King Carlos I, 100 Reis on 25 Reis, "L'espagnol" Error

Portugal · 1898 · 100 Reis on 25 Reis

This stamp is a famous error from the King Carlos I definitive series. It features a provisional surcharge of '100 REIS' incorrectly applied to a 25 Reis stamp, which was originally intended for the 100 Reis value. The error is known as "L'espagnol" (The Spaniard) after the Spanish collector who first discovered it.

Issued during the reign of King Carlos I, this surcharge error occurred during a period of currency adjustments in Portugal. Such errors are highly prized by collectors as they represent a rare breakdown in the normally precise stamp production process.