Tag: Portugal stamp

Portugal’s first republic was not working with economic strife and anarchy in politics and in the streets. How do you solve it? A military coup perhaps? Won’t the people then be ill served as Generals turn themselves into pagan Caesars in the fascist mode. General/ Marshal/President Carmona tried to find a middle way. 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 interesting that this late in his career pictures Oscar Carmona in a dress military uniform, even though he had served as President for nearly twenty years. The uniform perhaps both recognizes him as a figure head while also acknowledging his right under the Nuevo State to fire the government, an important check the kept Salazar from becoming one of Europe’s pagan Caesars as he himself described the fascist leaders of other European countries.

Todays stamp is issue A149, a 1.75 Escudo stamp issued by Portugal on November 12th, 1945. It was an 8 stamp issue in various denominations. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth $7.50 unused.

Oscar was born the son of a Portuguese Naval Captain who was serving as naval attaché to Brazil in 1869. Despite this he joined the army and married the daughter of a General. In marrying her, he legitimized their three kids. He rose through the ranks and was charged by the republican government with leading a military tribunal that was tasked with prosecuting officers who had conspired in a series of failed coups against the unpopular and unstable, but elected government.

He was perhaps not the best choice as the Prosecutor then dramatically asked in open court if the homeland was sick as it was persecuting it’s best men. One of the few times a prosecutor wins an acquittal of the officers. Soon Carmona is leading 15,000 troops marching into Lisbon demanding and recieving the resignation of the Republican government.

Initially the plan was to install a rival politician in power under the same constitution. Carmona quickly realized the weakness of that and instead crafted a Nuevo State that gave him personally dictator like powers.

The early years of the dictatorship saw a good amount of economic progress as a new Finance Minister Antonio Salazar got the countries very iffy finances in order. This is where Carmona differed from so many military dictators. Seeing the success, he promoted Salazar to Prime Minister as he himself stepped back in a more figurehead role. As a non military leader, Salazar was able to gradually reduce the importance of the military in politics with the acquiesce of Carmona. This reduced role was central to the very delicate task Portugal pulled off by staying out of both the Spanish Civil War and World War II.

There was of course opposition to the absolute power of the Nuevo State. This included both far left and more mainstream elements. A nod to how well the system worked was that both aged Marshal Carmona and his also aged military replacement as President  were repeatedly offered the role of figurehead to proposed opposition governments.

Well my drink is empty. Come back soon when there will be another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2020.

Portugal got it’s independence from the then Spanish empire of Castile in the 1300s. The Portuguese 24 year old general, Nuno Alvares Pereira put a new King on the Portuguese Throne, chased off the Spanish, and then as a widower, retired to a Carmelite Convent and the religious life of a Friar. He is now recognized as a Saint. 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.

The battle scene on this stamp shows Nuno the young General leading his small force against the Castilians. There were only about 6000 participants in the battle that helped decide Portugal’s future, and about 75% of them were Castilian. Is it any wonder he became a deeply religious man? The rival of Portugal, King John I of Castile later died falling off his horse during a fantasia.

Todays stamp is issue A96, a 5 Centavo stamp issued by Portugal on November 28th, 1928. This was a 52 stamp issue put out in three series over three years remembering independence from Castile. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents whether used or unused.

Nuno Alvares Pereira was born in 1360 the illegitimate son of a Portuguese knight. At one year of age, he was legitimized by Royal Decree and that allowed him to receive a knight’s education. This was no doubt one of King Fernando’s better decrees. He joined the Army at age 13 and at age 16 married a wealthy widow.

King Fernando had arraigned the marriage of his daughter Beatrice to be the second wife of King John I of Castile. This was supposed to seal the peace between Portugal and Castile. Unfortunately as King Fernando aged his two sons died leaving Beatrice an obvious heir to the Portuguese Throne. Fernando’s death saw his widow becoming regent and supporting her daughter. Also supporting Beatrice’s claim to the Throne was Castile’s army. Portugal’s nobility divided with many including Nuno supporting Fernando’s brother John’s claim to the Throne. Nuno lead a force of about 1200 to fight the Castilians.

