Historic Figures and Macao

Macao is a small territory, the area of the peninsula may only be six or seven square kilometers and the total area of the peninsula plus that of the two offshore islands is only about twenty square kilometers. However, the unique geographical conditions and superior humanity environment provide outstanding figures with a piece of land for life and work and make numerous elites leave clear footprints in Macao. They stayed long or provisionally resided or lingered or stopped on the way for a rest. Because of all kinds of chances and experiences, they had close relation with Macao, generated important influences on such small city and became the rich, colorful and increasingly new collective memory of the people of Macao.

Macao not only has “Historic Center” universally acknowledged by the world, hut also has globally well-known “historic figures”. Macao is not only a city for tourism and gambling, hut also a famous city with historic culture. Such “family property” of great honor, becomes the disposition gene full of pride, awe and veneration of the people of Macao, on the other hand, even constantly arouses historic introspection and modern consideration for the need of opening up and forging ahead in the extraordinarily rapid era reform. While the main idea of such introspection and consideration is how to fuilher explore the cultural resources of Macao, highlight the spirits, meritorious service and great achievement of the historic figures, absorb nutrients, extract the wisdom and purify the soul among them, carry them forward and share them with the whole world.

Therefore, Macao Post especially launches an issue with the theme “Historic Figures and Macao” including a set of four stamps and one souvenir sheet. On the four stamps. the head portraits of four historic figures are respectively printed: Lin Zexu, a national hero in Chinese modern history, personally patrolled in Macao in the great anti-opium movement, his determined steps shocked China and foreign countries: Ye Ting, an army commander of the New Fourth Army in China with fame based on military exploits spreading far away, considered Macao as his “second hometown” and spent the quietest six years of his life in Macao: Xian Xinghai, a “great and strong” musician, who praises the Chinese nation by “The Yellow River Cantata” of great momentum, was horn in the family of a mariner as a true “son of Macao”: Ho Yin, an industrial and commercial giant, famous social activist and philanthropist who made distinguished contributions to the construction of Macao and his motherland was a typical person who loved the motherland and Macao.

The souvenir sheet with the forms “repeated chapter” for historic elites with the repeatedly appearing micro head portraits of the above figures as the background: the black-and-white half-length portraits of the four historic figures overprinted at the lower right corner, from the shallower to the deeper, arranged in sequence, indicate the memory of long and short time: for the stamp at the upper left, on the top of the head portraits of the ligures, the golden lotus is blossoming under the shining of five stars, which even reflects the lofty value judgment on the historic figures by Macao that has walked into new era.

With these tiny pieces, they fully carry deep and strong affection of the people of Macao: may the historic figures having made distinguished contributions to China and Macao and their spirits spread to further time and space.

Author: Lei Kun Teng

Translal ion: C&C — Translation Center. Ltd.

The Stamps:

The Sheetlet:

The Souvenir Sheet:

The FDC with Stamps:

The FDC with Souvenir Sheet:

The Post Mark:

Dados Técnicos/Technical Data

Valor dos Selos/Stamps Value: set of four stamps of 1.50, 2.50, 3.50 and 4.50 Patacas

Folhas Miniatura com quatro séries/Minisheets with four sets of stamps

Valor do Bloco/Souvenir Sheet Value: 10.00 Patacas

Desenho/Design: Carlos Marreiros

Data emissão/Issue date: 09.10.2011

Impressor/Printer: Österreichische Staatsdruckerei, Austria

Impressão/Print: Offset Lithography

Papel/Paper: Paper with Security Fibers

Picotagem/Perforation: 13¾ x 13¾

25th Macao International Music Festival

Time flies, and, though it’s hard to imagine, the Macao International Music Festival (MIMF) celebrates its 25 anniversary on October. Over the past quarter century, the Festival has unfailingly delivered a tasteful annual offering of the highest quality music, walking the path of internationalization while promoting local culture and creating an event that has become a unique artistic asset for the Land of the Lotus. The Festival’s programming principles have shaped it into an outstanding example of Macao’s harmonious and refined integration of past and present and the Chinese and Western cultures.

