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[THE DENOMINATIONS] [PAPER] [OVERPRINTS] [SUB-OFFICES] [FRAUD] [MONETARY SYSTEM] [RATES]

This study is provided for anyone wanting to learn more about the stamps of Mexico, specifically the fascinating issue distributed between September 1868 and April 1872. With regard to this issue, if you are one that prefers your stamps well-centered and with perfect perforations outlining the stamps, look somewhere else - you'll seldom find them here.

The Denominations & Printings

The stamps were issued in five denominations; 6, 12, 25, 50 and 100 centavos (abbreviated "CENT."). The first printing commonly referred to by collectors as the "thin figures issue" exhibits a denomination that was hand-written directly onto the lithographic stone at each position. The figures of value tend to be narrower and less bold than on the second printing, known not surprisingly as the "thick figures issue". On the later, the numerals were entered on transfers (ten for each value) which were entered repeatedly on the lithographic stone from which sheets of 100 and 200 (25 centavo) were printed.

The denominations were produced to replace stamps that used the "reales" monetary system. 25 centavos was the decimal monetary equivalent of 2 reales. 50 centavos was equal to 4 reales, etc. The system broke down a little on the smaller denominations since 12 was not the exact equivalent of one real nor was 6 centavos the equivalent of a half real. However when placed into the mail a pair of 12 centavo stamps was treated as equivalent to a 25 centavo stamp; likewise a strip of four of the 6 centavo stamp. At the post office, when payment was made for stamps it is expected that the customer had to pay 2 reales to obtain two 12 centavo stamps or four 6 centavos stamps. Eventually the reales system gave way to the peso/centavo system and even the money started to be circulated in pesos and centavos.  

It is surprising that although the quantities of this issue's stamps printed and distributed is very low, the collector values remain modest. This fact may make this issues a major bargains in the philatelic world.

Paper

For the complete run of the issue the different denominations were printed on colored papers, buff for the 6, green for the 12, white (with blue ink) for the 25, yellow for the 50 and red-brown for the 100. Paper varieties exist, primarily in the thickness of the wove paper used. There exist other paper varieties on a type of this issue known as "postal forgeries" that will be mentioned below and in the section "TYPE of MEXICO".

Overprints

In 1868 Mexico was recovering from the end of the Maximilian Empire and the "French Intervention", and delivery of mail was a challenge as the roads were patrolled by bandits who would take any opportunity to rob the mails or anyone else that would blunder within reach. In order to protect stamp shipments sent to the sub-offices from Mexico City the postal administration developed a system of overprints to thwart illegal usage of the stamps. The stamps were overprinted with a district number and the last two digits of the year. See the 25 centavo thick figure stamp above as it illustrates this first overprinting of only the district number "29" and the two digit year "69".

District Names

The stamps received at the district post offices were invalid until the postmaster affixed the district name overprint. See the 6 or 12 centavo thick figure above. Some districts, such as Guadalajara and San Luis Potosi,  received great quantities of stamps. But others, such as La Paz and Tlaxcala, received very small supplies. Collectors of this issue will pay higher prices for districts receiving smaller quantities.

(One may easily navigate directly to town information by following the link to the TOWN INDEX.) 

Sub-Office Usage

In 1868 Mexico was administratively sub-divided into 41 postal districts, though some contend that there were only 40 and they may be right (see the dialog for the district TACUBAYA41). Stamps were distributed by mail to each of these districts (without district name as mentioned). The district administration or "office" would apply its district name overprint, then distribute supplies of stamps to their sub-offices. Occasionally the stamps would be delivered to a sub-office without the district name and that sub-office would apply its own name. However this was very unusual and the resulting stamps, in many cases, are among the great rarities of the issue. Usually a stamp can be recognized as having been used from a sub-office by its cancellation. A cancellation from one of the smaller sub-offices can add considerably to the value of a stamp. For example, a stamp with a perfect strike of a cancel from Satevo (a sub-office of Chihuahua) may be worth as much as 100 times as much as an otherwise similar stamp used in Chihuahua.

The responsibility of an office to supply sub-offices did not remain constant during the 4½ years that the 1868 issue was in use. For one reason or another, it would be determined that a sub-office should receive supplies from a certain office but that would occasionally be changed as requirement dictated. An example of this is illustrated by considering the sub-office Acambaro. At the beginning of usage of 1868 stamp issue (only the first shipment of stamps actually), Acambaro reported to Queretaro and received its stamps from that office. However, in 1868 after that first shipment it was determined that it would be more appropriate for Maravatio to supply stamps to Acambaro and for the remainder of the 1868 period of usage, Acambaro reported to Maravatio. Similar sub-office examples exist.

The Postal Forgeries (TIPOS)

Sometime during the usage of the 1868 issue someone, who had access to the Government Printing Office where the stamps were printed, got the brilliant idea that they could go into business themselves and "borrow" the printing presses and plates and clandestinely produce and sell their own stamps. To this day the exact extent of the fraud is not known - only that in the years 1870 and 1871 it was massive. These postal forgeries have often been referred to as "types of Mexico" or "tipos" because although they are found with various district numbers and names over 95% of them were used in Mexico City.  The perpetrators used diverse district overprints to help disguise the fact that a lot of unaccounted for stamps were defrauding the system. Most were sold as discount postage to businesses which could claim that they had been sent by clients from outlying districts as a form of payment. The "privately" produced stamps are quite easy to distinguish from the genuine once one becomes familiar with the paper variations and district name variations used. From a collector interest standpoint, they are often more desirable to collectors than the genuine especially those used out of the Mexico City district.

The Monetary System in 1868

Although the French had introduced decimal (centavos/pesos) currency in 1863, most of the coinage in circulation in 1868 was denominated in the old reales system. Eight reales equaled 100 centavos (or one peso) - ergo, a 50 centavos stamp was equal to 4 reales and 25 centavos equaled 2 reales. However, rather than produce a 12½ centavos or a 6¼ centavos stamp, it was decided that a less precise conversion was more acceptable. Many examples of combinations can be found to support speculation that post office customers would pay 2 reales (or 25 centavos) for two 12 centavo stamps and for four 6 centavo stamps. Letters can be found bearing two 12 centavo and four 6 centavo stamps for the weight and distance of a 25 centavo stamp. The following table exhibits the reales/centavos conversion for stamps: 

The Postal Tariffs in 1868

The following table summarizes the cost for letters delivered to postal destinations within Mexico.

† a league is approximately 2.5 miles.
‡ if under ½ ounce the 100 centavo registration fee covered the cost of postage.