The stamp issued by Chile commemorates centenaries of five towns on the island of Chiloe with a map.
On top of the stamp is a map with part of the province of Llanquihue and the town of Pargua. At the bottom part of the island of Chiloe with the towns of Ancud and Chacao. The line between Pargua and Chacao is the ferry route between this two ports on which de ferry ALONSO DE ERCILLA was sailing. The ferry is also depict on the stamp.
Mr. E.J.Hogan gives in Log Book Volume 10 No 7 page 102:
The sailing ship depict on this stamp is intended to represent the SAN SEBASTIAN on which Alonso de Ercilla as member of a expedition was sent out by the Governor Hurtado Mendoza of Chile in 1557 to explore the region around the Magellan Straits.
Two vessels were sent out the SAN SEBASTIAN under command of Captain Francisco Cortes Ojeda and the SAN LUIS the flagship under command of Captain Juan Ladrillero.
They left Valdivia in November 1557 and when near the Straits they became parted in a violent storm.
Those on board the SAN SEBASTIAN believing the SAN LUIS to have perished in the storm, made an exploration of the islands in the vicinity and then made their way back north.
Their ship had been battered and was in a bad condition. However they reached one of the islands of the Chiloe Archipelago and because their ship was then no longer serviceable they built a boat using wood from the SAN SEBASTIAN and from trees found on the island.
It took them two months of hard work to do so and when they finished they sailed and rowed to the main island of Chiloe where they obtained food and water before continuing to Valdivia which they reached in October 1558.
The SAN LUIS was not lost but entered the Magellan Strait and proceeded all the way to the Atlantic, the first ship ever to sail from the Pacific to the Atlantic. During the voyage Ladrillero took possession of the land wherever he went and returned through the channel he had discovered, this route is today known as Canal Ladrillero.
Chile 1968 30c sg600, scott371. (ALONSO DE ERICILLA details look in the index.)