As one of the Region’s grandest cultural happenings, the MIMF not only elevates the city to international aesthetic standards, it is an event warmly welcomed and widely acclaimed by music aficionados both at home and abroad. Today, the Festival has become a showcase for Macao’s very own cultural image. as well as a stage for exchange and dialogue between the most talented players in the international arts arena.

To welcome the arrival of the Festival’s Silver Jubilee. Macao Post has released a special commemorative stamp set, which includes stamps. souvenir sheet and postmark.

The four stamps feature a keyboard. a trumpet. a drum and sttings against a white, webbed background. conveying interaction between the various musical i nstniments.

Set against a grey field, the souvenir sheet’s uneven black lines suggest clear and rapid rhythm. establishing a vivid, attractive mood.

The postmark is comprised of uneven vertical black lines with varying degrees of density forming the number ‘25”. signifying the 25th anniversary of the Macao International Music Festival.

Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government

The Stamps:

The Sheetlet:

The Souvenir Sheet:

The FDC with Stamps:

The FDC with Souvenir Sheet:

The Post Mark:

Dados Técnicos/Technical Data

Valor dos Selos/Stamps Value: set of four stamps of 1.50, 2.50, 3.50 and 4.50 Patacas

Folhas Miniatura com quatro séries/Minisheets with four sets of stamps

Valor do Bloco/Souvenir Sheet Value: 10.00 Patacas

Desenho/Design: Cultural Affairs Bureau (Victor Hugo Marreiros, Leong Chi Hang)

Data emissão/Issue date: 09.10.2011

Impressor/Printer: Joh. Enschedé Security Print, Netherlands

Impressão/Print: Offset Lithography

Papel/Paper: Paper with Security Fibers

Picotagem/Perforation: 14  x 13¼

Welcome the 10000th Visitors

Aqui ficam as melhores saudações Filatélicas, para os visitantes de todo o mundo, que diariamente visitam o meu blog.

(English version)

Here are the best Philatelic greetings to visitors from all over the world who daily visit my blog.

50th Anniversary of WWF

2011 marks the 50th Anniversary of World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF), an organization of environment protection with global network and influence. For half a century, WWF has been working hard and sticking to the principle of “building a future in which humans live in harmony with nature”, which is the mission of WWF.
 

World Wide Fund for Nature (formerly referred to as World Wildlife Fund), a non-profit organization, officially founded in 1961 in Gland. Switzerland. 50 years have passed since then. Now, the affiliates and offices of WWF spread to over 100 countries and regions all over the world. ln addition. WWF has worked together with the governments of various countries, non-profit organizations as well as transnational institutions to build an international network for cooperation. Through environmental conservations, ecological footprints, educational projects and collaborations with various parties, WWF puts forward solutions and encourages people on the earth to welcome change with action, so as to achieve the working objectives of “stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment” and “build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature”.

WWF has also strongly supported the development of environment protection in Macao. For example, in 2003, when the Macao Ecological Society was still at its early stage. WWF provided the assistance in research and training. They jointly organized “Seminar on Wetland Ecosystems of Hong Kong and Macao”, “International Seminar on Conservation of Migration Network of East Asia-Australia” and “Scientific Research Activity Concerning General Investigation of Birds in the World”. Through these activities, WWF aims to assist Macao to promote the level of scientific research concerning its environment protection and offer opportunities for Macao to keep pace with international scientific techniques concerning environment protection.

To protect wild animals and plants and to preserve the earth means to protect ourselves. Therefore, Macao Post by issuing 50^th Anniversary of WWP’ intends to introduce local birds to Macao’s citizens and strive to contribute a living Earth.

