Estado Português da India
Portuguese India [Estado Português da Índia]
1871-1962
Portuguese India, officially known as the Estado Português da Índia (Portuguese State of India), refers to the colonial territories controlled by Portugal on the Indian subcontinent. The history of Portuguese India is tied to the broader age of exploration and colonisation in the 15th and 16th centuries when Portugal emerged as a major maritime power.
The Beginning
Portugal’s interest in India began with the search for a sea route to the lucrative spice trade of the East, which was traditionally dominated by land routes through the Middle East. The Portuguese king, Dom João II, initiated exploration efforts around the southern tip of Africa, leading to Bartolomeu Dias rounding the Cape of Good Hope in 1488. This achievement opened the way for further exploration.
In 1498, the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrived at Calicut (now Kozhikode) on the southwestern coast of India. This marked the first direct sea voyage from Europe to India, and it revolutionized the spice trade by bypassing the Arab and Venetian intermediaries. Upon his return to Portugal, da Gama was celebrated, and his voyage signalled the start of Portugal’s domination of the Indian Ocean trade routes.
Capital: Goa
Area: 4,305 sq km
Population:
Map of Goa (1750)
Establishment of the Estado da Índia
The Portuguese Crown quickly sought to capitalize on this success by establishing a permanent presence in India. Under Dom Francisco de Almeida, appointed the first Viceroy of Portuguese India in 1505, Portugal began establishing fortified trading posts (feitorias) along the western coast of India. The most significant conquest came under Almeida’s successor, Afonso de Albuquerque, who captured the important port city of Goa from the Sultan of Bijapur in 1510. Goa became the capital of Portuguese India and a major centre of Portuguese power in the Indian Ocean.
Albuquerque’s administration expanded Portuguese control over the sea routes and trade networks of the Indian Ocean, including seizing Hormuz in the Persian Gulf (1515) and Malacca (1511), both key points in the spice trade.
Key Areas of Control
At its height, Portuguese India consisted of several coastal enclaves spread across the Indian Ocean. Key areas of control included:
Goa: The administrative capital of Portuguese India and a vital trade centre. It remained under Portuguese rule from 1510 until 1961.
Daman and Diu: Two small coastal enclaves acquired in 1535 from the Sultanate of Gujarat.
Bassein: Also in the western part of India, near modern-day Mumbai.
Cochin: An important spice-trading centre.
Various smaller outposts in India, Sri Lanka, the Persian Gulf, and Southeast Asia.
Decline
By the late 16th century, Portuguese India began to face several challenges:
Rival European Powers: The arrival of the Dutch, British, and French maritime powers in the Indian Ocean severely eroded Portuguese influence. The Dutch East India Company (VOC) and British East India Company competed for control of the spice trade and established their own trading posts and colonies.
Local Resistance: Portuguese India faced resistance from Indian rulers, including the Mughal Empire, the Marathas, and regional sultanates.
Decline of the Portuguese Empire: The Portuguese empire itself began to weaken, especially after the Iberian Union (1580–1640), when Portugal and Spain were united under a single monarch. Portugal’s independence was restored in 1640, but the empire never fully recovered its earlier strength.
By the 18th century, Portuguese control was largely limited to a few pockets along the west coast of India: Goa, Daman, Diu, and some smaller enclaves like Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
The Market of Goa (1596)
The Demise of Portuguese India
Portuguese India persisted as a colonial possession well into the 20th century, even after India gained independence from Britain in 1947. The Indian government, under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, repeatedly demanded that Portugal relinquish its Indian territories, but the Portuguese dictator António de Oliveira Salazar refused.
In 1961, the Indian military launched Operation Vijay, a swift campaign to annex Goa, Daman, and Diu. The brief military conflict ended with Portuguese forces surrendering, and the territories were officially incorporated into the Republic of India. Goa became a state of India in 1987.
Stamps of Portuguese India
The first postage stamps of Portuguese India were issued on October 1, 1871. Also called the ‘Natives’, these basic stamps were locally printed and had a numerical design that was relatively coarser than the later Imperial issues. The design consisted of a denomination in the centre, with an oval band containing the inscriptions ‘SERVIÇO POSTAL’ and ‘INDIA PORT’. The dies and types of paper, that the stamps were printed upon, varied widely, and more than 50 types of these stamps are known. The Native stamps were printed till 1877.
Early Stamps
The standard postage stamps of Portuguese India were issued in 1877 with the Crown Issue. These were simple designs that featured the profile of King Luís I of Portugal (who ruled from 1861 to 1889). The stamps were produced in various denominations and were printed using the typographic printing method. These early issues were similar in style to other stamps used in Portuguese colonies and did not include much imagery specific to India.
Portuguese Monarchs and Symbols
For much of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the stamps issued by Portuguese India featured portraits of Portuguese monarchs, especially King Carlos I and King Manuel II, the last kings of Portugal. These stamps typically followed a standardized format, with the monarch’s portrait in the centre surrounded by decorative patterns and inscriptions.
During the Republican period after 1910, when Portugal became a republic following the revolution that ended the monarchy, the stamps bore the new symbols of the Portuguese Republic, such as the Coat of Arms of Portugal.
