Portugal 1950, 10th Anniversary of the Portuguese Legion

Portugal · 1950 · 1E (Escudo)

This stamp commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Portuguese Legion (Legião Portuguesa). The design features a legionnaire holding a rifle with a flag in the background, symbolizing national defense and the values of the Estado Novo regime. The inscription reads 'DEZ ANOS AO SERVIÇO DA NAÇÃO' which translates to 'Ten years at the service of the nation'.

Issued during António de Oliveira Salazar's Estado Novo regime, the Portuguese Legion was a state-sponsored paramilitary organization created to defend the corporatist state and combat communism.