Ebooks Mexican Revolution 1913 1916

THE STAMPS
of the
MEXICAN
REVOLUTION
1913-1916
BY
NICHOLAS FOLLANSBEE
Published by
THE COLLECTOR S CLUB

OF CHICAGO
This book is printed on Sterling Litho Gloss, an

archival quality, buffered, acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Card Catalog Number: 96-071374

ISBN Number: 0-916675-08-4
Printed in the United States of America
"The marks SCOTI and SCOTf's are registered in the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office, and
are trademarks of Amos Philatelics, Inc., dba Scott Publishing Co. No use may be made of these
marks or of material in this publication which is reprinted from a copyrighted publication of Amos
Philatelics, dbs Scott Publishing Co., Sidney, Ohio."
Copyright 1996
by
Collectors Club of Chicago
1029 North Dearborn
Chicago, Illinois 6061 0
All Rights Reserved
The contents of this book are fully covered and protected by copyright. Collectors, dealers and
philatelic authors are hereby authorized to make use of the information contained in this book
without securing specific permission from the publisher, provided that due acknowledgement is
made of the source.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction and Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Organization of The Handbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sonora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Constitutionalist General Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Local Provisional Overprints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Monogram Overprints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oaxaca Provisionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Issues of the Inflationary Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Numbering System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pricing and Rarity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Philatelic Covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A Brief Historical Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. iv
. VI
VII
1x
. x
x1
x1
xn
xn
xm
x1v
x1v
xv
SONORA
1913 Sonora Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1914 Green Seal Re-issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Sonora Coach Seal Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The "ES" Overprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coach Seal Issue for Baja California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Anvil Seal Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Anvil Seal Issue with "PLATA" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
24
31
35
37
39
CONSTITUTIONALIST GENERAL ISSUES

Ejercito Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Transitorio Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"V'1ct ona
. de T orreon" 0 verpnn
. t Issue ........................ .. . .. ........ .
5 Transitorio Redrawn and Perforated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Large "GCM" Hand-Stamped Overprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Denver" Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Denver" Revenue Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unissued Madero Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The "Dollar-Sign" Overprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Veracruz "Essays" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
42
47
50
53
54
59
61
63
64
71
LOCAL PROVISIONAL OVERPRINTS

Acambaro . . . . . . .
Aguascalientes . . . .
Baja California . . .
Chihuahua . . . . . .
Ciudad Gonzales . .
CiudadJuarez . . . .
Colima . . . . . . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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.
.
......
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.......
.......
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75
76
77
79
82
83
85
Culiacan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dolores Hildalgo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Durango . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Esperanzas, I..as . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Guaymas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hidalgo del Parra! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
l.eon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Matehuala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Monterrey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oaxaca. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Queretaro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Refugio, S.L.P.
.....................................................
Sabinas (Coahuila) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Salamanca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Salvatierra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
San Francisco del Rincon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SanJuan de Allende . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
San Luis Potosi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
San Miguel de Allende . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
San Pedro (Coahuila) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sinaloa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sombrerete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tequisquiapan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Torreon Straight-Lne Overprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Torreon "T.C." Overprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Viezca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Villar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Yuriria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Zacatecas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Doubtful Overprints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Provisional Cancels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bogus Overprints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
86
88
88
89
89
90
91
92
93
97
98
98
99
100
102
104
104
105
106
107
107
111
112
113
115
117
118
118
119
121
122
122
MONOGRAM OVERPRINTS
The Gothic GCM (Villa) Monogr.am Overprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Script GCM (Carranza) Monogram Overprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
126
141
OAXACA PROVISIONALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
148
ISSUES OF THE INFLATIONARY PERIOD

Lthographed "Famous Men" Issue - Rouletted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lthographed "Famous Men" Issue - Perforated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engraved Series of 1915-1916 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The G. P. de M. "Corbata" Overprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Corbata" on "Dollar Sign" Overprint Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Corbata" on "Carranza" Monogram Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Corbata" on "Villa" Monogram Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Corbata" on Transitorio Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
160
163
166
170
173
175
177
178
11
"Corbata" on "Denver" Issue .......... ..... ................. .... .. .. .. .

