2019150 Years of the Abolition of Slavery in Portugal - First Day Cover

By Decree of 25 February 1869, slavery was abolished in all of the territories that composed Portugal, all slaves being declared free. The Decree was introduced on the initiative of the Marquis of Sá da Bandeira and ended a long and degrading cycle, begun in 1441 with the capture of the first black slaves on the southern coast of Cape Bojador, on the expedition to Rio de Oro, brought on ships captained by Antão Gonçalves and Nuno Tristão.