Issued by Afghanistan in 1988, this attractive 40 Afghanis stamp highlights natural rubies, one of the country’s valuable mineral resources. The design presents polished gemstones alongside raw ruby specimens, illustrating stages from extraction to refinement. Part of the Precious Stones thematic series, the issue reflects Afghanistan’s rich geological heritage and historic gemstone trade. Its bilingual inscriptions and scientific presentation make it especially appealing to mineral, geology, and thematic collectors. A distinctive late-20th-century Afghan definitive with strong topical relevance.