The Merida Provisional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Carranza Commemorative Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1 Centavo Engraved Definitive .... .. ................. .......... ........ .
The G. P. de M. "Barril" Surcharges ... . . . ... .. ............. . .. ... ...... . .
"B arn"I" on "D oIIar s1gn" 0 verpnnt
. I ssue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Barril" on "Villa" Monogram Issue .................... ................. .
"Barril" on "Carranza" Monogram Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Barril" on "Denver" Issue ............ . ....... ........ .... .. ..... .. ... .
"Barril" on 1908 Postage Dues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G. P. de M. $2.50 Surcharge on Postage Dues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
OFFICIALS
on 1915 Lithographed Famous Men Issue
on Engraved Series 1915-16 . . . . . . . . .
on Centenario Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
on the G. P. DE M. Corbata Overprints
- rouletted/perforated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
...................................
...................................
...................................
APPENDIX A:
Postal Rates, 1913- 1917, by Nicholas Follansbee
178
180
181
183
184
186
187
187
188
189
190
193
194
194
195
197
APPENDIXB:
"Cosme Hinojosa and His Stamps," by Nicholas Follansbee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
APPENDIX C:
The Mexican Revolution, an Introduction and Detailed Chronology
for the Philatelist, by David Warman and Nicholas Follansbee
213
BIBUOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
283
Ill
PUBLISHER'S PREFACE
The Collectors Club of Chicago maintains its commitment to provide the philatelic community with
publications that represent important contributions to our philatelic knowledge. We are proud to
present this book as the eighteenth in a series supporting that commitment.
Previous publications in this series are:
New York Foreign Mail Cancellations,
by Arthur Van Vlissingen and Morrison Waud (1968)
Chicago Postal History,
edited by Harvey M. Karlen (1970)
Franks of the Western Express,
by M. C. Nathan (1973)
The United States 1869 Issue, An Essay Proif History,
by Fred P. Schueren (1974)
The United States Mail and Post Offue Assistant,
edited by Michael Laurence (1975)
Colorado Territorial and Pre-Territorial Postmarks,
by DavidJ.Jarrett (1976)
The Express Mail of 1836-1839,
by James W. Millgram, M.D. (1977)
The Flight if the "Ville d'Orleans",
by Ernst M. Cohn (1978)
The Waterbury Cancellations 1865-1890,
by Paul C. Rohloff with Alfred Diamond (1979)
The Postal Markings ifNew Jersey Stampless Covers,
by William C. Coles, Jr. (1983)
Vessel Named Markings on United States Inland and Ocean Waterways 1810-1890,
by James W. Millgram, M.D. (1984)
The Minnesota Territory in Postmarks, Letters and Covers,
by Floyd E. Risvold (1985)
British Pictorial Envelopes of the 19th Century,
by Ritchie Bodily, ChrisJarvis and Charless Hahn (1987)
Postage Due: The United States Large Numeral Postage Due Stamps 1879-1894,
by George B. Arfken (1991)
Chicago's Crabgrass Communities: The History if the Independent Suburbs and Their Post Offues that became
Part of Chicago, by Harvey M. Karlen (1992)
An Enryclopedia of Texas Post Offues: Texas Post Offices under Five Flags,
by Walter C. Schmidt (1993)
New Hebrides Islands: Military Postal History if the United States Forces 1942-1946,
by Stanley C. Jersey (1994)
PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE COLLECTORS CLUB OF CHICAGO
Lester Winick, Chairman
Harold M. Stral, Vice Chairman
George Fabian
Charless Hahn
Harvey M. Karlen, Ph.D.
Austin H. Dulin
James Lee
James Mazepa, Ph.D.
Raymond Vogel
IV
INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The period of Mexican philately covered in
this volume, namely the Civil War Period
(1913-16) of the Revolution, remains, even
after three quarters of a century, one of the
least understood by the vast majority of
collectors. It is a field that is very attractive,
having virtually all the ingredients that make
for philatelic importance and interest, but, at
the same time, one whose popularity has been
retarded by a lack of information in critical
areas. There are two problems in particular.
will begin with the date of issue, or, when that

has not been established, the earliest recorded
usage. Un-overprinted issues are further
treated with information relating to printing
method, sheet format, paper and separation.
The introductory information for overprinted
issues will not repeat information relating to
the basic stamp. If there are identifiable
multiple printings or settings of an issue,
information on how to differentiate these is
also included. Quantities printed or issued,
when known, are stated.
First, collectors specializing in this compli cated

field have had to do so without the benefit of a
set of listings that is both comprehensive and
reliable . This is not to say that there have not
been several brave attempts over the years to
compile such a set of listings. George Ward
Linn's wonderful book, The War Stamps if
Mexico, (1917), is certainly reliable within its
limitations. These are understandable given its
very early date and the author's choosing to
omit the Local Provisional Overprints entirely
for lack of available information. Other
specialized catalogs have been so undermined
by the inclusion of listings based on forgeries
as to be unhelpful.
The main listings include the major varieties

by printing or setting when appropriate, color
or shade varieties and errors as well as other
varieties and proofs or essays if such are
known to exist. A section on usage lists some
of the more typical frankings giving a rough
indication of price and scarcity. Finally, for
issues that have been forged, there is a section
on how to differentiate the genuine stamps
from the fakes.
In compiling this work, the author and his
collaborators have proceeded with care to
avoid the inclusion of any phantom listings.
Even when issues are free of forgeries, we have
been reluctant to accept listings from previous
writers without confirming them. In the case of
the Large GCM hand stamped overprints, the
Local Provisional Overprints and the
Monogram Overprints, all listings are based on
stamps that have actually been examined and
deemed authentic by the author. Given the
nature and complexity of this field and the
conservative approach taken by the writers, it
is entirely possible, perhaps likely, that
additional varieties will come to light after this
work is published. The author and MEPSI
certainly hope that persons having additional
varieties or information to report will do so for
inclusion in any subsequent editions that are
prepared.
This leads directly to the second major

problem confronting the collector (as well as
the cataloger), the forgery problem, or more
specifically, the lack of information on how to
detect the forgeries.
This work is designed to serve as a specialized
catalog and, at the same time to include a level
of detailed information supplementing the
actual listings so that the term "Handbook" is
fully justified.
As a catalog it not only addresses the need for
a comprehensive and reliable set of listings but
also serves as a guide to price and rarity of
stamps, proofs, essays and, in less detail,
covers. The actual presentation of an issue is
typically as follows: Introductory information
Two factors have been of great importance in

v
making this project possible. First, the scarcer

material in philatelic hands at any given time
has been concentrated in a small number of
collections, and the important holdings were
never widely dispersed . The author has found
that the majority of the finer items
encountered in over ten years of examination
and acquisition can be traced back to one or
sometimes more of the following collectors: E.
M. Taylor, Col. C. S. Hamilton, A. 0.
Tittman, H.C. Hopkins, Arthur Hind, Roy
Lynnes, Phillip D. Larson, Byron Stevens,
Roberto Garcia Larranaga, Grant Bulkley, and
Boris Rubio, records of whose holdings exist in
the form of auction catalogs, or in the case of
the H. C. Hopkins, inventory records. There
can be little doubt that this project would have
been infinitely more difficult had the subject
been an area of philately more widely
collected.
had a profound influence on my own study of