Nuno’s force was far outnumbered but were regular infantry while Castile’s force was mainly lighter, faster cavalry. Nuno devised a strategy of defense against cavalry that was much copied as recently as colonial African bush wars. The infantry would form a series of boxes that could defend itself from any direction. An army’s facing cavalry fear is being surrounded but now that fear could be brought to the cavalry itself. Castile withdrew from the battle after heavy loses and Fernando’s brother John was recognized King of Portugal. Nuno was named the Major Majordomo of the realm. Princess Beatrice, she would say Queen would outlive John of Castile and for the rest of her life schemed for a Portuguese return.

After the death of his beloved wife, Nuno became a Friar at the Carmelite Convent in Lisbon where he had been a patron. He gave up his by now many Earthly titles to be simply Friar Nuno of Saint Mary. Pope Benedict XV Beatified Nuno in 1918. Has formal Canonization happened in 2008 under Benedict XVI. His Saints Day in November 6th for which there is also a feast in his honor by Portuguese Carmelites. He has been on several more Portuguese stamps since this one. Most recently in 2009 celebrating his Canonization.

Well my drink is empty and I will try to remember to hold a feast on November 6th and toast Saint/Friar/General/knight Nuno. Come again soon for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2020.

One nice thing in common between the Socialist. I believe they now prefer Progressive, and National Socialist, I believe they now prefer Christion Nationalist, governments is they often portray the simple worker in a positive, even heroic light. Here we have a rancher from the then Province of Ribatego. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage after you are done riding fences on the lower 40 acres. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.

When we romanticize hard work such as done by this Portuguese rancher, we airbrush out the toll that it takes on him physically. However what we should not do is forget what such productivity does for his soul. Perhaps hard work followed by a younger retirement age is the answer.

Todays stamp is issue A134, a 1.75 Escudo stamp issued by Portugal on April 4th, 1941, It was part of a 10 stamp issues featuring different regions and tradespeople. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth $4.00 used. The value of this high denomination bulk postage issue rises to $40 unused, as bulk stamps were for actual mail.

The region presented was the then Province of Ribatego. Ribatego literally means up the Tagus River relative to Lisbon at the river’s mouth. The large area, with no border to the ocean or Spain is not densely populated region. The large river crossing it makes it uniquely suited to agriculture especially cattle ranching.

I mentioned that this stamp came from a time of a national socialist government in Portugal. In the early seventies, there was a revolution that changed that. The new center left government meant change was coming to Ribatego Province. At the demand of the European Union regional lines were redrawn with most of Ribatego finding itself in the newly created Santarem. The Santarem region is named for the largest city in the area.

If one senses a shift in this from productive rural living to the cities, I believe that would be correct. Now Portugal has to spend two and a half percent of gross national product to import enough food.

A search today of ranching in Portugal gets two main results, one hopeful and one sad. The sad one was ranches being sold for high prices to be vacation homes and Air B+Bs for people from somewhere else.

The more hopeful one was from a regional state park offering jobs helping look after their herd for younger would be ranchers. This probably won’t last with the excuse of climate change offered, but I for one am excited at the idea of the young experiencing  ranching.

Well my drink is empty and there are many chores to get to. Come again soon for another story to be learned from stamp collecting.

Portugal had an issue in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The worldwide empire that great ancestors found was doing more to drown us in the white man’s burden than making us rich. Portugal falling behind. Stories of that won’t inspire our young here in 1969 before they go off to do their patriotic chore in Bissou or Sou Tome’. Time to show the other side of the coin, a pianist trained by Liszt who traveled the world. Telling people getting out might also not be the answer but why not try. 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.

The image on this stamp is taken from a painting of pianist Vianna da Motta by artist Colambano Bordalo Pinheiro. It shows the pianist at his craft looking thoughtful and elegant. The stamp might have been improved if it somehow could be brought home to Portugal. Without that, the message to the young seems to be; if you want to succeed get out like da Motta.

