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Father Antonio Vieira, SJ
(1608-1697)
Theologian, Diplomat, Man of Letters

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Scott 505
BRAZIL, 1940-141, Scott 505 and 507A have different watermarks.
This is based on a portrait in the Gabinete Português de Leìtura in Bahia

Vieira, born in Lisbon, but brought as a child to Brazil, lived an extraordinary life in both politics and religion, and was one of both Brazil's and Portugal's greatest figures in the seventeenth century. He studied with the Jesuits in Brazil and entered the order in 1623. He taught rhetoric and was widely admired for his eloquence. Once on a trip to Portugal, his abilities were discerned by King John IV who made him tutor to the Infante, court preacher and a member of the Royal Council, and gave him a variety of offices and missions which he fulfilled in exemplary manner. Under John's successor, though, he was silenced by the Inquisition and imprisoned for two years. At home with the rich and powerful, he used his talents and influence in the old and new worlds to speak up for the poor, slaves, and oppressed, and continued to do so into old age, despite opposition from all sides. More

 Scott 2169
BRAZIL
, 1997, Scott 2640 and PORTUGAL, Scott 2169
the 3th centenary of Vieira's death

 
PORTUGAL, 2008, the 4th centenary of Viera's birth
In the horizontal boundary between stamps, one of the perforations is in the shape of a cross.

dated 1948 dated 1956
PORTUGAL two postal cards, 1948 surcharged in 1951, and 1956

KM 701 KM 701b
courtesy of Don's World Coin Gallery (also minted in a gold and silver)
PORTUGAL issued a 500 escudos coin in Vieira's honor in 1997
in copper-nickel [KM 701], silver [KM 701a], and in gold and silver [KM 701b]

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