the forgery problem. I also acquired through
Bill a great appreciation of the work of the
students who preceded us. It was characteristic
of Bill that his first step in specializing in these
issues was the purchase of a box of
correspondence, dating from the late 1940s
and 1950s, between Joe Toulouse and other
collectors (including H. C. Hopkins and Tracy
Love) from which clues and insights were
carefully gleaned. Bill was a reflex collector of
information as much as stamps, and I hope I
have carried on that approach, maintaining his
standards.
Special mention must also be made of the
work of Howard C . Hopkins, who was,
without question, one of the most important of
the early students of these stamps. Around
1917, Hopkins began a handbook, most of
which remained unpublished at the time of this
death in 195 7. Much of his information was
collected in Mexico during or shortly after the
period in which the stamps were used. He was
particularly concerned with determining which
stamps and varieties were regularly issued. His
treatments of the Transitorio and lithographed
Famous Men Issues are also important. The
author is grateful to James Hopkins (H. C.'s
grandson) and the late Fred Ingham, both of
whom shared quantities of notes and
manuscripts written by H. C. Hopkins
representing his handbook in its most
advanced state and including priceless records
of the covers comprising the archive of the
Oficina de Rezagos (Dead Letter Office).
The second factor assisting this study to a

degree that cannot be over-emphasized is the
generous cooperation of collectors of the
present or recent past.
The author is grateful for the contributions
from Tony Benz, Leo V. Corbett, Jim Gentry,
the late Dr. Roger Good,James P. Mazepa,
William Ron Mitchell, the late William W.
Saks, the late W. E. Shelton, Ernst C. Sielaff,
Joe D. Stuart, Hubert C. Wahlberg, the late
Ing. David Warman G., and Karol Z. Weyna.
Their work will be noted more specifically in
the course of this introduction where I describe
the various sections of the book.
However, Bill Saks had such an influence on
me as a philatelist and his contribution was so
general that I feel a special acknowledgment is
in order. I was fortunate in having the
opportunity to work very closely with Bill for
several years both on his own fantastic holding
and expertizing Civil War issues for the
MEPSI Expertizing Committee (at that time
headed by John Bash). Bill's great enthusiasm
for studying the Revolution was matched by
the care and exactitude of his approach which
Between these two sources of manuscripts I

was also able to reconstruct an important
manuscript on the Villa Monogram overprint.
I am also grateful to Bill Shelton for providing
me with opportunity to study some additional
Hopkins notes.
Regarding the overall editing of the book I am

very grateful to Karol Z. Weyna and Edward
M. Nissen. Karol Weyna read the manuscript
vi
and provided copious editorial suggestions and

corrections. The book was much improved as
a result of his involvement. And of course, this
work could not have been produced without
the technical and editorial work of Ed Nissen.
To both, I owe a great debt of gratitude.
Finally, I am grateful to the Collector's Club of

Chicago for their undertaking the actual
publication of this work.
ORGANIZATION OF THE HANDBOOK

The book is divided into six sections with the following headings:
I. Sonora
2. Constitutionalist General Issues

3. Local Provisional Overprints
4. The Monogram Overprints
5. The Oaxaca Provisionals
6. Issues of the Inflationary Period and Officials
Each of these sections constitutes a

self-contained specialty within the general field
of Revolutionary Issues, offering sufficient
complexity to permit the formation of a large
collection or full-size exhibit. Each offers
different philatelic challenges and opportunities
which may appeal more or less to any
particular collector.
contrasts between them that also justify their

being considered separately. For example, the
Monogram Overprints are only partly a bridge
between the Constitutionalist General Issues
and the Inflationary Issues (also produced by
the Constitutionalists) because at least initially
they were produced by the rival Conventionist
faction and were only later adopted by the
Constitutionalists as an expedient.
The autonomous character of Sections I, 3

and 5, treating state and local issues requires
no explanation. Sections 2, 4 and 6 treat issues
intended for national distribution. Although the
author will readily agree that they could have
been combined into one large section, either
preceding or following the others, there are
philatelic, historical and postal historical
But the primary reason for organizing the

Handbook into these sections and presenting
them in this order is to divide a large and
otherwise confusing subject into more easily
assimilated chapters, in such a way that
chronology is generally maintained and equal
importance of the issues is implied.
VII
SONORA
The stamps covered in this section include the
1913 White Issue and Green Seal Issue and
also the stamps of the Maytorena government
(Issued from August 1914 to October 1915)
which include the Green Seal Re-issues, Coach
Seal Issues (including those printed for use in
Baja California) the "E S" Handstamped
Overprint Issue and the Anvil Seal Issues.
These issues have been assigned their own set
of catalog numbers, as have the other state or
local issues in this volume. The numbering
system used for issues follows the Scott Catalog
system as closely as is practical. Scott numbers
are given in parenthesis following the Sonora
number where a direct correlation exists. For
example:
Sonora
Scott
No.
No.
(321 )
rouletting) are reported by Col. C . S.

