Funchal

1897-1905 10r light green "King Carlos"

Quick History
Funchal is a the largest city in the Madeira island group, and is located off the coast of north Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. It was an administrative district, and issued stamps from 1892-1905, when then the stamps of Portugal were used. Today, it is still part of Portugal. The population was 150,000 in 1900.

Location of Funchal and Madeira

Funchal and Madeira

The city was named after wild fennel ("funcho" in Portuguese) which was abundant when the settlement was founded in 1424. It was an important port and stopover for caravels in earlier centuries. Now it hosts cruise ships and yachts.

1905 50r ultramarine "King Carlos"

A dark blue color was issued earlier in 1897

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized catalogue has 34 major numbers present from the1892-93 and 1897-1905 issues.  Twenty eight are valued <$5, with 19 priced at <$1-$1+. "Affordability" index is 82%.

The Scott also has 28 (A1-A28) portuguese stamps with barred numeral "51" used in Funchal listed from 1853-1867. These are all rather expensive at $30+ minimum; more typically $100+.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
The 1892-93 "King Carlos" issue has 12 stamps ( 7 are <$5), with major number Perf 12 1/2; minor number 13 1/2 versions listed.

The 1897-1905 "King Carlos" issue has 22 major numbers (All <$5). Let's take a closer look.

1897-1905 20r gray violet "King Carlos"

Note white/yellow paper varieties, and shades

Eight stamps in the issue (lower denominations) are also noted to exist in a yellow paper variety (Scott bolded minor number). The yellow paper varieties are dirt cheap. (<$1).

1899 25r carmine rose "King Carlos"

Again note the yellow paper variety, and shades

Another example is posted above of the yellow paper variety. Also, these stamps seem to come in a variety of shades. I have a supplementary page for the shades, as they are difficult to ignore. :-) 

1897-1905 100r dark blue/blue "King Carlos"

Note the bluish paper

The higher denominations (75r-500r) are issued on various colored paper (blue,pink,yellow,rose, pale lilac,buff, pink). The example above has bluish paper that is quite obvious on visual inspection, perhaps less so on the scan. No doubt this was done as a  anti-counterfeiting measure.

Deep Blue

Deep Blue provides spaces on two pages for the two major number issues (1892-93, 1897-1905)

Here is a pic of the 1897-1905 issue.

Layout in Deep Blue for the 1897-1905 issue

I do have a little quibble with the fact that Deep Blue does not provide spaces for the yellow paper varieties, or for the 13 1/2 perf varieties of the 1892-93 issue. Now admittedly, these varieties are minor numbers, but they are bolded minor numbers in Scott, compared to italic, and therefore are given prominence in the catalogue. In addition, these varieties are inexpensive, and easily accumulated. I have placed them on a separate supplemental quadrilled page. I suppose I could simply print out double pages for the varieties also.

1897-1905 25r sea green "King Carlos"

Big Blue provides eleven spaces (out of 22 total) for this set

Big Blue

Big Blue '69, on two lines of one page, has 14 spaces for the 1892-93, and 1897-1905 sets. Coverage for major numbers is 41%. The most expensive inclusion is the Scott 21 50r dark blue @ $4. Big Blue did not include nine stamps valued at $1-$2+.

Simple Checklist

1892-93

1,2,5,

1896 (actually 1897)

13,14,15,18,

21,24,26,27,

1899-1905

20,22,25,

1897 5r orange "King Carlos"

Out of the Blue

The Portuguese colonies stamps no doubt provide a window into the postal history of the Portuguese colonies. That reality alone makes them interesting.

The designs, unfortunately, rarely illustrate the indigenous culture of the colony. Generally, the colony's name and the value is stamped generically on an image that all Portuguese colonies share.. France does this as well with the "Navigation and Commerce" colony stamps, but then the subsequent issues usually provides the colony with their own designs. 

Maps appear to be in the Public domain.

Links
Funchal - Bud's Big Blue

Would appreciate a comment!