This issue commemorates the start of a public transport system in Porto on 15 May 1872, with a service between Rua dos Ingleses (now Rua D. Infante Henrique) and Foz. Transportation was done by so-called ‘american cars’, pulled by mules or horses along tracks in the road. Traction by steam started in 1878 and by electricity in 1895. Trolley cars were introduced in 1959. The initially private transportation companies became a municipal service in 1946.

I like very much the diverse ‘retro’ designs of this set and their striking use of colour. Unfortunately, the scanning process doesn’t capture the shine of the enamelled paper and hence doesn’t do these and other stamps justice.

The stamps were designed by Armando Alves, circulated from 7 November 1973 to 31 December 1983, and were lithographed by Litografia Maia, in Porto, on enamelled paper sheets of 5×10 stamps. The 7$50 stamps have perforation 12¾ and the other two values have perforation 13½.

Stamp	Print run	Afinsa	Gibbons	Michel	Scott	Yvert
1.00	9,000,000	1198	1516	1220
3.50	1,000,000	1199	1517	1221
7.50	1,000,000	1200	1518	1222

Related posts:

1. Lisbon Transport
2. World Heritage Site: Porto
3. Urban Public Transportation 2
4. Portuguese Railway: 150th Anniv.
5. Camões in Mozambique: 400th Anniv.

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