Morelia

Morelia, un real.
Tlazazalca, Sz 1010. 		Morelia, dos reales.
Xiquilpan, Sz 948.
Plate I, sapphire. 		Morelia, dos reales.
Zamora, Sz 1020.
Plate II.

Morelia is the capital of the state of Michoacan de Ocampo. It was the 9th largest postal district, based on the number of stamps used, and 9th by total value of all stamps used. The average cost of the stamps used was 1.66 reales. Morelia had about 25,000 inhabitants in 1850.

Morelia had 32 sub-offices: Acuitzeo, Angamacutiro, Apazingan (Apatzingan), Ario de Rosales, Colima, Cotija, Ciutzeo, Chilchota, Ecuandureo, Huetamo, Indaparapeo, La Piedad, Los Reyes, Paracuaro, Pazcuaro (Patzcuaro), Penjamillo, Purepero, Puruandiro, Quiroga, Sahuayo, Salvatierra, Santa Clara, Tacambaro, Tancitaro, Taretan, Tinguindin, Tiripitio, Tlazazalca, Uruapam, Xiquilpan (Jiquilpam), Zacapu and Zamora.

This is the third largest number of sub-offices, after Guadalajara with 61 and Puebla with 34.

The following consignments were made according to Chapman:
  Day Month Year Invoice # Medio Un Dos Cuatro Ocho
Sent 4 9 1856 42 6000 5520 1080 180 420
Sent 22 10 1856 68       420  
Sent 15 11 1856 78 3000 3000 3000    
Sent 3 1 1857 1   6000 6000    
Sent 7 2 1857 28     6000 720 600
Sent 12 2 1857 32   3000 4500    
Sent 18 2 1857 35       1500  
Sent 25 2 1857 46 1500        
Sent 13 5 1857 96 1500   3800    
Sent 6 6 1857 115     4750    
Sent 2 7 1857 126   3000      
Sent 25 7 1857 146     4750    
Sent 25 8 1857 168   3000 4750    
Sent 9 9 1857 177 1500        
Sent 29 9 1857 195     3800    
Sent 10 11 1857 224         300
Sent 12 11 1857 226   5000      
Sent 14 12 1857 255   6000 7600    
Sent 21 12 1857 261   3000      
Sent 29 1 1858 16 1200   1900 1200  
Sent 23 2 1858 29 1200 1000 1900 1200 600
To Colima, June 1858         -50 -2912 -978   -4
Sent 25 1 1859 14 1800 6000 5700 1200 1200
Sent 22 2 1859 32   4000 3800 1200  
Sent 24 11 1859 116 1500 1000   300 300
Sent 29 12 1859 130 1200 1000 950    
Sent 11 7 1860 69   400 200    
Sent 27 12 1860 106 300 1000 950 300 300
Sent 7 2 1861 37 800 600 600 200 100
Total sent       28 21450 49608 65052 8420 3816
Returned         -9 -11 -22 -433 -887
Returned         -2 -2 -10 -23 -1
Total Used 146946 28 21439 49595 65020 7964 2928
Distribution         14.59% 33.75% 44.25% 5.42% 1.99%
Distribution vs. all stamps         2.81% 3.58% 4.05% 5.23% 3.13%

See also Colima.

Morelia used at least two overprints:
13½ by 2mm, without dots.
15 by 2mm with leading and trailing dots.
They are generally nicely struck.

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

Forgeries from Morelia are uncommon.

Augustin de Iturbide, first Emperor of Mexico, was born in the city we now call Morelia, Michoacan. Perhaps more famously, Jose Maria Morelos, the namesake of Morelia, was born here.

 

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