Manuel Coelho Baptista de Lima Military History Branch
CTT – Correios de Portugal, in collaboration with the Philatelic Nucleus of Angra do Heroísmo and the Museum of Angra do Heroísmo (MAH), is proud to present a EUROPA philatelic issue at Boa Nova, NHMMCBL. This annual stamp issue, coordinated and sanctioned by PostEurop, is part of the EUROPA series—an initiative launched in 1956 by the founding countries of the European Coal and Steel Community. Today, the series involves over 50 postal organizations across Europe. The 2025 theme is “Archaeological Discoveries”, and Portugal has issued stamps for the Mainland, the Azores, and Madeira, as chosen by CTT. For the Azores, the featured item is a bronze culverin from 1545, recovered from the Bay of Angra do Heroísmo in 1972. It is the oldest bronze cannon cast in Portugal, created by Joham Diaz, master founder to King João III. Due to its historical and cultural significance, the Museum of Angra do Heroísmo has proposed this piece as National Movable Heritage. The event will also include a brief presentation about the colubrine, given by Jaime Regalado, senior technician at the MAH.