to collect and study philatelic material portraying the various aspects of astronomy, solar system, astrophysics, astronomers, and related subjects, and to communicate this knowledge to unit members and other interested persons. Membership info click here. Issue #135 of Astrofax (Vol. 34, Issue 3, Fall 2026) is now available for members. If you did not get your issue, contact Gene Major. If you want to become a member and receive Astrofax, click here. For a sample issue of the Astrofax, click here. The 135th issue features an article on early American telescope makers, telescopes and observatories. Also some new issues celebrating the 2026 total solar eclipse from Greenland and Spain, a new set of planets of the solar system on stamps from Cambodia, the 100th anniversary of the Bucharest Observatory in Romainia, and bicentenary of the Royal Belgium Observatory.
The Astronomy Study Unit has a Facebook Group page! Please visit us at https://www.facebook.com/group/astronomystudyunit/.
If you love astronomy and stamp collecting, then the Astronomy Study Unit is for you.
Chartered in 1972 as a charter member of the American Topical Association, membership in the ASU is open to anyone with an interest in astrophilately.
Effective January 2027, dues will no longer be required, but membership is required to receve a digital subscription to Astrofax, the official publication of the ASU.
There are several web sites associated with astrophilately. Here are a few:
The ATA Handbook #90, Astronomy & Philately, first published in 1972, is now available as a digital, searchable PDF file.
World's Oldest Astronomy Stamps
A great website listing stamps issued from before 1940 to 1956.
Mostly geared towards space stamps, but also lists many astronomy-themed stamps, particularly those associated with astronomical observations, such as the Hubble Space Telescope.
An amazing site of a catalog of stamps and launch covers related to scientific research, including solar research, astrophysics, and planetary exploration all organized by theme. The site is managed by Garry Toth and Dan Hilger, authors of the book Space Weather - A Philatelic Journey, available from the ATA.
Physicists and Physics on Stamps
Not fancy, but does list quite a number of physicist-themed stamp issues, many of whom are also astronomers and astrophysicists. A similar collection can be found here and here.
The Astro Space Stamp Society, based in the UK, is dedicated to everyone who collects space stamps, postcards, covers, signed autographs from astronauts to astrophilatelic memorabilia or just enthusiasts on the Space hobby. The Astro Space Stamp Society publishes the magazine, Orbit.
The site contains NASA news and resources on space exploration.
Ian Ridpath's Astronomy Stamps from the British Isles
Ian Ridpath has an extensive collection of British stamps with descriptive information.
Astrophilately Books!
Calling all astrophiles! There is a fantastic book devoted to astronomy and astrophilately: Stamping Through Astronomy (2013) by Renato Dicati (ISBN 978-88-470-2828-9). The book explores the wonders of astronomy through stamps and philatelic materials. Lots of stamps in full color and a good read. The book is available through Amazon and other book dealers. See the September 2016 Astrofax for a review of this fine book! Also check out the June 2017 issue for a review of the book, Stamping Through Mathematics, by Robin J. Wilson. A must have with lots of related astrophilately subjects! Also, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the moon landings, check out The Race to the Moon Chronicled in Stamps, Postcards, and Postmarks: A Story of Puffery vs. the Pragmatic (2018), by Umberto Cavallaro. Also check out the Space Weather - A Philatelic Journey (2019) by meteorologists Garry Toth and Dan Hilger. The book and CD is available from the ATA (Handbook 166-E). The ATA has also published Albert Einstein in Stamps: A Catalog (2020), by Al Raddi (Handbook #169). In 2017, another book by Renato Dicati was published by Springer: Stamping the Earth from Space. The book covers stamps highlighting remote sensing, meteorology, ionospheric studies, and much more that neatly overlaps with astrophilately.