Light-vented Bu Ihul (Pycnonotus sinensis)

Light-vented Bulbul has been listed in the “Lists of Terrestrial Wildlife under State Protection, which are Beneficial or of important Economic or Scientific Value”. It can be found in Eurasia, North Africa, Indo-China Peninsula, the Yangize River Valley (Basin) of China as well as the vast area of south of Yangtze River and the Pacific Islands. Distinctive traits: The part between the forehead and the top of head is black; a white annulus occipital is formed between the part above the two eyes and the occiput; there is a white spot behind the ear coverts; the upper portion of body is of dust color or olive grey and with green-yellow feather edge; the chin and larynx are white and the chest is of dust color: the belly is white and with green-yellow longitudinal striations. It likes to dwell in hills, hedgerows in flatland as well as thickets in elevations. Sometimes it can be found in coniferous forest. It is vivacious in nature and its birdcall is varied. It falls into the category of polyphagia. It not only eats insects, but also eats vegetative foods, such as cherry, Chinese tallow tree and grape.

During the mating season, it becomes almost insectivorous. This point is of significant meaning in the protection of plants.

Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)

Spotted Dove has been listed in the “Lists of Terrestrial Wildlife under State Protection, which are Beneficial or of Important Economic or Scientific Value”. It can be found in the wide   woodlands, agricultural areas and urban areas, etc. in South Asia as well as countries and regions such as India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma, Indo-China Peninsula, Indonesia, Australia and the United States.

Distinctive traits: The head is pigeon grey; the upper portion of body is brown: the lower portion of body is pink; the hind neck is black:

The part above the hind neck is studded with speckles formed by white and small spots; the tail is lengthy: the outer feather is black and tan; the edge is white; the beak is darkish brown: the leg is red. lt is a typical tricolors bird. Its habitat is relatively stable. It generally seeks for foods in meadow and farmland. Its main foods include fruits, grains and the seeds of other plants. Sometimes it also preys on insects.

Yellow Bittern (Ixobrvchus sinensis)

Yellow Bittern can be found in Eurasia, North Africa, India, the southwest part and southeast coastal area of China as well as the Pacific Islands. Distinctive traits: The head and neck are black: the hind neck and back are tawny; the belly and wings are earthy yellow.

Ii inhabits in the swamp lands, reeds and leaf of cattail along the mud ponds, lakes and rivers or shrub and tussock on the edge of paddy fields, etc. It builds its nest on the medium and upper parts of leaf of cattail or the edge of reeds near water. It preys on fish, shrimps, frogs and aquatic insects.

Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)

Greater Coucal falls into the category 2 of wildlife national protection. Due to excessive hunting and habitat destruction, etc., the feral population of Greater Coucal has dropped drastically. It has been listed in the “China Red Data Book of Endangered Animals” and ranked as one of the susceptible species. It can be found in various provinces and autonomous regions of south of the Yangtze River Valley (Basin) of China as well as India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Indonesia, etc. Distinctive traits: Body feathers are almost completely black: only the upper back, wings and wing coverts are purely chestnut red: the beak and leg are black. It likes forest fringe, brushwood of secondary origin, riverside with lots of reeds and mangroves. It usually inhabits in low hills as well as the forest fringe, savanna, brushwood in river valley, tussock as well as reeds in flat areas. It mainly eats insects. lt also preys on invertebrates as well as snakes, lizards, mouse, birds’ eggs and squabs, etc.

Author: Ho Wai Tim

President of Macau Ecological Society

Translation: C&C — Translation Centre, Ud.

The Stamps:

The Sheetlet:

The Souvenir Sheet:

The FDC with Stamps:

The FDC with Souvenir Sheet:

The Post Mark:

Dados Técnicos/Technical Data

Valor dos Selos/Stamps Value: set of four stamps of 1.50, 2.50, 3.50 and 4.50 Patacas

Folhas Miniatura com quatro séries/Minisheets with four sets

Valor do Bloco/Souvenir Sheet Value: with a complete set of stamps at 12.00 Patacas

