2017-03-15 Wed

From 30th March to 2nd April, the Melbourne 2017 Federation of Inter-Asian Philately stamp exhibition will be organised at the Rupert Clarke Grandstand of the Caulfield Racecourse in Caulfield. On the inauguration day, Australia Post, the main sponsor of the event, would be releasing stamps depicting gemstones.

Four stamps belonging to the Rare Beauties set will feature gemstones from the collection of the Australian Museum in Sydney. A se-tenant pair of $1 stamps features Rhodonite and golden sapphire while a pair of $2 stamps features fluorite and pink diamond.

The golden sapphire and pink diamond at the museum are cut and polished exquisitely. Rhodonite and fluorite are called as collector stones as they are very soft for being made into jewellery. An expert cutter applies his skills to create these beautiful collectibles.

RA Printing produced the stamps in sheets of 50, and in a souvenir sheet with all four designs. A booklet of 10 of the $1 stamps is also available with valuable information by gem specialist Gayle Sutherland.