Ceres, First Postage Stamp of Portugal
Portugal · 1853 · 5 Réis
This stamp features a profile portrait of Queen Maria II, the first monarch to appear on a Portuguese stamp. The design, known as the 'Ceres' type, is simple and elegant, with the Queen's effigy embossed in the center, surrounded by an ornate frame. It was issued imperforate and printed in a brownish-red color.
Issued in 1853, this was Portugal's first adhesive postage stamp, following the trend started by Great Britain's Penny Black in 1840. The introduction of stamps revolutionized the postal system by standardizing rates and prepaying for postage.
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Perfectly centered, fresh, no faults
Well centered, fresh colors
Nicely centered, minor flaws
Average centering, acceptable
Off-center or visible wear
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