Sunday 17 February 2019

A Zing of Colour

1980: Definitives - gemstones (Designer - Neil O Pederson)
The first stamps of Zimbabwe were a reprinting of Rhodesia's 1978 definitives with new values and of course the country's new name. Some featured gemstones, on the left is a garnet (if you are born in January this is your birthstone) and on the right, a citrine which is a yellow variety of quartz, its colour gained because of the iron content of its surroundings (more in depth and informed explanation here). Zimbabwe is rich in Iron Ore
1970: Definitives - Industrial Development (Design - Rose Martin)
so no wonder the pouring of molten metal featured on one of Rhodesia's definitive stamps beautifully captured by the illustrator and cartoonist Rose Martin.  From the golden glow of molten metal to
1971: Birds of Rhodesia (Based on photographs by Peter Ginn)
one of the iridescent wonders of the natural world sat ready to dive or fly by a stretch of water, a Half-collared Kingfisher so called because dark blue patches on either side of its neck form a half collar and found  in Southern and Eastern Africa. The other bird is a Golden breasted Bunting which in contrast prefers dry open woodland and savannah and seen in most of Africa south of the Sahara.



Sunday Stamps II prompt this week is the Letter Z - for Zimbabwe - at  See It On A Postcard

4 comments:

violet s said...

Am never disappointed with birds on stamps!

FinnBadger said...

Lovely finds from Zimbabwe.

And well done on completing another round of A to Z in stamps.

Mail Adventures said...

I love especially the colours, on those. I don't think I have any stamp from this country.

Bob Scotney said...

Molten metal has always had a fascination for me having started my career in the steel industry. Zimbabe stamps are new to me but would have come in handy this week.