Zacatecas

Zacatecas, medio real
Fresnillo, cancel Sz1866 		Zacatecas, un real
Cancel Sz1849

Zacatecas is located in the state of Zacatecas. It was the 19th largest postal district, based on the number of stamps used, and 19th by total value of all stamps used. The average cost of the stamps used was 1.95 reales. Zacatecas had about 15,500 inhabitants in 1861.

Zacatecas had 15 sub-offices: Aguascalientes, Chalchihuites, Fresnillo, Hacienda del Carro, Huejucar, Nieves, Ojo Caliente, Rincon de Romos, Sain Alto, San Juan del Mesquital (San Juan del Mexquital), Sombrerete, Tlaltenango, Villa Nueva, Villa Ortega del Rio Grande and Xeres (Jeres).

The following consignments were made according to Chapman:
  Day Month Year Invoice # Medio Un Dos Cuatro Ocho
Sent 19 4 1861 134 576 526 1020 300 520
Sent 14 6 1861 187 1200 4000 2090 660 660
Sent 7 4 1863 52 600 4000 4750 600 300
Sent 3 3 1864 42   2000 2850   300
Total Sent       4 2376 10526 10710 1560 1780
Returned         0 -1 0 0 -196
Total Used 26755     4 2376 10525 10710 1560 1584
Distribution         8.88% 39.34% 40.03% 5.83% 5.92%
Distribution vs. all stamps         1.23% 1.29% 1.16% 1.50% 2.52%

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 1994, "The High Value Stamps of the 1861 Issue"), the distribution of the cuatro and ocho reales stamps was approximately
1,560 cuatro reales black on yellow
0 cuatro reales dull rose on yellow
1,284 ocho reales black on brown
300 ocho reales green on brown

The Zacatecas overprint is approximately 21½ by 3 mm, without dots. The letters decrease in size from the first 'Z' to the last 'S'. It's generally nicely struck.

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

Forgeries from Zacatecas exist. A MEPSI certificate is recommended.

 

Visit this MEPSI website, or the MEPSI Homepage for more information.

Corrections, comments and suggestions are welcome. Please e-mail the Webmaster