As was to be expected, the parlous political situation
that has existed for some months past in the great Central American Republic
of Mexico has not been without its effect upon the philatelic record of that
country. The assassination, of President Madero early in the present year
and the seizure of the reins of office by the Dictator General Huerta was
followed by the secession of several of the more remote States
constituting the Union, who refused to recognise the authority of the new
President.
Provisional postage stamp issues of a more or less crude description
emanating from these States, have followed, as a natural consequence of
these internal disruptions, and in view of the present crisis are. not
without interest for the philatelic student and historian. Below we have the
pleasure to present to our readers a few general notes upon the provisional
postage stamps issued to date by the revolted States, based on articles'
which have appeared recently in a number of continental contemporaries.
[ED. S.C.]
Sonora.
When by decree of the Chamber of Deputies, the State of Sonora, in the North
West of Mexico, declared its independence, the preparation of a series of
special State postal and fiscal stamps was also authorised to replace those
of the Federal Government. These were duly manufactured locally in the
capital, Hermosillo ; the first value, 4 centavos, making its appearance on
May 25th. The stamps were roughly printed in a type set design consisting of
a rectangular frame enclosing the inscription "CORREOS Estado Libre y
Soberano de SONORA. DECRETO DE 13 DE MARZO 1913" and at the sides the
facial value in writing, together with the numeral of value enclosed in a
circle in the centre. The sheets were composed of ten stamps in two rows of
five. Other denominations followed : 1 and 10 centavos on June 10th, 5
centavos on July 11th, and 2 and 3 centavos on a date at present unknown. Of
the 2 and 5 centavos value there were two types of the figure of value
(thick and thin), whilst the latter also contained two prominent errors in
the inscription - MARO for MARZO and 1912 for 1913. A minor variety shows
an' apostrophe after the De' of the inscription.
1913. May 25111. Provisional issue. Five values.
Design as above. Type set and Printed locally in Hermosillos, Sonora, in
sheets of 10 (two rows of 5). Roulette l on three sides in black lines.
Paper water-marked " Peerless Miils " or " Yukon Aurora."
1 centavo black and red
2 centavos black and red
6 centavos black and red
5 centavos black and red
10 centavos black and red
ERROR-MARO FOR MARZO
5 centavos black and red.
VARIETY-ASPOSTROPHE AFTER DE'
1 c. black and red
2 c. black and red
3 c. black and red
5 c. black and red
10 c. black and red
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1913 July 1st. Five values. Design, etc., as before, impressed with the
State Seal in green.
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A second series which followed on July 1st, 1913, was of similar design but
impressed with the seal of the State in green, in the centre of each stamp,.
The first printing showed the same errors and varieties as occurred in the
previous issue, but subsequently the type was reset and these errors
eliminated.
1 centavo black, carmine and green
2 centavos black, carmine and green (Sept. 6th)
3 centavos black, carmine and green
5 centavos black, carmine and green
10 centavos black, carmine and green
ERROR-MARO FOR MARZO
5 centavos black, carmine and green
VARIETY-APOSTROPHE AFTER DE'
3 centavos black, carmine and green
5 centavos black, carmine and green
10 centavos black, carmine and green
There is a wide range of shades of the green overprint, which, normally
.yellow-green, is also known in grey-green, deep green, etc.
Needless to say, these stamps are not officially recognised by the Federal
Government, and since July 6th all correspondence dispatched to foreign
countries has had affixed to it the ordinary blue postage due stamps of
Mexico of the values 1, 2, 4, 5 and 10 centavos.
Tamaulipas & Carranza.
The next state to issue distinctive postage stamps was that of Tamaulipas,
which we chronicled in this journal on October 19th. In our last issue we
also noted the latest addition to the rapidly growing list of Mexican
revolutionary stamps in the form of an issue for the State of Carranza.
Beyond the bare list of colours and values no particulars of this issue are
as yet available.
Doubtless as a result of the civil war now raging in Mexico we shall have
further provisional issues to record within the next few -weeks and
collectors will do well to keep their eyes open for further philatelic
developments in the Land of the Aztecs.
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