This set of six mint stamp sheets, including four sheets with nine stamps each and two souvenir sheets with one high face value stamp each, were issued in 1990 by Sierra Leone to commemorate the coming exploration of Mars. Brief descriptions of the stamp subjects are included on the stamps. Extreme speculation has occured with this set of sheets, centered around the Face on Mars stamp, which brought the asking price of the set to as high as $10,000 (please click on "Details" or the image for addtional information and to view all six stamp sheets). In reality, the retail value as based on asking prices from reputible stamp dealers, is $112 (Scott 2007 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue, Vol. 5).

Featuring the Soyuz space ship, Apollo space ship, and astronauts and cosmonauts in cabin, this cancelled set of three airmail stamps was issued by Central African Republic on June 14, 1976. This cancelled set has a retail value of $1.75.

This cancelled set of four stamps, plus a 5th stamp in a souvenir sheet, was issued by Central African Republic on June 10, 1981. The set features the Apollo 15 space craft and vehicle and various space shuttle scenes (Columbia, Enterprise). An attractive set of stamps at a nice price; $3.90 retail value.

On February 20, 1962, Col. John Glenn became the first U.S. astronaut in orbit, circling the earth three times (at 17,500 miles per hour) in the Mercury space capsule, "Friendship 7." This mint stamp was placed on sale in 305 selected post offices throughout the United States on February 20, 1962, at the exact hour the historic flight was officially completed.

Featuring a spacewalking astronaut and Gemini capsule, this attached pair of mint stamps was issued by the United States on September 29, 1967. This issue marked the first time the United States printed attached stamps that blend into a single complete design.

This beautiful mint stamp, featuring the earth rising over the lunar surface, was issued on May 5, 1969, to commemorate the vital Apollo 8 mission leading up to the moon landing.

This attached pair of mint stamps was issued by the United States on August 2, 1971, to commemorate ten years of extraordinary accomplishments in space. The design features astronauts in the Lunar Rover on the moon with earth and a space capsule in the background.

The United States launched Skylab, its first orbiting space station, in May, 1973. The nine month Skylab program involved three different missions and crews and was designed to test man's ability to adapt and perform in a space environment for long periods of time. This mint stamp, issued on May 14, 1974, depicts the space walk required for repairs during the second mission.