Desenho/Design: Macao Post

Data emissão/Issue date: 11.09.2011

Impressor/Printer: Joh. Enschedé Security Print, Netherlands

Impressão/Print: Offset Lithography

Papel/Paper: Paper with Security Fibers

Picotagem/Perforation: 14 x 13¼

Legends and Myths IX – The Legend of the White Snake

The Legend of the White Snake is one of the four popular folk legends of China. lt was existed by oral tradition and then it developed into storytelling in local dialects, such as Pinghua (narrative singing), Shuoshu (classical instrumental music and narrative) and Tanci (narrative style of singing and instrumental music). After that, it was adopted for drama performance as well as many other ways of interpretation, including novel, opera, cartoon, movie and modern dance, etc. It can he deemed as a typical masterpiece containing the inputs of folk cultures of China all through one thousand years. It was inscribed in the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritages List.

The stamp issue “Legends and Myths IX — The Legend of the White Snake” is designed by the Macao famous painter, Poon Kam Ling, it includes six stamps and one souvenir sheet, all with subject matters from the classic plots from the novel.

“Meet when Travelling the Lake” - It tells stories about a while snake who cultivated itself in Mount Emei in Sichuan for a thousand years and turned into a lady with a charming appearance, named Bai Suzhen. She yearned for the prosperous place called Diji and went down the mountain for worldly pleasures together with the green snake, named Xiaoqing. When they went to the scenic West Lake in Hangzhou, they took the same boat with an assistant in an herbal medicine store, named Xu Xian (Xu Xuan), and borrowed an umbrella from him. Lady Bai and Xu Xian fell in love with each other and got married. They were looking forward to a happy and peaceful life in the man’s world.

“Revelation during Duanyang Festival (Dragon Boat)” - Lady Bai and Xu Xian went to Zhenjiang and set up an herbal medicine store “Bao He Tang”, in Xijundu Street. They loved each other and the store became well known. However, Fa Hai, a monk from Jinshan Temple found out Lady Bai was actually a white snake who had cultivated itself for a thousand years. He enticed Xu Xian to give realgar wine to Lady Bai to drink on the Duanyang Festival, it made Lady Bai to reveal her true appearance. Xu Xian was frightened out of his wits and passed out.

“Steal Herb and Save the Husband” - Lady Bai went to the fairyland in Mount Kunlun after traveling across mountains and rivers. She risked her life to steal the celestial herb to save the life of Xu Xian. The god of Mount Kunlun was moved by the true love of Lady Bai and she finally got the ganoderma lucidum and saved Xu Xian.

“Fight between the Dragon and the Snake” - Fa Hai, the monk from Jinshan Temple in Zhenjiang, only cared who was a human being or a bogy but never cared who was good or evil. He made every endeavour to get Xu Xian and Lady Bai apart. He persuaded Xu Xian to become a monk and then imprisoned him in Jinshan Temple. Lady Bai went to Jinshan Temple to look for her husband and fought with Fa Hai. Lady Bai and Xiaoqing invited black fish spirits, shrimp soldiers and crab generals while Fa Hai turned to the “Dragon King of the East Ocean” and the Third Prince for help. The fight between the dragon and the snake occurred around Jinshan Temple.

“Captive Lady Bai in Pagoda” - In order to break up Xu Xian and Lady Bai, Fa Hai captured Lady Bai one month after she gave the birth to her son with a gold bowl and captive her under Leifeng Pagoda in Hangzhou.

“Dutiful Son Worshiped the Pagoda” - Xu Shilin (Mengjiao), the son of Lady Bai, grew up and became the Number One Scholar in the National Exam. He went to worship the pagoda and met his mother with cries. Lady Bai was a stylite with a kind heart. She had loved and hated and now been imprisoned under Leifeng Pagoda for over ten years. She had reached the selfless state for her understanding on the life. She asked her son to forget the hatred and become an integrity official, bringing welfare to all people.

