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Digital Collections

Postage stamps

First Day Cover commemorating the centenary of the Convention du Mètre (Treaty of the Meter)

  • 1975

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Cachet depicts the wavelength of krypton-86, which was formerly used to define the meter from 1960 until 1983. A meter was defined during this time as the wavelength of the 605 nm (orange) spectral line of a krypton-86 atom. The stamp depicts the international treaty signed by France and 16 other countries in 1875, to coordinate use of the metric system, and krypton-86 is depicted in the postmarks.

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Rights In Copyright
Rights holder
  • Claude Haley
Credit line
  • Courtesy of Science History Institute

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Department
Collection
Physical container
  • Box 1

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Related Items

Cite as

Mendoza, J. “First Day Cover Commemorating the Centenary of the Convention Du Mètre (Treaty of the Meter).” France, 1975. Witco Stamp Collection, Box 1. Science History Institute. Philadelphia. https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/qz20ss53m.

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