COVER N. 502 - BRASIL

Postmark: AC Central de S. Paulo SE/SPM 12.08.2024

Posted on the 12th August; Received on the 19th August 2024

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Another welcome cover speaking my own language sent from out brother country. Muito Obrigado Luis, é sempre um prazer receber correspondência sua.

This time Luis used 4 of the 6 x "1º Porte de Carta" stamp set issued on 23ABR2024 by the Empresa Brasileira de Correios e Telégrafos, dedicated to unconventional food plants, this probably meaning plants thatcan be found in the wild and are not cultivated on a large scale. 

I find theses stamps very nice since I love botanical and all natural history illustration, and the drawings in the stamps do look the part.

Left to right, top to bottom, we have:

Jambu (Acmella olearacea)

a Native of Amazonia,  this herbaceous member of the Asteraceae family is used as a condiment or a side dish in several preparations of the local gastronomy. It also has medicinal uses as a pain killer, since its leaves and buds are rich in spilanthol, a natural anaesthetic.

 Vinagreira (Hibiscus sabdariffa)

A member of the Malvaceae family native to Africa but which has been naturalised in many places across the globe, Roselle, as it is known in English, is fundamental in the preparation of "Arroz de Cuxá" (Cuxá rice) a typical dish of the State of Maranhão.

Bertalha (Basella alba) 

native to the Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia and New Guinea, but naturalised in many tropical regions, Brazil included, Bertalha, a member of the Basellacea family,  is used either raw, in salads, or braised as a side dish. 

Mangarito (Xanthosoma riedelianum)

Native to Brazil, this member of the Areacea, which produces large and quite caloric tubers used to be part of the diet of the Amazonian tribes in ancient times, being today almost forgotten, although it can still be found in local markets in the State of Minas Gerais.

The 0,05 Real, illustrated with the image of a seamstress is part of the definitive series issued between 2005 and 2011, dedicated to Professions. It is part of  the first set of three stamps of the series, issued on 30DEC2005.