On November 14, 2013 I presented a program simply entitled “Minerals on Stamps” to the Rochester Philatelic Association. As a retired geologist, collecting minerals and other geology related topical stamps is a natural merger of my collecting interests.
Did you know that the checklist of gems and minerals on stamps maintained by the Gems and Minerals Study Unit of the American Topical Association has over 3000 entries? Or that all 8 of the US mineral stamps depict specimens that reside in the Smithsonian? The FDC with the four 10 cent stamps issued in 1974 is depicted shown below. The mineral specimen in the bottom stamp is affectionately referred to as “The Postage Stamp Tourmaline.” It is from the pegmatite mines outside San Diego, CA.