Portuguese naval and merchant ensign of the pre 1911 design. The ensign is made of wool bunting with a cotton hoist containing a rope for hoisting. It is machine sewn with the design printed onto the surface of the fabric. 'MP' is marked in ink on the hoist on which is stencilled 'PORTUGAL 1YD'. The flag is divided vertically in blue and white. In the centre below a crown are the arms of Portugal— gules, an escutcheon argent and five gold castles, with five smaller escutcheons azure on the escutcheon, each charged with five bezants. The design is illustrated in 'Drawings of the flags in use at the present time by various nations' (Admiralty, 1889) which says that the flag was also used for the Minister of Marine and the Governors General of Transmarine Provinces, in both cases flown from the main mast.