................................
THE TEAM
CONTACT
In this same sense of widespread dissemination, of note is the publication in 1989 of the Biblioteca da Expansão Portuguesa [Library of Portuguese Expansion], along with Portugal no Mundo, in no less than 50 volumes of highly diverse historical texts, published in modern Portuguese and including explanatory studies, facilitating when not fostering easy access to an enormous wealth of documents, even for professionals in the field.
This was tireless labour, even if its fruits were delayed, as was the case of the posthumous publication of the Dicionário de História dos Descobrimentos Portugueses [Dictionary of the History of the Portuguese Discoveries] (2 vols, 1994), the first work of its kind, with 1010 articles written by 92 collaborators.
Finally, in this highlight of the hard work of a decade, the initiative with the greatest international impact should be noted: the Exposição Portugal-Brasil [Portugal-Brazil Exhibition] 2 June, 1990. The Era dos Descobrimentos Atlânticos [Era of the Atlantic Discoveries] was inaugurated at The New York Public Library. He was one of the curators of this high-profile exhibition, and actively collaborated in the catalogue by writing the Introduction in partnership with Max Justo Guedes, an essay, an appendix, and most of the captions. The exhibition was enthusiastically received by the local press throughout the three months of its display.
The 1980s were also, and naturally, the decade of academic recognition: in 1985, the Universidade de Lisboa awarded him the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa in History. By then, the idea of dedicating a Livro de Homenagem [A Tribute] book to him that would mirror the tribute of colleagues, followers and friends was already blossoming. It was published in 1986 and 1987, compiling the contributions of names of the greatest international prestige on matters relating to the History of Science and Geographical Exploration in the modern era.
1987 was the year of his retirement from university, and several ceremonies were dedicated to him in Lisbon and Coimbra. On 10 June of that year, he was decorated by the President of the Republic with the Grande Oficialato da Ordem do Infante D. Henrique [Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator]. In October 1991 he was hospitalised as the result of a stroke, from which he did not recover. He died at the Hospital de Marinha [Navy Hospital] in Lisbon, on 22 January, 1992.
