Portugal
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Geography European republic in the Iberian Peninsula, bounded by Spain and the Atlantic Ocean. Its main features are its long coastline with many river valleys and its temperate climate. The economy is mainly agricultural and it is the world's largest cork producer. Main products are cork, port wine and sardines. History Portugal developed during Cll - C13 centuries from territory held by Leon and the Moors. In 1373 an alliance was concluded with England that has never been broken. Portugal's greatest era was during the Age of Discovery in the C15. Its most famous mariners were Bartholomew Diaz and Vasco da Gama. Colonies were founded in Brazil, Africa, India and the East Indies. Portugal declined in C16 and was conquered by Spain in 1580. A rebellion began in 1640 and independence was regained in 1668. An autocratic monarchy was established under the House of Braganza. Decline continued in C18. Napoleon invaded in 1807 and Portugal became a major theatre of the Peninsular War, the French being expelled by the forces of Wellington in 1811. Rebellion against the autocracy resulted in civil war during 1828-34. The outcome was a constitutional monarchy but revolution flared again in 1908 with the king being assassinated. Finally, a republic was proclaimed in 1910. Portugal joined the Allies in 1916. Salazar became PM in 1932 and set up a semi-Fascist dictatorship but the country was neutral in the SWW. Salazar's rule ended in 1968. In recent years, Portugal has taken a democratic route, shed its colonies and joined the EEC. Portuguese Stamps Includes: Africa (Portuguese Colonies). See also: Angola, Azores, Cape Verde Islands, Guinea-Bissau, Macao, Madeira, Mozambique, Portuguese India, Sao Tome e Principe, Timor. Stamps issued: since 1853. Stamp History The early issues were distinctive with a white silhouetted image of the monarch's head embossed on a coloured background. The most valuable stamps are catalogue nos 8 and 9 from the 1853 issue: the 100 reis lilacs. The first pictorial issue in 1894 commemorated the 500th anniversary of Henry the Navigator's birth. Vasco da Gama's voyage to India in 1497-98 was the subject of an 1898 issue. The Vasco da Gama designs were also used in the African colonies, but were inscribed AFRICA instead of Portugal. This was the only general issue for colonies. The 1910 definitives were overprinted REPUBLICA after the revolution and the first republican issue was the familiar Ceres type of 1912. Aeroplanes were first depicted in 1923 following the Coutinho-Cabral flight from Portugal to Brazil in 1922. In 1924, the first literary issue commemorated the birth of epic poet Luis de Camoens in 1524. The common Caravel type first appeared in 1943, the Medieval Knight in 1953, and Portugal's first railway stamp in 1956. The 1966 issue of the Salazar Bridge (cat. no. 1294) is good but, in general, issues since the 1960s have tended to reflect the global trend of quantity before quality. |
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