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THE POSTAL HISTORY OF THE ISLAND OF FAIAL IN THE AZORES JOHN OCKENDEN (Coord.) Ockenden, J. (Coord.) (2012), The Postal History of the island of Faial in the Azores. Boletim do Núcleo Cultural da Horta, 21: 341-370. Summary: This article is based on the notes and collection left to me by my father R. E. Ockenden upon his death in 1995 and was produced as a result of Sr. Ricardo da Costa getting in contact earlier this year. The collection comprises some 700 items (letters, special postal stationery and stamps) that are associated with Faial and date from 1853 to 1994. The article has been illustrated with items from it. Ockenden, J. (Coord.) (2012), A História Postal da ilha do Faial nos Açores. Boletim do Núcleo Cultural da Horta, 21: 341-370. Sumário: Este artigo tem por base as notas e a colecção herdade por im de meu pai R. E. Ockenden após a sua morte em 1995 e foi elaborado em consequência do contacto realizado no começo do ano pelo Senhor Ricardo Costa. A colecção compreende cerca de 700 peças (cartas, documentos postais pré-franqueados e selos) ligados à história postal do Faial no período que decorre entre 1853 e 1994. O artigo está documentado com a reprodução de peças da colecção. John Ockenden (Coord.) – Stropshire, UK. E-mail: [email protected] Key-words: Postal History, Faial, Azores, philately, postal services, postal rates, postal reforms. Palavras-chave: História postal, Faial, Açores, filatelia, serviços postais, taxas postais, refor- mas postais. INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY R. E. OCKENDEN “I formed this collection during the At first I collected all Azores stamps years following 1979, using some of and postal stationery, but after visit- the money I had obtained from the ing the Azores in 1981 I decided to sale of my collection of Cromwellian restrict the collection to the island coins and medals. of Faial (Horta). Most of the items I 342 Boletim do Núcleo Cultural da Horta obtained cheaply, because there were but is by no means essential. There only a few collectors in this field. I are no stamp dealers in the Azores, hope that one of my descendants may although there must be a few stamp be sufficiently interested to keep this collectors. I corresponded with one collection, and perhaps even add to it. for a time, Sr. Ricardo da Costa, but I An elementary reading knowledge of have not heard from him since 1987.” Portuguese would certainly be useful, PHOTO 1: 1984 June 4th Part of large registered envelope sent to R.E.Ockenden by Ricardo da Costa. The stamps and registered label 9900 HORTA are postmarked c.d.s. AEROPORTO DA HORTA 4.6.84. SOURCES Many of the items in this collection It holds postal auctions from time to come from the following societies or time. dealers: Manuel Albuquerque, 15 Edenham Portuguese Philatelic Society. The Way, London W10. Stamp dealer. No only British society. longer active. International Society for Portuguese Joseph Albert, P.O Box 1034, Hend- Philately, Box 3229, Syracuse, NY ersonville, N.C.28793, USA. Holds 13220, USA. Predominantly Ameri- postal auctions for Portuguese postal can, it is the best society of its kind. stationery, usually six times a year. John Ockenden 343 FAIAL – PREFACE Faial (formerly spelt Fayal) is one village of Capelinhos. Mark Twain of nine small islands in the North amusingly described a visit to Faial in Atlantic ocean, discovered by the 1867 in Chapters 5 and 6 of The Inno- Portuguese between 1427 and 1452. cents Abroad. Before that time they were uninhab- The chief town of Faial is Horta ited. The islands are: S. Miguel, Santa (population 7500), a small town Maria, Terceira, Graciosa, S. Jorge, with a fine harbour. Rather confus- Faial, Pico, Flores and Corvo. They ingly, “Horta” was also the name of have always been considered part of an administrative area which covers Portugal. the islands of Faial, Pico, Flores and Faial is about 22 km long by 15 km Corvo. wide, with a population of 17,500 Faial now uses Portuguese stamps, (Population in 1839 was 24,000). It but from1868 until 1931 these were was called Faial from a tree, formerly generally overprinted “AÇORES”. abundant, Myrica faya. The island is However, from 1892 until 1906 Faial volcanic, and there was an eruption as had its own stamps, printed with the recently as 1957/58, half burying the word “HORTA”. http://www.enciclopedia.com.pt/images/faial7.jpg 344 Boletim do Núcleo Cultural da Horta FAIAL – EARLY POSTAL SERVICES The first postal organisation in Portu- Until 1853 the following were the gal was established as