Macau’s Postal Farewell to Portugal: A Philatelic Retrospective and a Historic Blunder

 On December 19, 1999, Macau’s postal service bid farewell to over four centuries of Portuguese administration with the poignant series “Macau – Retrospective.” These stamps were the last to bear the inscription “Macau – Republic of Portugal” before the handover to China the following day. Yet, just over a year earlier, the Macau Post Office found itself at the center of an embarrassing philatelic blunder—one that forced a rare stamp recall and left collectors amused. 

 

 The Vasco da Gama Misprint: A Date to Remember 

On May 20, 1998, Macau issued a commemorative set honoring the 500th anniversary of Vasco da Gama’s discovery of the sea route to India (1498–1998). Designed by Vítor Marreiros, the stamps featured intricate depictions of the explorer’s ships and maps. However, the release contained a glaring error: the stamps mistakenly marked da Gama’s arrival in Calicut as 1598—a full century too late. 

 

By September 1998, the Macau Post Office had issued a corrected version with the proper date (1498), but not before thousands of the erroneous stamps entered circulation. 

 

Collector’s Gold: The “1598” Rarity 

Carlos Roldão Lopes, former director of Macau’s postal service, later quipped: 

“Clearly, whoever snapped up the misprinted stamps added serious value to their collection.”

Today, the 1998 “1598” error stamps are sought-after rarities, with prices reaching hundreds of dollars for mint-condition examples. The corrected 1498 versions, meanwhile, remain affordable (around $5–20 per set). 

 A Philatelic Farewell to Portugal 

The December 1999 “Retrospective” series served as Macau’s final philatelic tribute to Portuguese rule. The stamps showcased iconic landmarks like the Ruins of St. Paul’s and the Guia Lighthouse, blending colonial history with artistry. 

 About the 500th anniversary of Vasco da Gama’s discovery of the sea route to India  you may read here: Vasco da Gama – the sea route to India