This issue commemorates the composition of A Portuguesa in 1890, by Alfredo Keil (music) and Henrique Lopes de Mendonça (lyrics). The marching song reflected the popular uproar against the British Ultimatum and against its acceptance by the Portuguese government. In spite of being Portugal’s oldest ally, Great-Britain forced Portugal to abandon its plans for East-West control of Africa from Angola to Mozambique, so that Britain could pursue its plans for North-South control from Egypt to South Africa. The song became very popular among republicans and was eventually banned by the monarchy, only to become the national anthem upon the proclamation of the Republic on 5 October 1910. The original song included the verse Against the Britons, march, march, replaced in the anthem by Against the cannons, march, march.

The stamp was designed by José Luis Tinoco, lithographed by the Mint on enamelled paper sheets of 5×10 stamps with perforation 12×12½ and two phosphor bands, and circulated from 6 March 1990 to 31 August 1995.

Stamp	Print run	Afinsa	Gibbons	Michel	Scott	Yvert
32.00	1,000,000	1930	2191	1816	1804

Related posts:

1. Demarcated Wine Regions: 100th Anniv.
2. Bartolomeu Dias’ Voyage: 500th Anniv. 2
3. South West Africa’s Discoverers 2
4. Almada Negreiros: 100th Birth Anniv.
5. Abolition of Death Penalty: 100th Anniv.

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