Portugal 1898 Postage Due Stamp

Portugal · 1898 · 5 Réis

This stamp is part of Portugal's first series of postage due stamps, issued in 1898. The design is purely functional, featuring a large numeral '5' indicating the amount due, framed by ornate scrollwork. The text 'PORTEADO A RECEBER' translates to 'Postage to be Received', clearly stating its purpose.

Issued during the reign of King Carlos I, these stamps standardized the collection of insufficient postage, a common administrative need for postal services worldwide at the turn of the 20th century.