Portuguese India – Crown (1877-81)

The Crown Series of Portuguese India stamps, issued in 1877, was a landmark in the postal history of the Portuguese colonies. Officially known as the “Crown Issue” (Série da Coroa), these were among the first definitive postage stamps used in Portuguese India, replacing earlier issues that were either surcharged or used general colonial designs.

The stamps featured the Portuguese royal crown — a simple yet symbolic representation of Portuguese imperial authority. The minimalist design centred on the crown with inscriptions denoting the territory (India Portuguesa) and denomination. It was issued in various values, ranging from 5 reis to 300 reis, each with a distinct colour. Augustus Fernando Gerard created the design, and the printing was done at Casa da Moeda, Portugal.