Stamped paper

In an interesting article on the stamped paper (papel selado) of our island, published in the Heraldo da Madeira (‘Madeira Herald’) of 1 April 1911, Mr Alberto Artur Sarmento states that the first paper used here was of fine linen. It ‘bears the date 1661 at the top and in the middle of the page, and immediately below it “fourth stamp of ten réis” (the Portuguese money of account before 1911; 1,000 réis = 1 mil-réis, 1,000,000 réis = 1 conto); on the left-hand side is the circular stamp, engraved in wood, with the Portuguese arms, and around it “stamp III (stamp III?) of ten réis, year of 1661”. Only the first sheet of each deed was on stamped paper.

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The third stamp of forty réis, with its designation at the top of the page, has a circular die formed of 14 arcs of a circle. This paper was overstamped with a new stamp in the right-hand margin, shaped like a coin, and on some sheets one can see the initialled signature of the superintendent (provedor) and the new date on which it was reused.

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In 1664 the fourth stamp of ten réis is hexagonal, with four outer fleurons, and the stamp with the new date in the right-hand margin is an armillary sphere with the Portuguese arms, with the year on the support, and the superintendent’s initialled signature placed at the top and in the middle of the page.

On paper stamped in 1665 with the circular stamp, the new date is placed beside the old one and the initialled signature is set beneath the stamp.

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Until 1840 the stamped paper does not differ from that used in Portugal; it then bears an overprint in black beneath the right-hand margin: O. L. GOV. C. DE FUNCHAL.

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The paper carries the watermark “Louzãa”, the date and “Credito publico” in the lower margin. ‘The embossed stamps, in white at the top of the sheet, have the arms in the centre, the value in Roman numerals on the left and the modern numbering on the right.

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The shield is bordered by palm fronds, on other values by trophies of flags, with “Thesouro Publico” written in relief.

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There is a variety of this paper that has four embossed stamps, the middle one being a monogram with the initials C. P. intertwined and “Credito Publico” written beneath it. The circular stamp “Thesouro publico” is printed in the left-hand margin.

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The last special stamped paper bears the overprint “Madeira” in red ink. The paper carries as a watermark the Portuguese arms, “imposto do sello”, “Louzãa” and the various dates. The types are white paper and bluish paper, with the overprints in the left-hand margin. The bluish paper is ruled with 25 and 30 lines, the final issue having 30 lines in blue. The overprint “Madeira” lies close to the stamp at the top of the page.

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These overprints, which were ordered because of the difference in currency, continued for many years afterwards.

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Mr Sarmento adds that the stamped paper used in Madeira always came from mainland Portugal, and that on fol. 167v of volume VI of the Registo Geral da Camara Municipal do Funchal there is a letter ordering that ‘the stamped paper left over from one year to the next’ be initialled, ‘so that it may be used and circulate freely in this archipelago’.