Many thanks to all visitors with the best wishes for a very happy new year 2015

Faianças Artísticas Bordallo Pinheiro

RAPHAEL Bordallo Pinheiro
Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro (Lisbon, 1846 -1905) was one of the most remarkable and versatile Portuguese artists, having left a vast work in various areas. It was designer, watercolorists, illustrator, decorator, cartoonist, journalist and ceramicist. His name is closely linked to the Portuguese caricature, which gave a qualitative boost, elevating it to a status hitherto achieved. He is the author of the figure of John Doe, who would establish, until today, as a symbol of the Portuguese people. Founded Faience Factory of Caldas da Rainha in 1884, responsible for a legacy unmatched worldwide ceramics.

Sardines collection (Colecção Sardinhas)
 

Sardine Mail (Sardinha Correio)
How long does not send a letter? This Sardinha evokes the nostalgia of a gesture that is being lost today and highlights the importance of perpetuating our traditions.

Issue Plan 2014, Plano de emissões 2014

27 jan. - CTT Sociedade Aberta – Sempre presente
27 jan. - Madeira - Autoadesivos

10 fev. - Desportos Radicais - Emissão Base 

24 fev. - 400 Anos da 1ª Edição da Peregrinação

06 mar. - 800 Anos do Notariado em Portugal
24 mar. - Vultos da História e da Cultura 
07 abr. - Grandes Prémios de Arquitetura Portuguesa
14 abr. - 40 Anos do 25 de Abril
21 abr. - 500 Anos do Nascimento de Andreas Vesalius
28 abr. - 500 Anos de Bartolomeu dos Mártires 
02 mai. - Homenagem a Eusébio
05 mai. - 8 Séculos da Língua Portuguesa (AICEP) 
09 mai. - Europa - Instrumentos Musicais Nacionais
27 mai. - 500 Anos da Embaixada de D. Manuel I ao Papa Leão X 
27 mai. - Desportos Radicais - AA
02 jun. - Campeonato do Mundo de Futebol - Brasil 2014
12 jun. - 500 Anos da Diocese do Funchal
17 jun. - Jardins de Portugal 
30 jun. - Os Aviões que os Açores conhecem
jul. - As Coleções do IICT / O Café 
jul. - Patrimónios da Unesco: Univ. Coimbra e Conj. Fortif de Elvas
ago. - Ano Internacional da Cristalografia 
ago. - A Rota das Catedrais (3º Grupo)
set. - 150 Anos do Instituto Geofísico de Coimbra 
set. - Tapeçarias de Portalegre (1ª série)
20 out. - 150 Anos das Relações Diplomáticas Portugal México 

Etiquetas Automáticas
5 mai. - Ano Europeu da Saúde Mental e do Cérebro 
1 out. - Ano Europeu da Reconciliação do Trabalho com a Vida Familiar

Statistics 2013…

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Posts: 1030

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People from 151 different countries have visited this site.

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Last new visitor: California, United States

New unique visitors record: 48 on October 24, 2011

Top five countries: United States of America, United Kingdom, Portugal, India and Singapore

900th Anniversary of the order of Malta

 

 

 

The Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a Roman Catholic Order of Chivalry whose 900^th anniversary is celebrated this year, is a unique and unusual example of a Sovereign Order unwaveringly dedicated to its Mission. In this sense, the Order has pledged to defend the Catholic Faith and provide assistance to the poor, the sick and all individuals whose circumstances cause them to suffer, without making any distinctions based on ethnicity, political opinions or social status.

Founded on 15 February 1113 through the Bula Piae Postulatio Voluntatis, signed by Pope Paschal II, the Order of St. John the Baptist, as it was known at the time, was granted its own Rule, having continued to pursue its Mission of practising christian charity.

Its presence together with the Military, Hospitaller and Religious actions, were hugely relevant, in the Mediterranean. From its successive military bases, first in Cyprus, then on Rhodes and finally in Malta, the Order fought tirelessly to defend christian principles and values.

The History of the Order of Malta was profoundly influenced by four Portuguese princes and grand masters, namely Frei Dom Afonso of Portugal, Frei Dom Luis Mendes de Vasconcellos, Frei Dom António Manoel de Vilhena and Frei Dom Manuel Pinto da Fonseca. Of particular relevance was the leadership of the last two grand masters, whose remarkable skills as Statesmen and unwavering Faith played a decisive role in the expansion of the Order and in its mission of spreading Western Christian civilisation.

Currently based in Rome, the Order of Malta, whose extraterritorial status and sovereignty are recognised by the Italian government, is governed by HMEH Prince and Grand Master Fra’ Matthew Festing, assisted by the Sovereign Council, from the Magistral Palace, located at Via dei Condotti. The Order boasts approximately 14 thousand members and 90 thousand volunteers in all five continents, in its many Priories, Sub-Priories and 46 National Associations, as well as accredited Ambassadors in the governments of 105 International States and Organisations. The octagonal cross, commonly known as the cruz de Malta (Maltese cross), is undeniably recognised as a universal and timeless symbol of Peace, Communion, Human Dignity and Christian Love.

The Assembleia dos Cavaleiros Portugueses da Ordem Soberana Militar de Malta (Assembly of the Portuguese Knights of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta), founded in 1899, is the legitimate heir and follower of the spiritual, symbolic and hospitable traditions of the Order of Malta in Portugal. The Order of St. John, present in Portugal since the founding of the nation, takes pride not only in the rich history of the Order of Malta and its important contribution to the founding, building and consolidation of the Portuguese nation, but also in its current, active role against the new forms of poverty, always in Defence of the Faith and in aid of «our lords the sick and the poor», honouring its tradition while simultaneously embracing modernity and focusing on the future.

