This issue depicts three types of 15th century Portuguese vessels: barges, balingers and caravels. Gil Eanes used a one-mast barge to sail past Cape Bojador in 1434, which began the Portuguese exploration of the African west coast. Caravels, developed under Prince Henry the Navigator, were smaller, faster and more agile, in part due to the triangular lateen sails, the additional masts, the shallow keel, and the smaller size. Caravels could sail against the wind and upriver, becoming the ideal ship for exploring oceans and coasts during the Age of Discoveries.

The set was designed by Carlos Alberto Santos, lithographed by the Mint on enamelled paper sheets of 5×10 stamps with perforation 12×12½ and two phosphor bands, and circulated from 21 September 1990 to 31 August 1995.

Stamp	Print run	Afinsa	Gibbons	Michel	Scott	Yvert
32.00	1,000,000	1964	2202	1834A	1815
60.00	600,000	1965	2203	1835A	1816
70.00	600,000	1966	2204	1836A	1817
95.00	600,000	1967	2205	1837A	1818

Related posts:

1. Ships of the Discoveries 2
2. Sea route to India: 500th Anniv 3
3. Portuguese Navigators
4. Phosphor bands
5. Portuguese Faience 2

This post is tagged ships.