Hamilton in an article, "Sonora Check List,"
American Philatelist, No. 6, 1924.
In 1971 MEPSI published "The White and
Green Seals of Sonora," by Henry Irwin,
which summarizes the information in Linn's
book in a set of listings. These include
measurements of paper thicknesses, an original
contribution to the literature. The author is
grateful to Tony Benz for reviewing the listings
and pricing in this present volume and for
reporting Sonora no . 18 without the embossed
control.
The Sonora Coach Seal Issue was treated by
Otto Yag in an article, "The Coach Seal Issue,
Scott Numbers 394 to 400", MEXICANA, vol.
23, no. 3, July 1974, pp. 710- 715, 720- 723,
where he identified and described three
background settings. The present work
describes four, the third of which was believed
by the author to be an original discovery until
a careful re-reading of The War Stamps of Mexico
revealed that Linn was aware of it back in
1917, though he did not describe more than
the first line of background type of Position
One in the setting. The discussion of the
background compositions found in more than
one setting makes reference to frameline
differences that allow for proper identification
by setting. The frameline information is
derived from subtle and highly original
research done by Karol Weyna (previously
unpublished).
Description
Black & R ed
The decision to develop a new numbering

system for these issues instead of following the
Scott numbering system was made because so
many stamps worthy of inclusion in the Main
Listings sections are not listed by Scott.
The Sonora issues are particularly well covered
in the literature, with the justly celebrated
Mexico: The Mite and Green Seal Issues of Sonora
by George W. Linn taking pride of place.
Published in 1916, it remains the starting place
for any serious involvement with these stamps.
Three articles have also been important
milestones in the study of the Sonoras. "The
White and Green Seals of Sonora, Gems of
the 20th Century" by Colonel (then Major)
Charles S. Hamilton, Mekeel's WeeklY Stamp
News, vol. 35, no. 16, April 16, 1921 ) and
"Sonora, 20th Century 'Post Office Mauritius,"'
A. 0. Tittman, American Philatelist, vol. 64, no.
4, January 1951 are valuable particularly for
census information on the rarities. Paper
varieties of the 3 and 5 values of the fourth
setting issues (with Green Seals and black
Vlll

andJuly 1960 issues of MEXICANA. In it he
described a number of types besides the two
that are known to be genuine, a few of which
Larson thought had a chance of being
authentic local variations. The author has been
able to determine that most of these are bogus.
The catalog lists only the Hermosillo and
Veracruz types, awaiting proof that any other
genuine types exist. H. C. Hopkins wrote
about the Veracruz type (MEXICANA, July
1960) and Tracy Love defined some of the
characteristics of the genuine Hermosillo type
in an article, "Mexico - A Detailed Study of
Certain Overprints Used During the Mexican
Revolution of 1913 to 1916," which appeared
in the SPA. Journal, vol. 19, no. 6, February
1957.
Constitutionalist General Issues include the

"Ejercito" Issue through the "Dollar Sign"
overprints listed with Scott Numbers 370- 438.
The listings in this handbook follow the
numbers used in the Scott Catalog wherever
possible. This section includes both the
Hermosillo type and the Veracruz type GCM
handstamped overprints. The unissued Madero
and the so-called Veracruz pictorials are also
described.
The Ejercito Issue (no. 347- 353) has been very
thoroughly researched by Joe D . Stuart who is
mainly responsible for the information on the
paper and rouletting varieties, and who made
numerous additions and corrections to the
listings of both these and some of the
subsequent issues.
Information on the ten types of the genuine

Victoria de Torreon overprint (nos. 362- 368)
came from Dr. Roger Good via John Bash and
has not been previously published.
The listings for the Denver Postal and

Revenue Issues (nos. 386- 393) have
benefitted substantially from review by Ron
Mitchell. The postal use of the revenues has
been the subject of two important articles.
H.C. Hopkins wrote, '"Denver' Revenues
Used Postally - May 1914," which appeared in
the April 1963 issue of MEXICANA, val. 12,
no . 2, pp 264--266, and Bill Saks' "The Postal
Use of Revenue Stamps," MEXICANA, val. 32,
no. 2, pp. 71- 78, April 1983, contains
additional facts.
The Large GCM Handstamp Issue was the

subject of a lengthy article by Phillip D .
Larson which appeared in the January, April
The section treating the "Dollar Sign"

overprint (nos. 420- 438) received important
additions and corrections from Joe D. Stuart.
Most of the information on the Transitorio

Issue (nos. 354--361) first appeared in a very
thorough article by H. C. Hopkins published
in Stamps on September 6, 1938, and reprinted
in the July 1963 issue of MEXICANA (vol. 12,
no. 3, pp. 271 - 3).
IX

The overprints are presented in alphabetical
order, from Acambaro through Zacatecas.
Each has its own set of numbers. The listings
are based on several substantial collections and
stocks examined by the author, including the
celebrated Phillip D. Larson collection on
which Larson's pioneering article, "Provisional
Overprints of 1914" (MEXICANA, vol. 15, no.
2, pp. 367- 378, April 1966) was based. This
article, in turn, served as the basis for the
listings in the Stanley Gibbons catalogue.
Larson's collection included many of the gems
from the Col. C. S. Hamilton and Dr. Tracy
R. Love collections and passed intact from
Larson to Byron F. Stevens, to Bill Saks, and is
now owned by the author. Soon after
acquiring it, the author undertook an intensive
examination of it and discovered that more
than a few of the stamps on which listings had
been based were forgeries. (This is not unusual
- nearly every collection examined has its
fakes.) Yet, despite the influence of forgeries,
the Larson article has been the best listing
available, which illustrates the great need for
the sort of solid work, based on covers and
stamps in quantity, that this present work
aspires to be.
always correct reference collection of which a

