PORTUGAL

PORTUGAL.

5th centenary of the birth of Vasco da Gama.
Imitation of an antique map of Africa with the routes of Vasco da Gama's travels to India.
Third stamp in a set of 4, issued on 30.12.1969.
Face value: 3.50 Portuguese escudos.
Design: Jaime Martins Barata (1899-1970).
Printing: Offset lithography.
Engraved and printed by Casa da Moeda, Liaboa.
Print: 1,000,000 copies.

Catalogues
- Afi No. 1061.
- Michel No. 1090.
- Scott No. 1058.
- StampWorld No. 1070.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 1376.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 1071.

Vasco da Gama (Sines, Portugal, ca. 1460/1469 - Cochin, India, December 24, 1524), was a Portuguese navigator and explorer. He was noted for being the commander of the first ships that sailed directly from Europe to India, the longest ocean voyage ever made. King Manuel I entrusted him with the command of a small squadron, and on July 8, 1497 he set sail from the port of Santa Maria de Belém (Lisbon) to border the African coast, round the Cape of Good Hope and go in search of India. On March 2, 1498, the fleet reached the coast of Mozambique, and after several incidents, on May 20 it reached Kappakadavu, near Calicut, on the western coast of India. After arduous negotiations to secure trade rights, on August 29, 1498, he began the difficult journey back to Portugal, where he finally arrived in September, 1499. Years later, he made two other trips to India. The Portuguese national epic, Os Lusíadas by Camões refers largely to Da Gama's travels.