Early Stamps of Mexico

Adhesive stamps were adopted by Mexico in August 1856 when a series of five was issued. All stamps of the Mexican republic, up to 1879, portrayed Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, leader of the revolt against Spain in the early nineteenth century. The earliest issue was lithographed in Mexico, but in 1864 the design was modified for a set of four recess-printed by the American Bank Note Company. These were overprinted ‘Saltillo’ or ‘Monterrey’ before issue to the public. Stamps without these overprints came from the remainder of stocks.

An empire, under French auspices, was proclaimed in April 1864 and the Austrian Archduke Maximilian was made emperor. The first stamps of the empire bore the eagle and serpent emblem but in 1866 – 1867, a series portraying Maximilian was issued. These stamps were usually issued with a district name and consignment number overprinted.

After the withdrawal of the French the republicans overthrew the erstwhile empire. Stamps of the first republican series were reintroduced overprinted ‘Mexico’ in Gothic script. A new Hidalgo series was issued in September 1868. The stamps may be found with thin or thick figures of value and both versions exist imperforate or perforated.

In 1879, Senor de la Pena designed a series portraying Benito Juarez, leader of the republican movement against Maximilian. Stamps of this series may be found with the usual medley of district overprints or with a second set of overprints. Such stamps, known to collectors as ‘Habilitados’ were returned to a central pool and overprinted a second time for distribution to offices, which had run out of certain denominations.

In 1914, a set of five stamps portraying President Madero was never released on account of the fall of the Madero government and the murder of the president. Venustiano Carranza recaptured Mexico City in January 1915 and ousted his rivals by August; the following month a general series of stamps for use throughout the country was reintroduced. They were designed with the coat of arms and various historic personalities. Cuauhtemoc, last of the Aztec rulers, was shown on the 2c stamp.