early as 1520, only official post offices for the but no official marks were put on let- Azores: ANGRA, FAIAL or FAYAL, ters until 1799, when the Portuguese FLORES and S. MIGUEL. Faial was government took over the postal stamped in black, blue or red. administration. From that time letters The number stamped or written on had to be marked with the sender’s the letter indicated the amount in réis post office and the amount payable to be paid by the recipient – 40, 60, on delivery. Letters from Portugal 80, etc. The postal rates were com- to the Azores, if sent by Portuguese plicated, being based on a combi- ships, went by maritime post, start- nation of weight and distance. As ing from 8th April 1798. Letters sent far as the Azores were concerned, to Portugal from the Azores were the minimum postage (for ½ onça or marked with the word ILHAS by the 14.25 gm) was 40 réis. Lisbon post office. PHOTO 2: 1838 Letter (folded paper) from an American sailor in Faial to his sister in New Bedford USA. c/o James Wody (?). Stamped ‘SHIP’ and SPT (?) 28(?) in red. From the PHILIP Parker collection auctioned at the Galeria Filatèlica de Barcelona, 19th October 1993, Lot 241. 62 pounds sterling. John Ockenden 345 POST OFFICES IN FAIAL Until 1879/80 the only post office CAPELO In 1909 (Capello) and for Faial was at Horta. After that 1980 (Capelo) lists. 18 km from date there were a number of small Horta. MS. cancellation known post offices, but little is known about (Gordon). c.d.s. known, but requires them, and some probably never had confirmation (Gordon). Washburne a postmark. Most of the information says CAPELLO (HORTA). given here is taken from the follow- CASCALHO In 1909 and 1980 lists. ing sources: Near Cedros, 22 km from Horta. No postmark known. Portuguese Post Office lists, 1909 CASTELO BRANCO In 1909 list and 1980 (Castello Branco). Not in 1980 list. P. R. Barata, Estaçōes dos C.T.T., c.d.s. known. 1978 CEDROS In 1909 and 1980 lists. D. L. Gordon, Post Offices of the c.d.s. known. Azores up to 1910 (Portu-Info, FETEIRA In 1909 list. Not in 1980 1983) list. c.d.s. known (Gordon and Wash- S. S. Washburne, Circular Dates- burne FETEIRA (HORTA)). tamps of Portugal and Adjacent FLAMENGOS In 1909 list. Not in Islands (Portu-Info, July 1988). 1980 list. A Flemish settlement in val- ley near Horta. Rare early postmark AEROPORTO DA HORTA In 1980 known, illustrated by D. L. Gordon list. Circular�������������������������������� datestamp (c.d.s.) com- in Strand Stamp Journal, June 1961. mon. Straight-line cancellation known – AREEIRO Not in 1909 list. In 1980 c.d.s. known (Gordon and Wash- list. 20 km from Horta. c.d.s. known burne). (Gordon). GROTAS Not in 1909 list. In 1980 CALHETA (FAIAL) I cannot find list. 6.5 km from Horta. No postmark any place of this name in Faial. Wash- known. bourne mentions a c.d.s CALHETA HORTA Main post office. Early and (FAIAL), but I believe it is a mistake. modern postmarks common. (There is a straight-line cancellation LOMBA DO PILAR Gordon men- CALHETA, but it is from Calheta de tions this as a post office in Faial, but Nesquim in Pico). I think it is more likely in Terceira. CAPELLINHOS In 1909 list. Not There is also a LOMBA (HORTA) in in 1980 list. No postmark known. Flores (Washburne). 346 Boletim do Núcleo Cultural da Horta LOMBEGA Gordon mentions this PRAIA DO NORTE In 1909 and as a post office in Faial, but I think he 1980 lists. 23 km from Horta. c.d.s. is mistaken. Not mentioned by Wash- known. burne. No Postmark known. RIBEIRA FUNDA Not in 1909 list. NORTE PEQUENO In 1909 and In 1980 list. 26 km from Horta. c.d.s. 1980 lists. 23.5 km from Horta. No known. postmark known. RIBEIRINHA In 1909 and 1980 PASTELEIRO In 1909 list (Pastel- lists. 10 km from Horta. c.d.s. known. leiro). Not in 1980 list. A district of SALÃO In 1909 and 1980 lists. 14 km Horta. No postmark known. from Horta. Postmark not known. PEDRO MIGUEL In 1909 list. SANTA BARBARA In 1909 and Not in 1980 list. Postmark PEDRO 1980 lists, but probably in Pico, not MIGUEL (Hta) mentioned by Wash- Faial. c.d.s. known (Gordon and burne. Washburne). PRAIA DO ALMOXARIFE In SANTO AMARO In 1909 list. 1909 list. Not in 1980 list. A coastal Not in 1980 list. Probably in Pico, village near Horta. c.d.s. known not Faial. c.d.s. known (Gordon and (Gordon and Washburne). Washburne). PHOTO 3: 1982 View card showing a typical Faial windmill. Illegally postmarked CEDROS (FAIAL) 31 SET 95 (??).. Not sent postally. John Ockenden 347 In 1982, acting on a suggestion 20th July 1982, but in three cases the from Ralph Ockenden, Ricardo da dates appear to be quite random.