The first stamps of Portugal were issued imperforate in 1853. They pictured the embossed profile of Queen Maria II. Portugal was monarchy from the Middle Ages, but a 1910 revolution ended it. The first stamp of the republic was an earlier King Manuel II issue overprinted REPUBLICA. Kenneth A. Wood, in This is Philately, calls the impressive 1969 Vasco da Gama issue and the 1970 Wine issue “great examples of modern stamp design and production.” Portugal’s overseas empire included Madeira and the Azores. Both colonies issued their own stamps and used Portugal stamps alternately in the past. Though they are integral parts of the country today, they resumed their stamp-issuing status in 1980.