World Diamond Congress 1980

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Cachet: The cachet shows a diagonal rainbow band running across the left side of the envelope, moving from deep blue and purple through green, yellow and into red and orange. Overlaid on the rainbow is a black line illustration of a jeweller's hands holding a rough diamond up to a loupe, with a small cutting tool and a partly faceted stone sketched below. The rainbow palette nods to the light dispersion diamonds are known for, while the hand drawn cutting scene keeps the focus on craftsmanship rather than the finished stones themselves.

Info card

DIAMOND COUNTRY ISSUES DIAMOND STAMPS The two largest cut diamonds in the world — both fashioned from the 3 601 carat Cullinan Diamond — appear on two RSA special stamps this year. The date of issue coincides with the opening, in Johannesburg in May 1980, of the World Congresses of both the World Federation of Diamond Bourses and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association. These two organizations represent the vast world-wide diamond trade. LARGEST PRODUCER, LARGEST DIAMONDS Not only is South Africa the world's largest producer of these precious stones, but it has also produced the world's largest individual stones. The biggest of all was the Cullinan, found in 1905 at the Premier Mine at Cullinan, near Pretoria. It was sold to the Transvaal Government, which presented it to King Edward VII on his sixty-sixth birthday in November 1907. The King entrusted the cutting of the diamond to the famous Asscher's Diamond Company in Amsterdam, where it was studied for months before being divided into 9 major gems, 96 smaller brilliants and 9,5 carat of unpolished chips. The nine large stones are still in either the British crown jewels or in the personal possession of the royal family. The two largest, which are depicted on the stamps, are the — Great Star of Africa or Cullinan I, which is portrayed on the 20c stamp. This 530,20 carat pear-shaped gem with its seventy-four facets is mounted in the British sovereign's royal sceptre now on display in the Tower of London as part of the crown jewels. Cullinan II, 317,40 carat and cushion-shaped with sixty-six facets, which is depicted on the 15c stamp. It is mounted in the band of the Imperial State crown and is also displayed in the Tower of London as part of the crown jewels. DIAMOND COUNTRY Ever since their discovery in South Africa in 1868 diamonds have played a major role in South Africa's national economy. Today it is a multi-million rand industry that provides employment for thousands of people, including those from the Black states. South Africa's richest diamond pipes include: The Kimberley area of the Cape Province The Premier Mine at Cullinan, near Pretoria in the Transvaal The New Jagersfontein Mine in the Orange Free State The recently discovered Finch pipe near Postmasburg in the North-western Cape. The main alluvial diamond deposits include: The Orange River mouth Alexander Bay, south of the Orange River mouth Kleinzee, on the Namaqualand coast of the Cape Province Orange River Valley, below its junction with the Vaal River Vaal-Hartz River area DIAMANTLAND GEE DIAMANTSEËLS UIT Die twee grootste geslypte diamante ter wêreld — albei gefatsoeneer uit die Cullinan-diamant van 3 601 karaat — verskyn vanjaar op twee spesiale seëls van die RSA. Die datum van uitgifte val saam met die opening van die Wêreldkongresse in Johannesburg van sowel die World Federation of Diamond Bourses (Wêreldfederasie van Diamantbeurse) en die International Diamond Manufacturers Association (Internasionale Diamantvervaardigersvereniging) in Mei 1980. Hierdie twee organisasies verteenwoordig die ontsaglike wêreldwye diamanthandel. GROOTSTE PRODUSEERDER, GROOTSTE DIAMANTE Suid-Afrika is nie alleen die wêreld se grootste produseerder van dié edelstene nie maar het ook die wêreld se grootste enkele stene opgelewer. Die heel grootste was die Cullinan wat in 1905 in die Premiermyn by Cullinan naby Pretoria gevind is. Dit is aan die Transvaalse Regering verkoop wat dit in November 1907 aan Koning Edward VII op sy ses en sestigste verjaarsdag geskenk het. Die Koning het die sny van die steen aan die beroemde Asscher-diamantmaatskappy in Amsterdam toevertrou, waar dit maande lank bestudeer is voordat dit in 9 groot stene, 96 kleiner briljante en 9,5 karaat ongeslypte stukkies verdeel is. Die nege groot stene is steeds in óf die Britse kroonjuwele óf in die persoonlike besit van die koningsgesin. Die twee grootste diamante, wat op die seëls uitgebeeld word, is die — Groot Ster van Afrika of Cullinan I wat op die 20c-seël afgebeeld word. Hierdie peervormige edelsteen van 530,20 karaat met sy vier en sewentig fasette is geset in die Britse vors se koninklike septer wat in die Tower of London as deel van die kroonjuwele uitgestal word. Cullinan II, 317,40 karaat en kussingvormig met ses en sestig fasette wat op die 15c-seël verskyn. Dit is in die band van die keiserlike staatskroon geset en word ook in die Tower of London as deel van die kroonjuwele uitgestal. DIAMANTLAND Sedert diamante in 1868 in Suid-Afrika ontdek is, het dit 'n groot rol in Suid-Afrika se nasionale ekonomie gespeel. Dit is deesdae 'n multimiljoenrand-nywerheid wat werk aan duisende mense verskaf, insluitende werkers van die Swart state. Suid-Afrika se rykste diamantpype sluit die volgende in: Die Kimberley-omgewing van die Kaapprovinsie Die Premier-myn by Cullinan naby Pretoria in die Transvaal Die Nuwe Jagersfonteinmyn in die Oranje-Vrystaat Die onlangs ontdekte Finch-pyp naby Postmasburg in Noordwes-Kaapland Die vernaamste spoeldiamantafsettings sluit die volgende in: Die Oranjeriviermond Alexanderbaai, suid van die Oranjeriviermond Kleinzee op die Namakwalandkus van die Kaapprovinsie Die Oranjeriviervallei onderkant die samevloeiing met die Vaalrivier Vaalhartzriviergebied

Additional information

This cover is postmarked on 12 May 1980 in Cullinan, SAPO reference PT 3.22. It marks the opening of the World Diamond Congresses held in Johannesburg that month, bringing together the World Federation of Diamond Bourses and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association. The two stamps show Cullinan I and Cullinan II, both cut from the 3 601 carat Cullinan Diamond found at the Premier Mine in 1905, which remains the largest rough diamond ever discovered. Fittingly, the cover was postmarked right in the town of Cullinan itself, where the original stone was unearthed.

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