Ceylon & Sri Lanka Stamps Banknotes Coins, Sapphire (1)

Collection of Stamps and First Day Covers for Sri Lanka (& Ceylon before 1972).



Historically, the most famous sources for blue sapphire are Burma, Kashmir and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has been the most prolific producer.



Sri Lanka currently is not only the most productive source for sapphire, but the sapphire mines there are among the oldest known. According to historical accounts, Ceylon was already known for sapphire by the 2nd century A.D. and there was an active international trade in Ceylon gems by the 4th and 5th century. Many of the most famous sapphires in the world come from Sri Lanka, including the Star of India (563 cts) and the Logan Sapphire (423 cts).