Is this stamp a "forever" stamp?

Postal History     Variations Summary     Variation Images     Full Set Variations

Special $1 Rhodonite stamp from the Rare Beauties set

This special stamp was released on 31 March 2017 at the Melbourne Stamp Expo.  It was the single stamp in the Day 2 Minisheet.  It differed from the other $1 Rhodonite stamps.

1)  It had a lump of rock attached!  The rock was 2mm high and stuck near the top left corner of the stamp.
2)  It was a different size = 27 x 36.5mm.  (The other $1 Rhodonite stamps were 26 x 37.5mm.)
3)  It had a different perforation = 14.1 x 14.3.  (The other $1 Rhodonite stamps were 14.6 x 13.9.)

 Postal History.

I wondered how the rock would survive going through the mail stream.  I put a piece of cardboard in an envelope, sealed the envelope and affixed the special stamp.  I addressed the envelope to myself.  I have posted it in roadside mailboxes around Melbourne.  Here is it's postal history to date:

Postings #1 - #2:  April 2017.  No change.  Rock intact.  No postmark.

Posting #3:  Rock removed.  Black barcode on front.  Red barcode on back.  No postmark.

Postings #4 - #11:  No change.  Still no postmark!

Posting #12:  Red barcode on front.  Black "DLC 992-4, 19:27, 17/10/2017" codes on front.  No postmark yet!

Posting #13 - #15:  No change.  Still no postmark!

Posting #16:  Posted on 20 December.  Arrived on 2 January.  No postmark.  Yellow sticker with red barcode added to front of envelope.

Posting #17: January 2018.  This time it got 2 barcodes but still no postmark.  A second yellow sticker with a red barcode was attached at the bottom.  A different red barcode was printed across the top.  This top barcode has gone across the top of the stamp hence proving that the stamp has been through the mail stream but I'm not counting it as a postmark.  (This barcode is different from the one it received on the back after Posting #3.)  I wonder how often they turn on their postmarker?  9 months without a postmark is amazing!

Posting #18:  No change.

Posting #19:  The yellow sticker has covered the suburb and State text, so I have added them back.  "DLC 19/03/2018" stamp + red barcode on back.

Posting #20:  No change front or back.  12 months without a postmark!

Posting #21:  Added sticky tape across each corner for protection.  No change.  No postmark.

Posting #22:  New blank yellow sticker added across the bottom covering the first 3 numbers of the postcode.  No postmark.

I shall post it again soon.

Updated:  23 October 2018

 $1 Rhodonite Stamp Variations Summary.

Original Issue: 30 March 2017 (Opening Day of the 2017 Melbourne Stamp Expo)

• Gummed sheet stamp (se-tenant pair) ($1)

• Minisheet (se-tenant strip of 4) ($6)

• Prestige Booklet (perforated blocks of 4) ($30.95)

• Prestige Booklet (imperforate blocks of 4) ($50)

• Booklet (self-adhesive stamp) ($10)

Expo Day 2 Releases: 31 March 2017

• Day 2 special minisheet ($3)

• Day 2 Medallion Cover (cancelled) minisheet ($45)

“Impressions” Products: 6 November 2017

• Rare Beauties Minisheet Collection  ($149.95)

14 minisheets.  Limited edition = 200.  Face value of the stamps = $36.

• Portrait Multisheet  ($99.95 for the set of 3)

The Portrait Multisheet contained 30 different stamps.  Limited edition = 200.

The $1 Rhodonite was in the bottom left corner.

 $1 Rhodonite Variation Images.

 Rare Beauties Stamp Set.

[ $1 Rhodonite, $1 Golden Sapphire, $2 Fluorite, $2 Pink Diamond ]