Veracruz

Veracruz, un real.
Jet-black. 		Veracruz, ocho reales.
Green on brown.
Overprint in "fancy" letters.
Cancel Sz1751, used during the French Occupation.

Veracruz is located in the state of Veracruz. It was the 4th largest postal district, based on the number of stamps used, and 3th by total value of all stamps used. The average cost of the stamps used was 1.94 reales. Veracruz had about 10,000 inhabitants in 1861.

Veracruz had 12 sub-offices: Acayucan, Albarado (Alvarado), Amapa, Cosamaloapan, Chiacaltianguis, Minatitlan, San Andres Tuxtla, Santiago Tuxtla, Tlacotalpam, Tlalixcoyan, Tuspan (Tuxpan) and Tuxtepec.

The following consignments were made according to Chapman:
  Day Month Year Invoice # Medio Un Dos Cuatro Ocho
Sent 18 4 1861 119 1152 1073 2070 660 1080
Sent 30 4 1861 150 1800 4800 3040 1020  
Sent 17 5 1861 163     2000    
Sent 28 5 1861 171   2000 2850    
Sent 6 6 1861 176 1080   5700    
Sent 26 6 1861 201   4000     1080
Sent 2 7 1861 203 2040   5130 840  
Sent 25 7 1861 210   4000 3990    
Sent 16 8 1861 217     4180 600  
Sent 3 9 1861 226   4000 1900    
Sent 21 9 1861 232 1200 4000 3800 600  
Sent 7 10 1861 239     4750    
Sent 14 10 1861 242 1200 4000 4750 600 600
Sent 18 11 1861 255 1500 5000 4750 600 600
Sent 3 9 1863 37   1000 1520 60 60
Sent 2 10 1863 50   2000 1520 480 360
Sent 14 11 1863 68     2850 600  
Sent 23 11 1863 71   1600     360
Sent 26 12 1863 89       600 600
Sent 11 1 1864 9     1900    
Sent 30 1 1864 18     1900 600  
Sent 2 3 1864 40     3800   300
Sent 11 4 1864 64   2000 3800   300
Total Sent       23 9972 39473 66200 7260 5340
Returned         0 -691 -269 0 -66
Total Used 127219     23 9972 38782 65931 7260 5274
Distribution         7.84% 30.48% 51.82% 5.71% 4.15%
Distribution vs. all stamps         5.15% 4.77% 7.14% 6.97% 8.38%

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
4,980 cuatro reales black on yellow
2,280 cuatro reales dull rose on yellow
3,960 ocho reales black on brown
1,314 ocho reales green on brown

The Veracruz overprint is approximately 18 by 2¼ mm, with leading and trailing dots. It's generally nicely struck.

For a short period in 1864, an overprint reading VERACRUZ with a dash before and after the name was used. I don't know the size of this overprint.

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

Forgeries from Veracruz exist. A MEPSI certificate is recommended.

 

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