João Paulo Cota, the author who was born in Angola to parents of Goan descent, relocated to Goa at the age of fourteen. After graduating from the Goa Engineering College with first-class honors in Civil Engineering, he subsequently moved to London. João Paulo is a lifetime member of the Goa Philatelic and Numismatic Society and holds membership in the Royal Philatelic Society London, in addition to contributing to various other similar organizations. He has received multiple medals at both national (UK) and international philatelic exhibitions, consistently showcasing materials from Portuguese India. A passionate collector, he specializes in stamps, postcards, postal history, coins, and banknotes from Portuguese India, and he has a particular interest in religious artifacts associated with St Francis Xavier.
Since that time, he has been engaged in research across various topics and is presently involved in multiple projects, all pertaining to Portuguese India. During the previous Saint Francis Xavier exposition in 2014, João contemplated a commemorative initiative focused on the life of the saint, particularly concerning collectibles. It was at this juncture that he began to gather philatelic items, accumulating a significant collection of First Day Covers from the 1952 exposition to serve as part of a commemorative souvenir. However, the concept soon evolved into the creation of a historical work detailing the life of the saint, wherein certain books would include an original philatelic item for readers to touch and appreciate the history of philately. Consequently, with the recent announcement of the latest exposition, João recognized this as the opportune moment to commence writing the book and bring this project to fruition.
‘Since I work in the architectural field, I was familiar with Adobe InDesign and Photoshop - two key software needed to compose a book. Hence, I had rented the software and started slowly on the book’, he says. João had consulted various works but it was soon apparent that many of these had inconsistencies, and it was later found out, that some had wrong information. The only way to remedy this, he thought was to consult the master of all works related to the saint - the monumental work of Otto Schurhammer, the Jesuit priest who had spent 60 years researching the life of Saint Francis Xavier and had real proof of what he wrote.
As the book progressed, João had help from people overseas located in countries where the Saint had been. They were helpful in getting him good information and photographs when needed, also picking up prayer cards from their countries. ‘Writing a book for the first time is never an easy task, especially when one works Monday to Friday, with other kids activities and fulfillment of commitments over weekends. All this made this project harder to complete’, he points out. By this time the exposition had already started and João was still battling with the book's final touches, as it was not easy to cram so much information into just 100 pages.
The stamps, prayer cards and lithographs, were all carefully chosen so that they would illustrate the narrative with respect to the right period, geographical location and the right historical content. It was a very hard task, and some had to be procured worldwide to fill in the gaps. Care was taken to include various aspects of the life of Saint Francis Xavier that is not generally known to the wider audience, as he was so much more than just a missionary.
The central theme of the book is to immerse the reader in the 1500s, a time when Saint Francis Xavier roamed the Earth. The lithographs illustrating the cities he traversed across the seas provide a visual representation of the landscapes he would have witnessed firsthand, as these prints originate from that era, with some dating back over 400 years. The narrative chronicles the life of Saint Francis Xavier, from his early years to his passing, and includes a dedicated section at the conclusion that explores a diverse array of first-class relics located worldwide. The book is further enhanced by richly illustrated plates featuring stamps issued by Portuguese India, along with items of postal history, souvenirs from Expositions, and First Day Covers.
This A4-sized publication is available in a limited edition. The initial 100 copies will include a unique philatelic item, one per book, with various options primarily sourced from Portuguese India. The pricing for these special editions varies to account for the associated costs of the items.
João extends his heartfelt thanks to the numerous individuals who supported him throughout this remarkable publishing endeavor. This includes proofreaders, content advisors, photo contributors, and printers. He particularly acknowledges Pantaleão Fernandes for his invaluable guidance as an experienced writer and expresses his appreciation for Santosh Hirve, whose patience with him as a novice writer, editor, and composer was greatly valued.
João acknowledges the support extended by the Bishop's Palace, further thanking the Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão and his secretary Fr Loiola Pereira for attending, the book launching event very professionally organized at the Museum of Christian Art, despite their very busy schedules.
The book currently in our possession serves as a remarkable and captivating source of information regarding St Francis Xavier. In addition to the essential written content, which thoroughly addresses nearly all aspects necessary for introducing our Saint to the audience, the book features an impressive collection of philatelic items. This includes a diverse selection of postage stamps and first day covers, along with picture postcards, prayer cards, and lithographs depicting St Xavier, issued by Portuguese India (Goa from 1510 to 1961) and various other nations. From the detailed artistry of European stamps to the vivid hues of Asian releases, each piece narrates a distinct story about the lasting influence of St. Francis Xavier, whose relentless missionary efforts have made a significant impact on the world.