Azores

Status: Autonomous Region of Portugal

Location: Archipelago in Atlantic Ocean
Area: 906 square miles
Population: 246,746 (2011)
Currency: 1 Euro = 100 cents. 1€ = $1.35 (2014)
The Azores is an archipelago of nine volcanic islands
about 850 miles west of Lisbon in the North Atlantic. Located
near the juncture of three major tectonic plates, the Azores
form part of a chain of undersea mountains that runs from
Iceland to St. Helena and beyond. Most of the islands experi-
ence frequent seismic activity.
The first recorded landfall was in 1427 and, a decade later,
Henry the Navigator settled them. The islands played an im-
portant role in protecting and supporting the vital sea lanes
from Portugal to the Cape and the Indies as well as Brazil and
the Americas.
To the Portuguese, the Azores are a part of Portugal rather
than a colony. In the postal reform of October 27, 1852 —
which led to the adoption of postage stamps — three of Por-
tugal’s 216 post offices were located in the Azores. Portuguese
stamps were introduced July 1, 1853. On January 1, 1868, be-
cause of a 25% differential in the value of the currency, Por-
tuguese stamps were overprinted specifically for the Azores.
On June 1, 1892, Portugal replaced the general Azores issues
with stamps inscribed for the three local administrative districts
of Angra (for use in Graciosa, São Jorge, and Terceira), Horta
(for Corvo, Faial, Flores, and Pico) and Ponta Delgado (for São
Miguel and Santa Maria). Although Azores stamps were dis-
continued under the new arrangement, extended commemora-
tive sets inscribed Azores were issued in 1894, 1895,
and 1898. Most of the commemorative stamps were
actually sold in Portugal for the philatelic market.
On July 19, 1905 the Portuguese government au-
thorized a return of general Azores issues, and the
following year Azores stamps replaced those of the
three administrative districts. In mid-1931 Azores
stamps were in turn superseded by those of Portugal,
although all Azores issues after 1912 remained valid
for postage until October 1, 1945.
On July 1, 1976, the islands became an autono-
mous region of Portugal, and in 1980
Azores stamp issues resumed. Since
then the stamps of Portugal and Azores,
as well as those of Madeira, have been
sold in all three jurisdictions and are
valid interchangeably for postage. How-
ever, postal clerks seem to favor Portu-
guese stamps in all three jurisdictions.

(For expanded text and

additional illustrations, see
www.stamps.org/AP-Album.)