Ras al Khaima year 1972 Space Shuttle – Spacecraft stamps set MNH **
The stamps are from the former Trucial State of Ras al Khaima (one of the emirates that would eventually form the UAE), which issued numerous thematic stamps primarily for the collector market in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The issue you mention is notable because it was one of the earliest philatelic issues anywhere in the world to feature the concept of the Space Shuttle, years before its first flight.
Here are the details for the Ras al Khaima 1972 Space Shuttle – Spacecraft issue:
| Feature | Details |
| Year of Issue | 1972 |
| Theme | Space Shuttle and Spacecraft (often grouped with other 1972 space issues like “Skylab” in catalogs). |
| Composition | Typically issued as a set of 6 different values. |
| Catalog Numbers (Michel) | The set is often listed as Michel Nos. 752-757 (for the 6 different values of the Skylab/Space Shuttle issue). |
| Designs | The designs are based on early conceptual artwork of the US Space Shuttle program and other contemporary space hardware. One of the high-value stamps (Michel No. 757) is specifically noted for showing an early, speculative design of the Space Shuttle releasing a satellite. |
| Other Formats | As with many issues from Ras al Khaima in this period, the set was often released in multiple varieties, including: |
| – Perforated and Imperforate stamps. | |
| – Souvenir Sheets (or blocks) and Deluxe Sheets. | |
| – “Gold” or “Silver” Foil versions. |
Note on Philatelic Status
These stamps belong to a period when Ras al Khaima (and other Trucial States) issued a large quantity of material for the international thematic collector market, which often includes stamps not genuinely intended for postage. While they are officially listed in some international catalogs (like Michel), collectors often treat them as a curiosity or part of a thematic collection rather than standard postal history.
For collectors, the primary significance is that the design on one of these stamps (Michel 757) is considered one of the first depictions of the Space Shuttle on a postage stamp.
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