“Flooding of the Jinshan Temple” - The expression “Flooding of the Jinshan Temple” has become a popular idiom in China and often is used to describe a huge hood. It’s originated from the Legend of the White Snake. In order to save her husband who was imprisoned in Jinshan Temple, she used magic arts to flood the Jinshaii Temple and numerous shrimp soldiers and crab generals rushed into the temple. Fa Hai had to change his cassock into a long dam to block the water. However, as the dam became higher and longer, the flood also grew up. The purpose for Lady Bai to flood the Jinshan Teiuple was to save her husband and pursue a happy life, so it is also called as “Flooding of the Jinshan Temple with Love”; Fa Hai tried to break up Xu Xian and Lady Bai and finally the gods were angry and people resentful, so it is also called as “Flooding of the Jinshan Temple with Resentment”: Lady Bai was pregnant and afraid that the flood might cause damage to innocent people, so she didn’t defeat Fa Hai. The watching people shed sympathetic tears, making it “Flooding of the Jinshan Temple with Tears”. The river water and tears together became roaring waves, which would flush away the unfairness and praise the true love in the world. As the song sings: “If the water has feelings, flooding the Jinshan Temple please. Leave the true love in the world, even an instant will be warm!”.

Author: Yin Degang

The Stamps:

The Souvenir Sheet:

The FDC with Stamps:

The FDC with Souvenir Sheet:

The Maximum Cards

The Post Mark:

Dados Técnicos/Technical Data

Valor dos Selos/Stamps Value: set of 6 stamps of 1.50, 1.50, 2.00, 2.00, 2.50 and 2.50 Patacas

Valor do Bloco/Souvenir Sheet Value: 10.00 Patacas

Desenho/Design: Poon Kanm Ling

Data emissão/Issue date: 28.07.2011

Impressor/Printer: Cartor Security Printing, France

Impressão/Print: Offset Lithography

Papel/Paper: Paper with Security Fibers

Picotagem/Perforation: 13¼ x 13¼

Welcome the 9000th Visitors

Aqui ficam as melhores saudações Filatélicas, para os visitantes de todo o mundo, que diariamente visitam o meu blog.

(English version)

Here are the best Philatelic greetings to visitors from all over the world who daily visit my blog.

Cantonese Naamyam

Cantonese Naamvarn (narrative songs)

Brief Introduction to Naantyani - sad and touching song

“Naamyam”, “Wooden Fish”, “Dragon Boat” and “Cantonese Folk Songs” are all Cantonese dialect folk songs formed by narrative singing. The linguistic characters of Cantonese dialect originated from the central plains of China (especially the Henan Province, which is traditionally considered as the cradle of Chinese civilization), and has retained the original nine tones and was registered in ancient poetry and books. The structure of “Naamyain” strictly follows the seven syllable and rhyme requirements of ancient Chinese poetry. Classic pieces include Ye Tingrui’s “Wayfarer’s Autumn Lainent” from the Qianlong period: l-le Weiqun’s “Nocturnal Lament”:

Zhao Ziyong’s “Diao Qiu Xi” and “Quit Your Soul’s Sorrow”, as well as ‘Nan Shao Yi”, “JI Xiao Xiang”, and “The Magic Jade Fan”, written by unknown authors (luring the Jiaqing period. All of the authors were accomplished scholars who had taken the imperial examinations. Although most Naaniyam songs were composed in brothels or night clubs, they still convey a sense of loss, melancholy and gut-wrenching emotion. The songs also have patriotic undertones, with performers singing it quietly in a romantic style. On the other hand, Dingban (a method to indicate rhythm in Naamyam) requires precision, but allows for more freedom in singing articulation.
Naamyam is influenced by Tang poems, but different from the “Long-Short Sentence” style of the Song Dynasty, integrated in the singing techniques of Kunqu Opera and Beijing Opera.

