Since the time of Ptolemy and Marco Polo, the island nation of Sri lanka, it has gone through more than a few names, has been known for it’s fine jewelry and gemstones. So when Sri lanka decides on a stamp issue to show of traditional handicrafts, a jewelry box overflowing with jewels is a natural. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
This stamp issue is a little dated and childlike. I have no doubt that the tourists bazaars of Colombo contain the cheap brass lamps, and child’s masks shown on the stamps. The country did however have a long tradition of jewelry of quality. Why then show this dime store stuff? Perhaps they understood that the tradition was more of the past than the present.
Todays stamp is issue A186, a 25 cent issue of Sri lanka on April 7th, 1977. This was a four stamp issue that was also available as a souvenir sheet. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents whether used or unused. That sounds consistent at least with the original denomination but it should be remembered that the current value of 25 Sri lankan cents is one tenth of one American cent. The souvenir sheet’s value is $3.70 used.
Ptolemy the Greek mathemitican, astronomer, and geographer way back in the second century AD recorded that beryl and sapphires were being actively mined on Sri lanka. Arab and Persian seafaring traders made frequent stops on the island which they called Serindib. Marco Polo, the Venetian Asia explorer also stopped there and noted the quality of the gems claiming the sapphires and amethysts were the best in the world. The gem mining was and is centered on the town of Ratnapura, which translates into city of gems.
In the local context, fine jewelry was associated with the old Kandi Empire that ruled the island till the early 19th century. There exists a Kandi aristocracy that can trace their roots back to the great families of Kandi. Brides wear elaborate jewelry that passed down from the earlier time. The marriages are then performed in the old way in the Royal Palace in the city of Kandi. A full bridal set will comprise 26 pieces of jewelry that cover the bride from head to waist.
In modern times the Sri lanka jewelry industry is facing some challenges. The gem markets of Ratnapura are now mostly staffed by people from Thailand. Recently there was also a large discovery of sapphires in the Ilakaka valley of Madagascar, and now much of what you find in the markets is sourced from there. Tourists in Ratnapura still have the opportunity to pan for gems in the areas old mines.
Well my drink is empty. Come again tomorrow when there will be another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.