Ceres Series (1914–1931)
One of the most famous and widely circulated series in Portuguese colonies, including Portuguese India, was the Ceres Series, issued between 1914 and 1931. These stamps featured an image of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, symbolizing prosperity. The Ceres stamps were part of a uniform design used in many of Portugal’s overseas territories. The figure of Ceres was usually shown standing with a cornucopia, symbolizing fertility and abundance, which was a common metaphor for colonial possessions.
The Ceres Series stamps are notable for their intricate engravings and are highly collectible today, especially among philatelists interested in colonial-era stamps.
Goa’s Local Motifs and Cultural Influence
Over time, some stamps began to incorporate local cultural motifs, landmarks, and scenes from Goa and other parts of Portuguese India. This shift reflected an increasing desire to showcase the unique identity of the colony, while still highlighting its ties to Portugal. These stamps featured imagery such as:
Landscapes and architectural monuments: Important structures like churches (such as the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa), forts, and city views.
Portuguese explorers: Commemorating figures like Vasco da Gama, who played a pivotal role in Portugal’s discovery of the sea route to India.
Local traditions: These stamps sometimes depicted scenes of local life, emphasizing the cultural exchange between Portugal and India.
Anniversary and Commemorative Issues
Throughout the 20th century, several stamps were issued to mark important anniversaries and events, such as:
Centenary of Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India (1898): A special issue commemorated the 400th anniversary of Vasco da Gama’s arrival in India.
Colonial Exhibitions: Stamps were also issued in connection with exhibitions that celebrated the Portuguese colonial empire.
World War II and Post-War Issues: During and after World War II, Portugal’s colonies, including Portuguese India, issued stamps that reflected the country’s neutral position in the war.
Final Issues: 1948–1961
In the years following World War II, Portuguese India continued to issue stamps, with designs often featuring Portuguese national figures, local monuments, and colonial themes. One of the last significant issues came in 1948 to mark the Fourth Centenary of the Jesuit Mission to India, which honoured St. Francis Xavier, the famous missionary who played a key role in the spread of Christianity in India.
The final years of stamp issuance in Portuguese India reflect the political tensions between Portugal and the newly independent Republic of India. In the 1950s, Indian nationalists increasingly demanded the return of Goa, Daman, and Diu to India, but Portugal refused to cede these territories. Despite the political situation, Portuguese India continued to issue stamps up until 1961, the year that the Indian government launched Operation Vijay and incorporated these territories into the Republic of India.
The Last Stamps
The last stamps issued under Portuguese rule were in December 1961, shortly before Indian forces annexed the territory. These stamps, still inscribed with the words “Estado da Índia,” marked the end of nearly 450 years of Portuguese presence in India.
Monarchy
Nativos (1871-72)
The first issues were printed in an upright rectangular frame, with small arabesques in the corners, inside which, in white on a coloured background, were inscribed the words SERVIÇO POSTAL on the top and INDIA POST at the bottom.
Nativos (1873-76)
The series of Native numerical stamps with SERVIÇO POSTAL on the top and INDIA POST at the bottom that were issued between 1873 and 1876.
King Luís I of Portugal
Dom Luís I (1838-1889) ascended the throne of Portugal in 1861 after the death of his elder brother, King Pedro V. His reign was marked by internal instability, a succession of transitional governments, and a cultural shift in society.
Vasco da Gama (1898)
To commemorate the fourth anniversary of the discovery of the sea route to India by Vasco da Gama, a government order, dated 28th May 1898 and order number 150, was issued in 1898 to issue a set of 8 stamps.
Republic
India Portuguesa
Postage Due (1904)
A government order necessitated the issue of postage due stamps in 1904. The stamps were designed by José Sérgio de Carvalho e Silva and printed using typography at Casa sa Moeda de Portugal, Lisbon.
Postage Due (1946)
The 1946 Postage Due stamps came with a new black design, bearing the country name and value in black print. Marcelino Norte de Almeida designed the stamps, and the printing was done at Casa da Moeda de Portugal, Lisboa. The inscription had IMPERIO COLONIAL PORTUGUESE inscribed on the top and PORTEADO at the bottom. ESTADO DA INDIA was printed and the denomination was under it.
Postage Due (1952)
On 15th March 1952, Postage Due stamps with a new design, different from the 1904 set, were issued. These numerical stamps were printed in Litografia Nacional S.A., Porto.
Postage Due (Surcharged)
In 1943, the 1933 Saint Gabriel Padroes stamps were overprinted POSTAGE DUE and surcharged in red or black. Similarly, in 1951, Postage Due stamps were issued by surcharging 1946 Stamps of Historical men locally with overprints in red or black. The overprint came in two font variations.
War Tax (1919)
In 1919, the Portuguese government issued War Tax stamps for colonies, including Portuguese India. These stamps were printed at Casa da Moeda de Portugal. The commercial stamps were overprinted with TAXA DE GUERRA in black or red and denomination in black.
Postal Tax - Pombal Issue (1925)
The Portuguese Indian Government issued order number 1708, dated 24th December 1924, mandating a 6 réis stamp on postal articles as a Postal Tax. A set of stamps that came to be known as the Pombal Issue were printed for this purpose and put into circulation in May 1925.
Postal Tax - Assistęncia Publica (1948-61)
The Portuguese Indian Government issued Postal Tax stamps with a new design of a mother breastfeeding her child in 1948. These stamps were issued to raise money for the charitable organisation Assistęncia Publica which worked to help the poor and those in distress. The stamps were designed by João Franco and printed locally using the lithography technique.
All stamp images and content © PhilatelyLife