Aguascalientes
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Aguascalientes, dos reales. Cancel Sz12. Abbreviated overprint AGUASCALTES from Feb. - March, 1864 Image courtesy Doug Stout. |
Aguascalientes is the capital of the state of Aguascalientes. It was the 53rd largest postal district, based on the number of stamps used, and 49th by total value of all stamps used. The average cost of the stamps used was 1.86 reales. Aguascalientes had a population of 20,000 in 1850.
Aguascalientes had two sub-offices: Agostadero and Asientos.
| Day | Month | Year | Invoice # | Medio | Un | Dos | Cuatro | Ocho | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sent | 12 | 11 | 1858 | 174 | 60 | 400 | 380 | 60 | |
| Total sent | 1 | 60 | 400 | 380 | 0 | 60 | |||
| Returned | |||||||||
| Total Used | 900 | 1 | 60 | 400 | 380 | 0 | 60 | ||
| Distribution | 6.67% | 44.44% | 42.22% | 0.00% | 6.67% | ||||
| Distribution vs. all stamps | 0.01% | 0.03% | 0.02% | 0.00% | 0.06% | ||||
Aguascalientes was really not a district, but a sub-office under
Zacatecas
until late 1867. From November 3, 1858 to November 30, 1858 the principal post
office of the district of Zacatecas was located in Aguascalientes.
The Mexican civil war (War of the Reform, 1858 - 1861) had some
of its fiercest battles in this area.
The stamps sent were presumably used without the name overprint. However, it should always be remembered that ANY unoverprinted stamp is indistinguishable from any other, such that it is impossible to be sure where it originated.
In December 1858 and January 1859 the stamps were marked
Zacatecas in manuscript, according to Roberto Liera. Many more stamps than from
just this consignment must have been available - I'm guessing at least 1,000,
perhaps many more.
Aguascalientes did not overprint with their own name until the 1861 issue.
Stamps of the 1856 issue with the AGUASCALTES overprint must be characterized as having been used provisionally. Stamps of the 1856 issue overprinted AGUASCALTES were used in February and March 1864, perhaps due to a shorage of stamps of the 1861 issue.
The high average denomination of these stamps is probably due to the fact that lower denominations were at hand when the post master of Zacatecas moved the post office to Aguascalientes.
Forgeries from Aguascalientes exist. A MEPSI certificate is recommended.
Visit the MEPSI website for more information.
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