Zacatecas

Zacatecas, un real plate 1, pos. 1.
Top and left frameline showing (Ex. Bash). 		Zacatecas, un real.
Cancelled in Aguascalientes with Sz 1929 		Zacatecas, dos reales olive.
Plate I, position 1.
Cancel Sz1928

Zacatecas is the capital of the state of Zacatecas. It was the 7th largest postal district, based on the number of stamps used, and 7th by total value of all stamps used. The average cost of the stamps used was 1.65 reales. Zacatecas had about 25,000 inhabitants in 1850.

Zacatecas had 25 sub-offices: Agostadero, Aguascalientes, Asientos, Bolanos, Calvillo, Colotlan, Chalchihuites, Fresnillo, Hacienda del Carro, Huejucar, Juchilpa, La Luz, Nieves, Ojo Caliente, Rincon de Romos, Sain Alto, San Miguel del Mexquital, Sierra Hermosa, Sombrerete, Teul, Tlaltenango, Villagran, Villa Ortega del Rio Grande, Mazapil and Xeres (Jeres).

The following consignments were made according to Chapman:
  Day Month Year Invoice # Medio Un Dos Cuatro Ocho
Sent 30 8 1856 38 5760 4740 2040 300 780
Sent 8 10 1856 59 6000 3840 1500 300 780
Sent 11 10 1856 62     1500    
Sent 5 11 1856 73 3600 6000   1500  
Sent 15 11 1856 77 3000 3000 3000    
Sent 7 1 1857 4   3000 6000 3000 720
Sent 14 1 1857 11     1500 600 600
Sent 18 2 1857 34   3000 6000   1500
Sent 27 3 1857 63     5890    
Sent 6 5 1857 88 6000 6000      
Sent 1 6 1857 106     4750    
Sent 27 7 1857 148     6080    
Sent 26 8 1857 171   3000      
Sent 18 9 1857 186   6000 6080    
Sent 30 10 1857 217 3000   3800    
Sent 2 12 1857 245     5700    
Sent 22 4 1858 55 600 4000 3800 600 300
Sent 3 11 1858 169 1500 5000 4750 900 1200
Sent 16 12 1859 125 300 1000 950 60 60
Sent 3 2 1860 15 600 1400 1140 120 60
Sent 4 2 1861 25 1000 1000 1500 1000 600
Sent 12 3 1861 70 12000        
Total sent       22 43360 50980 65980 8380 6600
Returned         -1771     -724 -410
Returned         -55 -67 -74 -9  
Returned         -217 -18 -34 -19 -2
Total Used 171900 22 41317 50895 65872 7628 6188
Distribution         24.04% 29.61% 38.32% 4.44% 3.60%
Distribution vs. all stamps         5.42% 3.67% 4.10% 5.01% 6.61%

Aguascalientes was a sub-office under Zacatecas until late 1867. From November 3, 1858 to November 30, 1858 the post office of Zacatecas was located in Aguascalientes. In December 1858 and January 1859 the stamps were marked Zacatecas in manuscript, according to Roberto Liera.
The Mexican civil war (War of the Reform, 1858 - 1861) had some of its fiercest battles in this area.

Zacatecas used at least two overprints:
19½ by 2 mm with dots at the foot of the first and last letter.
21 by 2½ mm without dots.
A district name was also applied by hand, the so-called Manuscript overprint. This was most likely used in late 1858 to early 1859 when the main office was located in Aguascalientes. Some say that there are eight varieties of the manuscript overprint, but there may be even more. The manuscript overprint "Type 8" was used provisionaly in 1864 with mute cancels. In 1858 - 59 the most common cancel is the Agascalientes box cancel.

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

Though a relatively high number of the cuatro and ocho reales stamps were sent, they are quite scarce today. One good reason for this is the fact that many were split (cut in pieces) to make up for a lack of lower value stamps. These splits are therefore relatively more common from Zacatecas than from other districts. The use of split stamps was against regulations, and the use of these therefore constitutes illegal usage.

Forgeries from Zacatecas are uncommon.

 

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