The “Wooden fish book” texts were printed at the end of the Ming Dynasty, and have since evolved into different types of singing such as “dragon boat” “Naarnyam” and “Cantonese Folk Songs” during the Qing Dynasty, with hundreds of bookshops estimated to have published thousands of different printed texts. These printed texts would usually only have only recorded the lyrics, hut not the tune, although SOII1C also included the narrative singing scripts. Each textual unit in a Naamyam song is a quatrain, with each line containing seven syllables. The final syllable in the first and third line of each quatrain must end with an oblique tone, the second line (known as upper line) must end with an upper even tone and the fourth line (known as lower line) must end with a lower even tone. As repeating those rhythms were like the governing linguistic tones in the Tang Dynasty, famous Naaniyani accents, such as “Theng Xian”, “Yi Fan”, “Pao Zhou”, “Li Hun” and “Liu Shui” could be perfectly presented, with “Pao Zhou”, which has a bitter tune, sung from the throat, being the most touching one.

Naamyam styles can be divided into: Dai Sui Naamyam, Xi Neng Naamyain and hei Toi Naamyain, each with their own unique styles. It is also distinguished by the singer, the performance venues or audience and performances given by blind singers, actresses, during home celebrations, on the streets, in taverns and on song boats will all have unique features. Moreover, depending on the size of the group, the singing could be accompanied by the Yanqin (hammered dulcimer), the Yehu (coconut-shelled lute), the San-i-Isuan tïddle, the Xiao (vertical end-blown flute), the Pipa (seven-stringed Chinese lute), the Qinqin (three-stringed Chinese lute) or the Ban (wooden clapper percussion instrument). The instruments could be played by the singer, or by fellow musicians, not all of whom were blind. Young blind girls were trained by their masters to be musicians capable of both singing and playing instruments at the same lime. With the development of society and the economy, the ways of entertainment become varied. Away from brothels or night clubs, Naamyam singers would also be invited to perform in events such as weddings, celebrations or funerals. As Naaniyam singers were mostly blind, they could sing among women in rich families.

On the other hand, there was a big difference in the way the careers of the Naamyam blind musicians in Hong Kong, Macao and Mainland China developed. Singers from Mainland China would dedicate themselves to the pursuit of excellence in singing technique, opting to keep to strictly defined standards. In contrast, Hong Kong and Macao were capable of broadcasting long-tenu radio programs dedicated to Naanmyani songs. The popularity of blind musicians in Hong Kong and Macao was consequently widespread, with some artists even releasing records of their own.

Even though the boom period of Naamyam has long gone, several celebrities and communities have been working tirelessly to save the ancient tradition of Naamyam. With the assistance of Macao SAR, Naamyam was recently inscribed in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list. “Naamyamn” has become a unique item in the culture of Macao.

Author Chan Chi Vai

The Stamps:

The Sheetlet:

The Souvenir Sheet:

The FDC with Stamps:

The FDC with Souvenir Sheet:

The Post Mark:

Dados Técnicos/Technical Data

Valor dos Selos/Stamps Value: 4 stamps of 1.50, 2.50, 3.50 and 4.00 Patacas

Folhas Miniatura com quatro séries/Minisheets with four sets

Valor do Bloco/Souvenir Sheet Value: 10.00 Patacas

Desenho/Design: Chan Chi Vai

Data emissão/Issue date: 30.05.2011

Impressor/Printer: Cartor Printing Security, France

Impressão/Print: Offset Lithography

Papel/Paper: Paper with Security Fibers

Picotagem/Perforation: 13¼ x 13¼

Public Buildings and Monuments

Public Buildings and Monuments

Besides the "Historic Center of Macao", recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Macao has several buildings of renowned patrimonial value, built during the I9"' century and early 20th century.

The concern in preserving such buildings includes giving them a dynamic use, installing therein governmental organisms or institutions of cultural or philanthropic nature. Keeping the elegance and splendor that make them very special architectonic pieces, the buildings continue alive in spite of the centuries, lending their dignity to the purpose for which they are used.

This "Public Buildings and Monuments" philatelic collection includes the palace that serves as the Government Headquarters of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the "White House" or "Convent of the Precious Blood" as it became to be known as headquarters to the Monetary Authority of Macao, the Holy House of Mercy Hospice of Macao and the group of buildings at Avenida da República where the Macao Foundation is installed.

