San Luis Potosi

Cuatro reales red on yellow.
Left frameline
Cancel Sz 1454

San Luis Potosi is located in the state of San Luis Potosi. It was the 7th largest postal district, based on the number of stamps used, and 7th by total value of all stamps used. The average cost of the stamps used was 1.81 reales. San Luis Potosi had about 33,500 inhabitants in 1867.

San Luis Potosi had 22 sub-offices: Ahualulco, Alaquines, Catorce, Cedral, Ciudad de la Concepcion (Ciudad de Maiz), Charcas, Espiritu Santo, Guadalcazar, Hedionda, Jaral, Matehuala, Mazapil, Moctezuma, Pinos, Pozos, Rio Verde, Salinas del Penon Blanco, Santa Catarina, Santa Maria del Rio, Tula de Matamoros, Venado and Villa de San Francisco.

The following consignments were made according to Chapman:
  Day Month Year Invoice # Medio Un Dos Cuatro Ocho
Sent 19 4 1861 130 1152 1073 2070 660 1080
Sent 10 2 1862 17 1200 4000 3800 600 300
Sent 7 3 1862 33 480 1000 950 240 120
Sent 27 3 1862 37 600 1200 1140 300  
Sent 15 5 1862 53 600 1600 1520 300 120
Sent 18 6 1862 67   2000 2280    
Sent 24 7 1862 85 1200 4000 3800 600  
Sent 12 8 1862 96 108 311 244 70 149
Sent 5 12 1862 148 1200 1400 1900 600 300
Sent 20 12 1862 157 1200 2000 2280    
Sent 11 2 1863 22   2000 1900    
Sent 23 3 1863 49 600 4000 3800 600 300
Sent 19 5 1863 67   4000 4750 600 300
Sent 2 1 1864 3     1900 60 60
Sent 22 1 1864 15   2000 1900    
Sent 13 2 1864 25       300 300
Sent 3 3 1864 41   1000 2850   60
Sent 7 4 1864 60   2000 4750   60
Total Sent       18 8340 33584 41834 4930 3149
Returned         0 0 0 0 -140
Total Used 91697     18 8340 33584 41834 4930 3009
Distribution         9.10% 36.62% 45.62% 5.38% 3.28%
Distribution vs. all stamps         4.30% 4.13% 4.53% 4.73% 4.78%

Many of the ocho reales stamps were cut up and used as splits. Whole stamps tend to be rather scarce.

According to Roberto Liera (Mexicana, April 1996, "The High Value Stamps of the 1861 Issue"), the distribution of the cuatro and ocho reales stamps was approximately
2,700 cuatro reales black on yellow
2,230 cuatro reales dull rose on yellow
1,620 ocho reales black on brown
1,249 ocho reales green on brown

San Luis Potosi used at least five different overprints:
18½ by 2 mm, with leading and trailing dots.
21½ by 2½ mm, with trailing dot.
16½ by 2 mm, with no dots.
20 by 2½ mm, with leading and trailing dots.
23 by 3 mm, with trailing dots.
They are generally nicely struck.

On average, the stamps have normal margins for the issue.

Forgeries from San Luis Potosi are uncommon.

 

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