Therefore, the Conselho Diretivo da Assembleia Portuguesa (Governing Board of the Portuguese Assembly) would like to praise this initiative of CTT- Correios de Portugal and express their gratitude for this tribute paid to the Order of Malta in Portugal, recalling the importance of the Convenção Postal

(Postal Convention) once opportunely signed between the Order of Malta and the Portuguese Republic in order to facilitate the exchange of mail between both States, thus highlighting the crucial role of Communications throughout the ages.

Technical Details

Date of Issue: 27 September 2013

Values: stamps of 0,36€, 0,70€, 0,80€ and 1,00€.

€0,36 Grão-Mestre Afonso de Portugal, col. Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Direção Geral do Património Cultural, foto Mário Cerdeira.

€0,70 Grão-Mestre Luís Mendes de Vasconcelos, col. Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Direção Geral do Património Cultural, foto Mário Cerdeira.

€0,80 Grão-Mestre António Manoel de Vilhena, óleo s/tela, col. particular.

€1,00 Grão-Mestre Manuel Pinto da Fonseca, por/by Favray, col. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valleta.

Souvenir sheet with stamp of 1,95€.

“Barca do Grão-Mestre Pinto da Fonseca”, col. National Library of Malta.

Acknowledgments: Lourenço Vilhena de Freitas Assembleia dos Cavaleiros Portugueses da Ordem Soberana Militar de Malta Direção Geral do Património Cultural Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros National Museum of Fine Arts, Valleta National Library of Malta

Designer: A F Atelier

Photos:

Printer: Cartor

Process: Offset

Size: stamps: 30,6 x 40,0 mm

Souvenir sheet: 125 x 95 mm

Perforation: 13 x 13 with Cross of Christ

Paper: FSC 110 g./m2

Watermark:

Sheet: with 50 stamps

Apiculture – Portugal

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beekeeping, or honey farming, one of the oldest activities undertaken by Humankind, is still practised in various regions across the globe. All continents boast archaeological finds reflecting a close relationship between Humankind and honey bees (Apis mellifera). However, the most ancient evidence of this relationship has been found in the Iberian Peninsula, in the form of cave paintings dating back eight thousand years.

Beekeeping and its products, primarily honey, have been linked to the Portuguese nation since its beginning. Countless references to honey and beeswax are found in many city and town charters. Formerly based on traditional beehives (cortiços in Portuguese, a word derived from the Portuguese word for cork, the noble material of which they were made), beekeeping is currently an important business within the farming sector. In fact, the beekeeping business generates wealth both directly (honey, pollen, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly) and indirectly, by ensuring crop pollination and the viability of many ecosystems, thus contributing to the survival of many other animal and plant species.

In addition to being a valuable food and an important source of energy and aminoacids, honey has recently seen its virtues extolled by healthcare professionals, who recommend its use in the treatment of specific illnesses. Due to its nutritional value and probiotic properties, honey is traditionally viewed as a medicine in rural areas and is still considered as such by many people.

Honey is produced all over the Portuguese territory. The diversity of the Portuguese environment is reflected in a wide variety of types of honey, with each product embodying the aromas, flavours and colours of the unique ecosystem and scenery from which it originates. The distinctive characteristics of the rich, varied landscapes and settings encountered from North to South find their way into the various types of honey produced in Portugal.

The cold, mountainous regions of Northeastern Portugal, which boast countless chestnut groves (Castanea sativa ), usually surrounded by deciduous woods predominantly populated by Pyrenean oaks (Quercus pyrenaica), are a traditional setting for beekeeping activities and the location where an internationally renowned honey is produced – Chestnut Honey.

The mountainous interior is dominated by pastures and areas dedicated to forestry, an environment much appreciated by bees and beekeepers alike. Exuberant flowers abound in the spring, mostly in broom (Cytisus spp.) and heather(Erica spp.) woods, the latter of which produce large amounts of nectar and originate Heather Honey, a dark honey with a strong, distinctive flavour.

The landscape typically found in the Alentejo region consists mostly of a farming, forestry and pasture system known in Portuguese as Montado, where woods and natural pastures used for feeding cattle, as well as semi-intensive grain farming areas, can be found under the cover of holly oak (Quercus rotundifolia) and cork oak (Quercus suber) forests. Although humanized, this ecosystem has always been a favourable environment for beekeeping, since it provides all the resources required for honey production, namely nectar and pollen. Lavender Honey, a light amber honey with a mild taste and aroma, is usually produced in this region.

Orange Blossom Honey, a uniquely aromatic type of honey, is produced in the South, in the Algarve, a region well known for its citrus and fruit tree orchards.

Flowering profusely, orange trees are an abundant source of high-quality nectar, a resource long exploited by beekeepers in the Algarve. Orange blossom nectar leads to increased production of a superior honey, as a result of the careful pollination performed by honey bees.

Technical Details

Date of Issue: 23 September 2013

Values: stamps of 0,36€, 0,50€, 0,70€ and 0,80€.

Souvenir sheet with stamp of 1,70€.

Souvenir sheet with stamp of 1,90€.

Acknowledgments: João Diogo Casaca

Federação Nacional de Apicultores de Portugal

Designer: José Projecto

Photos:

Printer: INCM

Process: Offset

Size: stamps: 80,0 x 30,6 mm

Souvenir sheet: 125 x 95 mm

Perforation: 13 x 13 with Cross of Christ

Paper: 110 g./m2

Watermark:

Sheet: with 20 stamps