few photostatic copies exist.
All of the overprint- types included in this
listing are known on cover (with the exception
of Yuriria of which two pairs are known tied
to pieces). Many of these covers, and, in the
case of some of the overprints all of the known
covers, came from the Oficina de Rezagos
(Dead Letter Office) archive. The vast majority
of these covers were acquired by H . C.
Hopkins in a lot- purchase of about 150,000
pieces, of which about 1,200 have local
overprints. (Most of the 150,000 had
un-overprinted Federal Issues which were
eventually removed for packet stock.) Among
H. C. Hopkin's notes there is an inventory of
these covers plus about 150 others that were
sold out of the lot to Juan Balme prior to
Hopkins' acquisition of it. This tremendous
resource has been the basis for the author's
own census of local provisional covers. The
author is especially grateful to Tony Benz,
Ernst Sielaff and David Warman for their
assistance on this project.
Part of the study leading to these listings, has
been concerned with deciding which, if any, of
the many varieties not known on cover have a
chance of being genuine. Most have proven
bogus, at least to the author's satisfaction.
Usually the basis for the opinion that an
overprint- type is bogus has been:
While much of the research that has gone into

these listings has been undertaken without help
from the literature, some of the overprints
have been the subject of useful articles. "The
Sinaloa Overprint- 1914-1915" by Joseph H.
Toulouse, Jr., and Dr. Tracy R. Love
(MEXICANA, July 1961, pp. 213- 215) is a fin e
start on the description of the genuine and
some forgeries. The Acambaro Overprint was
the subject of a short but very valuable article
by Dr. Roger Good which appeared in the
first newsletter of the all too short-lived
Revolutionary Study Group of MEPSI. H. C.
Hopkins laid the groundwork in an unpublished
article for the author's more extensive study of
the Monterrey overprint. Hopkins also
prepared a small, but interesting and almost
1. Its occurrence on a stamp whose

cancellation shows the basic stamp to have
been used from the wrong period.
2. Its occurrence on a quantity of stamps
in which the denominations used for the
common postal rates are not present and for
which cancellations with a plausible date are
not in evidence.
THE MONOGRAM OVERPRINTS

These are the so-called "Villa" and
"Carranza" overprints. The numbers
correspond roughly to Scott's nos. 439- 499.
There are multiple printings of both, including
varieties made for collectors. H. C. Hopkins
was in Mexico City in late 1915 collecting as
many facts about them as he could, and he
was particularly concerned with which stamps
saw regular use. His notes and unpublished
manuscripts are a gold-mine of information on
the subject. Hopkins also followed the activities
of the Director General of Posts, Cosme
Hinojosa, who produced "Special Printings"
for sale to collectors. Much of this information
appeared in such publications as The Stamp
Trade and the New York Philatelic Bulletin. The
story is drawn together in the author's "Cosme
Hinojosa and his Stamps" which was printed
in MEXICANA, vol. 31, nos. 3 and 4, pp. 103108, 163- 169, July and October 1982, and is
reprinted in the present work as Appendix B.
The information on the different printings of

the "Villa" comes out of the author's research,
which often followed leads provided by H. C.
Hopkins' notes.
There are literally hundreds of different fake
monogram overprints, and the forgery problem
has been the concern of every specialist. The
"Villa" has been particularly difficult to master
because the various printings of the genuine
present a range of appearances. The
"Carranza" presented almost equal difficulty
until Dr. Roger Good observed that genuine
stamps invariably show a small break or
depression at the top of the front loop of the
"M."
Both monograms often show repeating flaws,
due to faulty electrotyping, which the author
has found to be important in the study of the
various printings.
THE OAXACA PROVISIONALS

The Oaxaca Provisionals have been assigned
their own set of numbers both because this has
been done for the other state issues and
because their placement in the Scott listin gs is
chronologically incorrect. These wonderfully
primitive stamps, according the Phillips B.
Freer's research into the circumstances of their
production, ("On the Trail of the Oaxaca
Provisionals," MEXICANA, vol. 24, no. 3, pp.
743- 745, July 1975) were printed in the
basement of a Catholic orphanage by teenage
girls under a nun's supervision. The stamps
early on attracted the attention of serious
philatelists including John Luff, August

Roterberg (a dealer) and H. C. Hopkins, who
wrote The Stamps if Oaxaca under the pen
name, Roderick Enfield (Handbook no. 18,
Severn-Wyli e:Jewett, Co., Boston). However,
all previous research into the printings and
plates has been vastly surpassed by the work of
Hubert C. Wahlberg to whom virtually all
credit is due for the magnificent treatment of
the issue in the present work. Working with
Hubert on this section has been a particular
pleasure.
XI
Inflationary Period issues appeared from

September 1915 through the end of 1916.
They include the lithographed 1 to 10
definitives (The "Famous Men" series), the
engraved 1 and high values, the "Corbata"
G.P. de M. overprints and "Barril" G.P. de M.
surcharges, the 10 Carranza commemorative
and the 2.50 pesos surcharges. The numbers
correspond roughly to Scott's Nos. 500- 607.
The Merida Provisional of October 1916 is
also included in this section with its own
number (Merida no. 1).
number of which are Hinojosa Special

