Victoria (Ciudad Victoria)

Victoria, medio real plate 2, pos. 1.
Red cancel from Tula de Tamaulipas (Sz 1839) 		Victoria, un real plate 1 or 2.
Split top frame line. 		Victoria, un real plate 1 or 2.
Right frame line.
Rare Franco Palmillas cancel (Sz1835).
Ex Iglesias 		Victoria, dos reales plate 1, pos 5, emerald. Victoria, dos reales plate 1, pos 54, sapphire.
Ex Iglesias

Victoria is located in the state of Tamaulipas. It was the 31th largest postal district, based on the number of stamps used, and 29th by total value of all stamps used. The average cost of the stamps used was 1.49 reales. Ciudad Victoria had about 5,200 inhabitants in 1850.

Victoria had 9 sub-offices: Camargo, Ciudad Guerrero, Escandon, Jaumave, Palmillas, Reynosa, Salinas Hidalgo, Tula de Tamaulipas and Villagran.

The following consignments were made according to Chapman:
  Day Month Year Invoice # Medio Un Dos Cuatro Ocho
Sent 30 8 1856 17 5760 4740 2040 300 780
Sent 31 12 1856 99   1500 1500    
Sent 3 6 1857 111   3000 1900    
Sent 24 7 1857 145     1900 300  
Total sent       4 5760 9240 7340 600 780
Returned         -52 -75 -36   -10
Total Used 23547 4 5708 9165 7304 600 770
Distribution         24.24% 38.92% 31.02% 2.55% 3.27%
Distribution vs. all stamps         0.75% 0.66% 0.45% 0.39% 0.82%

No stamps were sent after July 24, 1857, due to the fact that Ciudad Victoria, as well as the rest of Tamaulipas, came under the control of the liberal Benito Juarez. The post office headquarters in Mexico City was under the control of the conservatives, with General Felix Zuloaga as their leader. The War of the Reform from 1858 to 1861 was one of the bloodiest civil wars in Mexican history.

The Victoria overprint is approximately 16 by 2 mm. It's generally nicely struck.

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

Around year 1900, four sheets (= 240 stamps) of the 8 reales denomination came on the market. They were sold to various dealers and collectors. Both the 4 and the 8 reales stamps are more common unused than cancelled.

Forgeries from Victoria exist. A MEPSI certificate is recommended.

 

Visit the MEPSI website for more information.

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