The results achieved by the Mozambique Company were poor. Yet they held on and paid Portugal the token rent. The contract was nearly up and Portugal thought it could do better with the colony. Interesting time for a stamp with a little old history as to what Portugal might be in for. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
It is strange to think how important stamp issues were to colony companies. It was a currency that could be printed and sold outside the colony that went directly to the bottom line without requiring precious capital. For some of the companies, stamps were 20 percent of revenue. As with this stamp, it could also be about what the company wanted to talk about. In this case. contract renewal.
Todays stamp is issue A56, a 70 Centavo stamp issued by the British owned and Portugal registered Mozambique Company for use in their concession in the Portuguese colony of Mozambique on October 10th, 1940. It was a 6 stamp issue celebrating the Portuguese Royal Restoration back in 1640 under King John IV. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 50 cents used.
The Portuguese colonies in Africa were under utilized and unprofitable. The idea was hatched that less promising areas could be rented out to profit seeking companies that could get the colonies going with additional investment while turning the cash flow positive for Portugal. The companies involved in Mozambique were majority British owned which put them in neighboring British Rhodesia’s sphere. This was advantageous for Rhodesia as it otherwise lacked an outlet to the sea.
The companies tried to make a go of it but getting things going half way around the world required more investment than the company could provide. They were trying to impose taxes on locals with no concept of money and then tried to force labor out of them to pay it. Back door slavery all this but sensibly ignored by the locals as after all their backsides were no longer facing the whip. Meanwhile the colonists and company people had much more than the same locals and required much expensive security to protect it. See also https://the-philatelist.com/2019/02/28/mozambique-company-1937-taking-credit-where-none-was-due/ .
At renewal time around 1940, Portugal looked at the sorry state the company areas were in and thought they could do better themselves. Portugal had a right of center government that tend to look at such adventures more positively. The Mozambique Company wanted to live though and so it needed renewal. What a great time to remind Portugal of the time in the 1600s when Portugal had a great Empire but the distraction lead to Portugal at home ruled by Spain for 30 years. Could a calamity like that happen again. Well yes it could, the renewed efforts in colonies were not profitable and in the 1974 Carnation Revolution, a new left wing government dropped the colonies immediately.
King John IV on the stamp was made the new King of just Portugal in 1640. With Spanish rule gradually taking power from Portugal resentments built. With most of the Spanish Army off fighting the 30 Years War, it was time for a noble lead rebellion. The so called 40 conspirators killed the Spanish Secretary of State and imprisoned the Spanish Vicerene of Portugal, Margaret of Savoy. John of Braganza was proclaimed King by a line through his grandmother. Of course there was then 18 more years of war with Spain.
Well my drink is empty and I will pour another to toast the Mozambique people. How strangely they must have looked on at these strange debates that involved them but did not include them at all. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.