Todays stamp is issue A268 a 1 Escudo stamp  issued by Portugal on September 24th, 1969. It was a two stamp issue cellebrating the birth century of Vianna da Motta. According to the Scott catalog,the stamp is worth 25 cents used.

Vianna da Motta was born on Sou Tome, the then Portuguese colony off Africa where his father was a pharmacist and amateur musician. After moving back home his father saw his potential on the piano. Soon he was off to Berlin to study under Scharwenka brothers and to Weimar to study under Liszt and von Bulow. da Motta came of age in the romantic era and loved playing works of Bach and Beethoven. Soon he was doing concerts in Berlin, London and New York and associating with such heavyweights as Busconi. He also took a hand at composing both for the piano and a full symphony. In order to lure him back and remind him where he comes from, Portugal appointed director of the Lisbon Conservatory in 1919.

Vianna da Motto did one interesting thing to bring the classical music he performed to a wider audiance. The German firm of Welte-Mignon was advancing technoloy with regard to player pianos. Previously the wooden rollers inside the player pianos could only reproduce the musical notes themselves in order. Welte- Mignon perfected paper rollls of perforations that could better reproduce tempo, dynamics, and pedalling of piano playing. Welte-Mignon hired da Motto to record for them so the rolls purchased for their player piano was music as performed by a virtuoso. The Welte-Mignon player piano was first featured at the Leipzig trade show in 1904 and soon featured in pianos sold around the world.

Well my drink is empty and stuck at home I may have another. I think I may be more in the mood for listening to Kenny Rogers than Beethoven however. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.

The Portuguese Royals divided into a Portugal and a Brazil line in the 19th century. So though Portuguese still left for Brazil, less and less money came back and the empire became threadbare. Perhaps a dynamic new King could have turned it around, but not someone satisfied playing the cello and translating Shakespeare. Gosh this guy probably collected stamps. 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.

Todays stamp is so typical of a 19th century European Empire stamp. A Royal depicted in an ageless profile along with a denomination. Great Britain started postage stamps this way in 1840, was much copied, and Queen Elizabeth II is still displayed this way. Portugal’s lesser status is seen in having to include the countries name on the stamp. Otherwise the stamp fits right in as did Portugal’s Royal House of Braganza. Luiz married Maria Pia, Princess and daughter of Italian King Victor Emanuel I.

The stamp today is issue A15, a 25 Reis stamp issued by the Kingdom of Portugal in 1870. This was a 17 stamp issue in various denominations that was issued foe many years and then reprinted on cheap paper for collectors in 1885 and again in 1905, third world money grubbing style. The quality of the printing I think suggest that this stamp is original and if I am correct the Scott catalog places it’s value at $3.75 used. An imperferate version is worth $500 mint.

I mentioned that Portugal was somewhat threadbare after Brazil became it’s own Empire. See https://the-philatelist.com/2019/04/18/brazil-1891-an-elite-overthrow-the-monarchy-to-avoid-a-haitian-outcome/ . Portugal was also faced with the end of the slave trade and the fact that many Portuguese traders in places like Macau and Goa in India had gone native. See https://the-philatelist.com/2017/11/10/remember-the-divine-duty-of-empire/  . The extent of the rot was shown by the Royal succession in 1863. Prince Luiz was a second son and a naval ship captain when he was called home as his mother the Queen was sick. He arrived home to find her and two of his brothers dead from cholera from bad water at the Palace of Necessities. One of the necessities apparently not being clean water. There was a new palace being constructed, Ajuda Palace though it was far from finished after many years work.  New King Luiz was advised to move in anyway and was soon joined by his 14 year old bride Queen Consort Maria Pia.