Government Headquarters - The Government headquarters of the MSAR is installed in a palace commissioned in 1849 by the Baron of Cercal, having been designed by the Macanese architect José Agostinho Tomas de Aquino. In 1881, the Baron of Cercal’s widow is forced to alienate the palace that is bought, in public auction, by the Governor José Joaquim da Graça for 21,000 Patacas. Two years later, the Govemor Tomas dc Sousa Rosa adopts the palace as official residence, a situation that is maintained until 1937, with the transfer to the Santa Sancha  mansion. The building underwent several restorations and alterations that along the years would change significantly its original aspect, with the last restorations taking place in 1983 and 2000, a year when several modifications were made to its interior. Headquarters of the Government since 1937, the palace hosted also in its ground floor, from 1976 to 1999, the Legislative Assembly.

Monetary Authority - The mansion that integrates the group of buildings - headquarters of the Monetary Authority of Macao — was built in 1917, designed by the architect John Lemm, to be the residence of Luis Nolasco da Silva, a Macanese lawyer. The "White House" as it was then called, is part of a group of classified buildings in the São Januário/Guia Hill, together with the house of Dr. Silva Mendes and the Ling Nam School. Between the 30’s and 40’s of the 20"` century, the mansion was purchased by the Sisters of the Precious Blood to install that religious community, reason why the building is more known as "Convent of the Precious Blood". The building, of great elegance, presents a blend of styles (gothic, baroque, victorian) and is valorised with a stone courtyard and a garden.

Holy House of Mercy Hospice - The Holy House of Mercy Hospice of Macao is located in Sao Lázaro district, having been designed in the beginning of the 20th century and considered the first urbanization experience, mainly in terms of social welfare structure. In fact, the name of the district derives from — at the time of the Holy House of Mercy of Macao creation by the end of the 16th century — a lazaretto existing therein. Without any written records, is known that, by the end of the 19th century a Chinese philanthropist donated the land for the construction of a hospice for old women, what occurred between that date and the beginning of the 20th century. The buildings that form the hospice were built by phases. The first, alter the donation of the land, and the second and third, between 1910 and I940. By the middle of 2000, the Hospice ceased to be used as an asylum for old people, having its residents been transferred to a new building. In the beginning of the 21S' century, the Hospice was totally recovered and is used now as a cultural and creative space.

Macao Foundation - A vast parcel of land, with about 40,000 square meters, where the group of buildings exist, at 6, Avenida da República, which has been operating as the Macao Foundation headquarters, was purchased from William Herbert Dent, in 1923, by the Public Treasury (the organism that preceded the Finance Department). The date of the buildings construction is unknown but photographic documentation from that time reveals that in 1900 the land didn’t had any constructions while photos of 1915 show the group of buildings operating as a Fire Station and Police Station. In 1980, following the creation of the Issuing Institute, the buildings are recovered and underwent small alterations. The smallest building is demolished (eventually a guardhouse), and eliminated a gate and a metallic fence that blocked the access to the inside. The building that flanks Calcada da Praia becomes the main building and a door is open therein and included a staircase with stone columns that give the dignity to the entry that still presents today. During the 80’s the group served as the Issuing Institute headquarters and, since the 90’s hosts the Macao Foundation, maintaining the same visual until now.

Author: Rogério Beltrao Coelho

Translation: C&C - Translation Centre, Ltd.

The Stamps:

The FDC with Stamps:

The Post Mark:

Dados Técnicos/Technical Data

Valor dos Selos/Stamps Value: stamps of 1.50, 2.50, 3.50 and 4.00 Patacas

Folhas/Sheets: 4 sheets with 50 stamps each

Valor do Bloco/Souvenir Sheet Value:

Desenho/Design: António Conceição Júnior

Data emissão/Issue date: 19.04.2011

Impressor/Printer: Österreichische Staatsdruckerei, Austria

Impressão/Print: Offset Lithography

Papel/Paper: Paper with Security Fibers

Picotagem/Perforation: 14 x 14