Printings or were manipulated philatelically.
Only Hopkins' work on the Lithographed
Definitives has been published. "The 'Famous
Men' Issue - rouletted - 1915" first appeared
in the March 12, 1938 issue of Stamps and was
reprinted in MEXICANA (Vol. 25, No. 1, pp.
758- 9, January 1976) with footnotes provided
by the late Fred Ingham who was editor of
MEXICANA, at that time. "The Famous Men
- Perforated" appeared in the June 11, 1938
issue of Stamps. The Merida Provisional has
been the subject of two articles by Duncan
Ferguson in MEXICANA, January 1959 and
April 1967). Some of the varieties in the
listings were recorded from the great collection
formed by the late David Warman.
This period has been particularly well studi ed

by H. C. Hopkins and George Linn (77ze War
Stamps if Mexico ). Hopkins' work, most of which
has never been published, is particularly
informative concerning the manner of sale and
distribution of the overprinted stamps, a
APPENDICES
July and October 1982. Appendix Cis a
superb historical-philatelic chronology of the
Mexican Revolution compiled by David
Warman with some additions, section
introductions and epilogue supplied by the
author; and some additional details supplied by
Ernie Sielaff.
The book has three Appendices. Appendix A is

an article by the author on Postal Rates
originally printed in MEXICANA, vol. 35, no.
4, pp. 186- 191, October 1986. Appendix B is
"Cosme Hinojosa and his Stamps" by the
author originally printed in MEXICANA, vol.
31, nos. 3 and 4, pp. 103- 108, 163- 169,
Xll
THE NUMBERING SYSTEM

The numbering system for the major listings
follows the numbering in the Scott Catalog as
closely as is practical. However, listings for
state and local issues, such as those of Sonora
and Oaxaca, and the Local Provisional
Overprints, have their own sets of numbers.
Where a direct correlation exists between a
handbook number and a different Scott
number, the Scott number is provided in
parenthesis following the handbook number.
Some single capital letters are reserved to

indicate specific types of items:
= Essay (except in the case of #393E)

= Inverted (center or overprint)
= Proof
= Specimen or its Spanish equivalent,
"Muestra"
U = Imperforate
"T" has a special meaning in the listing of the
Sonora Green Seal Issues only: Transposed
Seal.
E
I
P
S
A variety of letter or letter-plus-number

suffixes to the basic numbers are used to
designate varieties and errors, in a systematic,
specific, and consistent manner.
The following combinations of capital letters

can be found in the listings of Errors, Varieties
and Proofs:
A, B, C, D, etc., Single capital letters usually

serve to indicate broad categories of varieties
defined on an issue by issue basis. Examples:
in listings for the Ejercito Issue, "A" signifies
"With Talon." In listings of the Large GCM
Handstamped overprints, "A" indicates a
Veracruz-type overprint. In the case of the
Dollar Sign Overprint, "A" signifies "$"
inverted, "B" signifies "$" normal, "C"
signifies "$" normal with
"GONSTITUCIONALISTA" and "D"
signifies "$" inverted with
"GONSTITUCIONALISTA."
DD
DI
DP
HUB
VUB
UH
uv
SP
double impression or double

overprint
double overprint, one inverted
die proof
horizontal pair, imperf between
vertical pair, imperf between
imperforate horizontally
imperforate vertically
Special Printing - a class of
stamp that is explained on page
138
a, b, c, d, etc., Lower case letters from the

front of the alphabet are used to designate
color or shade varieties.
v
variety. If there is more than
one variety under the same
catalog number, numbers 1, 2,
3, etc., will follow the "v."
pv = plate variety
w = watermarked
x, y, z and combinations thereof indicate
paper varieties.
tb
tete-heche
p
perforated (If not the normal
separation).
In other cases, such as the Denver Revenues

and varieties among the Villa and Carranza
Monograms, these letters are utilized to
expand the basic numbering framework to
allow for the inclusion of stamps into the Main
Listings.
Xlll
PRICING AND RARITY

The prices in this catalog are intended to
represent net valuations in 1995, based on
auction realizations, relative scarcity and the
experience of the author and his collaborators.
However, the scarcer stamps are in such short
supply that one may expect sharp increases if
the number of competing collectors expands.
In the case of the rarest stamps, the price can
be dramatically affected by the determination
of the individuals involved in the transaction.
On the other hand, stamps in more plentiful
supply may be discounted by a dealer,
particularly if he has a quantity in stock.
Therefore, it is important to recognize that,
ultimately, price can be a highly individual and
circumstantial matter where a scientific
approach often does not work.
recognized that condition, appearance, postal

markings and other factors besides franking
can dramatically affect price. Therefore the
valuations in the catalog are expressed, "from
[dollars] ," representing a base price for a cover
in fine condition .
Prices apply to stamps which are free of defects

and reasonably well centered for the issue.
(Some varieties are not known well centered.)
Unused stamps (issued with gum) should have
original gum and may be hinged. Used stamps
should have genuine cancellations which do
not obliterate the design.
The author hopes that these will be regarded

as the beginning of a census, and that
collectors possessing "R" and "RR" stamps
will report them to either the author or the
editor of MEXICANA.
"R" or "RR" are used as indications of rarity

as follows: "R" indicates that ten or fewer
examples are known to the author, and "RR"
indicates three or fewer are known. These are
applied regardless of whether an item is priced
or not. Obviously the author has not seen
every collection having important items, and,
no doubt, more examples of some of these will
come to light, especially now that an indication
of rarity has been offered in print.
Rarity is only one factor affecting price and it

cannot be assumed that "R" and "RR" stamps
are more valuable than priced items without
an "R" oe "RR" designations.
Price information on covers is generally

confined to the more typical frankings and
rates. For most issues, other frankings and
rates are known. It can usually be assumed
that these have more value. It should be
PHILATELIC COVERS
During the Civil War period many people
produced philatelic covers. Some of these were
franked to pay established rates and passed
through the mail in the normal manner.
Philatelic covers with more abnormal frankings

covering improbable rates are usually worth 25
to 50% over the price of the used stamps they
bear.
Unless otherwise stated, the prices quoted in

the usage sections may be applied to these.
Covers that did not pass through the mail are,

of course, forgeri es and worth no more than
the stamps they bear.
XlV
A BRIEF HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION

The Revolution, which began in 1910,
developed into a full- scale civil war after the
Liberal president, Francisco I. Madero, was
assassinated in a military coup in February,
1913. Opposition to the new dictator, General
Victoriano Huerta, broke out across the
republic but developed its first secure base in
the state of Sonora, which began issuing
stamps in May, 1913. By the end of 1913,
revolutionary armies had also secured nearly
all of the state of Chihuahua and were
operating in the other states along the
northern border. These forces recognized
Venustiano Carranza as their leader and called
themselves "Constitutionalists." Pushing
southward, they won a long succession of
victories culminating in their occupying
Mexico City on August 15, 1914.
Furthermore, many (including most notably

General Francisco Villa) had developed an
antipathy for Carranza and were unwilling to
continue accepting him as their leader. A
convention of military chiefs, which convened
at Aquascalientes in the fall of 1914, failed to
resolve these differences and was unable to
avoid a second civil war, this time between the
Villistas (who included such leaders as
Emiliano Zapata and the Governor of Sonora,
Jose M. Maytorena) and the Carrancistas
(whose most important general was Alvaro
Obregon). By the end of 1915, Carranza
controlled virtually the entire country and his
government was recognized by the United
States. In 1916, Mexico experienced severe
inflation which was reflected in the postal rates
until December 2, 1916, when it was decreed
that stamps could only be purchased with
silver. Detailed historical information appears
in Appendix C.
Once they had defeated the Huerta regime,

however, the revolutionaries discovered that
they lacked agreement on such fundam ental
issues as land reform and labor policy.
XV
SONORA ISSUES
CORREOS
htado llbre 1 Soberano d
elp.:~1:0ta.bo ~.._..,, _
eo .. a.~ea .
So.. . ,
200
~~X.
"
0
'.)
...., .."
""""'-'''" "'"",.,.._..,.._,.
..
_..,..~-
1-t:, ~~.NA;f~lilJ!:I
~ -- '! , ,
' ".,).
"'
. .!!~ "' ..... ........ ..

~.., . ....... - ~ ...~-
R egistered Cover, La Cananea, July 12, 1913. Stamps are White Issue,
Perforated 5 Centavos from positions A, B and C; all three show portions qf
the "Peerless Mills" watermark. Only one other R egistered cover is known.
(Cover ex John T cry lor, Byron Stevens, J ohn K Bash, Nicholas Follansbee presently in the James P M azepa collection)
SONORA ISSUES
1913 SONORA ISSUES and 1914 RE-ISSUE
These comprise the first 27 numbers in the listing of Sonora issues. These listings are treated in eight
groups:
I. White Issue- Perforated. 5 centavos value only.
II. White Issues with Colorless Roulettes. 1 centavo- 10 centavos values.
III. White Issue with Black Roulettes. 5 centavos value only.
IV. Green Seal Issues with Inked Penetrating Roulettes. 5 centavos value only from two
settings of the black/ brown printing.
V. Green Seal Issues with Colorless Roulettes. These are the same as Group II, except
they have printed Green Seals instead of the embossed controls.
VI. Green Seal Issues- Colorless Roulettes with Embossed Control. These are the
same as Group II, except that a pale bluish green seal has been added to the stamps which
have already received the embossed control.
VII. Green Seal Issues with Black Non-penetrating Roulettes. These were printed from
new settings of the black printing.
VIII. 1914 Green Seal Re-issues. These resemble the stamps in the previous group but the
green seals are in transposed positions.
The information below on printing, format, plating and watermarks applies to all of these issues:
PRINTING AND FORMAT
These issues were printed in sheets of 10. Five stamps were printed along one horizontal edge. Once
a quantity of sheets had been printed, they were turned and fed through the press again, so that a
second row of stamps could be printed along the opposite edge, tete-beche to the first with a gutter
between .
The denominations are printed in red; the other text and frame lines in black. The black printing
was done first.
CO RREO S
CORH EOS
CORREOS
CORREOS
CORREOS
Es ta do lib re y Soberan o de
Estado lib re y So bera no de
Est ado Li br e y Soberano de
btado libre y Soberano de
Esta do li br e y So ber a no de
S ONORA.
SO NO RA .
SO N O R A .
SONORA.
SO NORA .
!.;;\
~_)
OECRETO DE 13 DE
OECRETO DE 13 DE
(.~
~
r.
~_)
DE
C Ul l 'liO
30
~~
MARZO
1813
z
>
<
"hiONOS
DE
1 8 13
c :ea 30 ozwv w
OZ .. VI't
30 OJ.31111:>30
op OUIJ OqOS
~_)
DECRETO DE 13 DE
DECRETO DE 13 D E
MARZO
r;~
OJq!l Opll'l
MAIII:ZO
1: 181
DE
30
!8 13
MARZO
30 El 30 O.l.:H~:JJIO
@)
" 'V':ldONO S
op OUIJOqos
OJq!l Opl\'l
18 !3
.@)
v~ONOS
op OU I HqO S
DE
CUll :JO OZ lii V""

30 ~I 30 O .l. 3~:) ll
OZ "'VW
30 Cl 30 Ol.::.n:t:>30
S03HUOJ
S03HUOJ
OECRETO DE 13 DE
OJq!l OptiC ]
MARZO
H~l3
t:HU :JO OZ MV"

