Portugal 658-661

     The design on the four stamp set issued by Portugal in 1945 features an armillary sphere or spherical astrolabe with the dates 1845-1945 to commemorate Academia Real dos Guardas Marinhas which was established by Prince Henry and became the Escola Naval in 1845. The fact that zodiac belt of the armillary sphere touches the polar circle is cited as an error. However, the armillary sphere frequently appears in Portuguese armorial design and always in that fashion. So, if there is an error, it is with designers of arms rather than of stamps.