Luiz stayed out of politics for the most part and weak governments of the left and the right did not make much headway. The Queen attracted much consternation for her extravagance and the government often withheld money in finishing Ajuda Palace. The Queen responded that if you want a Queen you have to pay for her. The marriage with Luiz cooled after the birth of the heir and the spare as he found more understanding with his mistresses.

When Luiz suddenly died in 1889, now dowager Queen Maria Pia refused to leave Ajuda Palace and new King Carlos had to go live in the Palace of Necessities. The cholera there did not get him but assassins did. Portugal was declared a Republic and Maria Pia was sent into exile in her native Italy. The is a current pretender to the House of Braganza, Duerte Pio, but none of the political parties support a return to monarchy. The Necessities Palace now serves as Portugal’s Foreign Ministry and Ajuda Palace is a somewhat derelict museum. There is a scheme to fix it up by selling some of the grounds for development. If you want a Palace, you have to pay for her.

Well my drink is empty and I am not one to add much water to my scotch, so I am safe to have another. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.

Long ago explorers made large claims for the homeland. Sometimes the nation can’t hold on and the people are disappointed. 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.

Todays stamp harks back to a time of great advances and adventure. However it was issued in a time of austerity and humiliation. That does detract and the fact that the stamp just continued long after the anniversary with many overprints representing changes just makes it come across as sad.

The stamp today is issue CD23, a 25 Reis stamp issued by the Kingdom of Portugal in 1898 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Vasco da Gama. There are many denominations of this stamp and it was also issued in many of the colonies of Portugal. There were also later overprints that reflected the overthrow of the monarchy and a change in currency. This is the original version and according to the Scott Catalog is worth 50 cents used.

Vasco da Gama sailed in 1498 and was the first person to make it around the world, proving the earth is round. Along the way there were many stops and claims were made on the land on behalf of Portugal. Among the stops were in Angola on the west African southern coast and Mozambique on the east African southern coast. The claim was understood at the time to include all the land between the two outposts though Portuguese activity centered in the coastal trading posts.

In 1890, British empire builder Cecil Rhodes was colonizing and minerally exploiting the areas north of the British colonies in South Africa. There was also thought of connecting Egypt and South Africa by railroad. The British desires conflicted with traditional ally Portugal’s long standing claims. It is worth noting that neither side seems to be paying any attention to the views of the native population.

An ultimatum was issued demanding Portugal give up it’s claims to modern day Zambia and Malawi. Given the marginal military capabilities of Portugal and its chronic lack of funds, King Carlos I felt he had no choice. He gave in to Great Britain. This made the government appear weak and feckless and greatly strengthened Republican forces in Portugal. In 1908 King Carlos I and the crown prince were assassinated while riding in an open carriage. After a short regency of Carlos younger son Manuel II the monarchy was overthrown in 1910.

Interestingly there is a side note to the end of the monarchy in Portugal. A female child was born in 1907 out of wedlock in Spain with King Carlos listed as the farther on the Baptismal record. The tradition at the time was that the Church would only put the name of an unmarried father on the record at his request, not merely at the request of the mother. The girl, Maria Pia her whole life claimed to be the daughter of Carlos and thereby the Queen of Portugal if the Monarchy is restored. She claimed that the year before his death the King decreed that she was to be treated as a full child of him and in the Royal succession. Maria Pia had no evidence of this and the King did not have the power to make such a decree. Maria Pia fashioned herself as the HRH Duchess of Burganza and lived a jet set life of a writer and a journalist. Her three marriages to commoners, including one  to someone 45 years her junior, would not be allowed if she were truly royal. Her many court cases went nowhere as her proof was suspect having been issued 30 years later after the original records destroyed.

She later adopted an adult Italian businessman named Rosario Poidimani. She also issued a modification of the 1837 Portugal Royal Succession law to allow her claim to the Portuguese throne to pass to him. He also now calls himself HRH the Duke of Burganza. He was arrested and convicted of selling fake Portuguese diplomatic passports that he claimed he was within his rights to do as the head of Portugal.

Well my drink is empty and so I will open the conversation in the below comment section. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.