Joao de Santarem and Pero de Escobar 1471-72

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In 1469, Fernão Gomes rented the rights of African exploration for five years. Under his direction, in 1471, the Portuguese reached modern Ghana and settled in A Mina ( the mine ), later renamed Elmina . They had finally reached a country with an abundance of gold, hence the historical name of " Gold Coast " that Elmina would eventually receive. Тwo captains, who were among the best of their time and, therefore, are among the few whose names have survived from this period: One of them was JOAO DE SANTOREM(see stamp-10c). In January 1471 they reached beyond the Cape of three peaks, the country of Ashanti, one of the origins of the coveted gold. Here they founded the gold exchange place Mina, (abbreviated from "Oro de la Mina", ie gold from the mine). Soon 'on the Portuguese should get to know those places was where the gold is extracted from mines or washed from rivers. Mina from the Santarem-Escobar expedition must be eastward to the coast of Nigeria, at least until the Lagos Lagoon, where the current Nigerian capital, is penetrated, maybe she even reached the Niger Delta. Second captain was PEDRO ESCOBAR(see stamp-30c) , also known as Pêro Escobar , was a 15th-century Portuguese navigator who discovered São Tomé (December 21, 1471),Annobon (January 1, 1472), Príncipe (January 17, 1472) islands, together with João de Santarém circa 1470. He is then recorded sailing with Diogo Cão on his first voyage in 1482, and as the pilot of the famous “Bérrio” caravel on Vasco da Gama 's first expedition in 1497 to sail directly from Europe to India . He was also on Pedro Álvares Cabral 's discovery of Brazil in 1500.
St.Thomas and Prince Islands19…10c;30c;SG?
Source:W.Kramer: Neue Horizonte.Leipzig.1997 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_e ... _of_Africa. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pêro_Escobar.

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Elmina
Elmina is the first European settlement inWest Africa . The town grew around São Jorge da Mina Castle , built by the Portuguese Diogo de Azambuja in 1482. It was Portugal's West African headquarters for trade and exploitation of African wealth.
Portugal 1989;55,0;SG2127
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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In 1970, Portugal issued a stamp dedicated to the 550th anniversary of the discovery of islands. Juan de Santarem (15th century) was a Portuguese explorer who, together with Pero Escobar, discovered the islands of Sao Tome (December 21, 1471) and Principe (January 17, 1472).

Republic of Portugal (Sao Tome and Principe) 1970; $ 2.50.