Portugal Ceres, 2½c Carmine, First Issue

Portugal · 1912 · 2½c (centavos)

This stamp features an allegorical depiction of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, grain, and fertility. She is shown scattering seeds from a bag, symbolizing Portugal's agricultural wealth and prosperity. The design, created by Constantino de Sobral Fernandes, was the winning entry in a public competition and became an iconic image for the newly established Portuguese Republic.

Issued shortly after the 1910 revolution that established the First Portuguese Republic, the Ceres series replaced stamps bearing the image of the deposed monarchy. This design represented a new national identity, emphasizing republican values and the nation's agricultural roots.