0
30 Cl 3 0 O.l3 bl ::>:i 0
~
\
~:;
" 'O'~ON O S
" 'O'~ONOS
op ouoaq os ~ oJq!l Pl 3
op outJoqo s
oJ q!l optl'l
so~nn.IO:>
S03UUOJ
OE
S03B.UOJ
Sheet of the 2C White Issue (first setting) with the middle stamp
in each row having a "Roman" 2
PLATING
Each of the five stamp designs are distinctly different. To properly identify most of these issues
(particularly those of Groups IV, V, VII and VIII) it is first necessary to determine from which
position the stamp originates. This is easily done by studying the bottom line of type in the black
printing. The following characteristics remain constant throughout all of the Issues:
A.
1913 is normal. The 0 m "MARZO" is narrow (a cypher).
B.
1913 is printed 19!3. The 0 m "MARZO" IS wide (correct font).
C.
1913 is printed !913.
D.
1913 is printed 19!3. The 0 m "MARZO" Is narrow.
E.
1913 is normal. The 0 m "MARZO"
CORR EOS
wide.
CORREO S
CO RR EOS
CORR E OS
Eltdo Llbre J Sobtrano de
Estado llbre J Sobmno do
h tado Libra J Sobmno de
htado l lbre J Sobmno de
Eatado Llbro J Soborano de
SONORA .
SONORA .
SONO R A.
D I!:C R E TO DE 13 D E
SO N ORA .
O E CR ET O DE t 3 0 1!:
SONORA .
D E CRET O D E 13 DE
OECR!:TO DE 13 D E
N Afll %0 OK. 1813
MA R ZO 0 1: 1 D l 3
M AR Z O 01: 18 1 3
CORREOS
IS
MARZO OK.
tei :s
O EC R ETO D E 13 DE
M A RZO DE 1 8 13
WATERMARKS
Two different watermarks appears on a small percentage of certain stamps watermark and the Yukon Aurora watermark.
the Peerless Mills
PEERLESS MILLS
Watermarks
CONTROLS
After the stamps were printed they were embossed with the word "CONSTITUCIONAL" as a
control measure. The embossing reads from top to bottom.
Later this embossed control was replaced by a printed green circular control, the "Green Seal" -see
page 9 for details.
I. WHITE ISSUE - PERFORATED

Date:
July 10, 1913 (earliest known usage)

(Note: This was the first Sonora issue to be produced,
but was actually issued after the rouletted White
issues.)
Printing:
Typeset from one setting of the black printing (Setting

I)
Sheet size:
77/s x 3112 inches
Paper:
White rag, occasionally showing

watermark "Peerless Mills."
Control:
Embossed word "CONSTITUCIONAL" reading

from top to bottom.
Separation:
Line perforated 11.7 at sides and bottom
Quantity issued:
estimated 200-250
CORREOS
lataio Llra y Sooruo ie
SONORA.
l!
=
0
0
DIECRIETO DIE U
DE
MARZO Dlr 11a
........._
Sonora
Scott
No.
No.
(321)
$2,500.00R
$700.00
Description
Black & Red
papermaker's
Sheet
I - The on!J known sheet is in the Smithsonian Institution and is cancelled Fewn- than 5 unused examples of Sonora No. I are believed
to e.xisL
Watermark
"Peerless Mills" wmk
lw
RR2
900.00
2 - The one recorded unused wain-marked example is the CENTA VOB variery.
Errors and Varieties
lv
lpv
(32la)
Double embossing error

Plate variety CENTAVOB
at right (occurs on all
Position E stamps)
RR
RR
850.00
Usage
from $1,200.00
About fifteen covers have been recorded, all non-philatelic:
This stamp was used from La Cananea and its sub-offices: La Mesa, Naco, Chivatera, Agua Prieta and Bacoachi (the
latter two have not been seen on cover).
Forgeries
Forgeries have been made by perforating copies of Sonora no . 5. Genuine perforations are generally rough; the contours
of the holes are not cleanly punched whereas forgeries are often sharply punched. The width of the rouletted stamps is
a constant 35.3-35.5 mm (the widest being Position C). The width of perforated stamps may be more or less than this
but those wider than 35.5 mm are almost certainly genuine. Used stamps with cancellations dated earlier than the second
week of july, or from places other than La Cananea and its sub-offices are forgeries. Fortunately, no . 5 was rarely used
after the end of June 1914. Genuine perforations are not always perfectly aligned.
II. WHITE ISSUES WITH COLORLESS ROULETTES

Date:
1 -June 17, 1913 (earliest known usage)

2- June 11, 1913
3- June 18, 1913
5 Type I- May 23, 1913
5 Type II- June 16, 1913
10 - June 16, 1913
Printing:
Typeset from Black Setting I
Sheet size:
77/a x 3 112 inches.
Control:
Embossed word "CONSTITUCIONAL" reading from

top to bottom.
Paper:
White rag paper occasionally showing papermaker's

watermark, "Peerl ess Mills," covering up to four stamps
in a sheet.
CORREOS
Estado llbre y Sobe rano de
~
g
~
~
SONORA.
@
OECRTO DE 13 DE
MARZO
11.J
Sc. JYpe I
CORREOS
aA.
Estado libro y Soberano do
CECAETO DE 13 DE
MARZO 0 IP I:J
Separation: Roul etted on sides and bottom in an operation separate

from printing.
Sc. JYpe 2
Quantities issued:
Per Director General of Posts, Cosme Hinojosa:

9,900
1
2
18,1 70
3
6,400
10
4,900
Per C. S. Hamilton (estimates):
5 Type-I
5 Type-II
12,000
3,000
Sonora
No.
2
3
3A
4
5
6
7
Scott
No.
(322)
(323)
(324)
(325)
(326)
(327)
(328)
1
2
3
5
5
10
Description
Sheet
& Red
& Red
& Red
& Red
& Red
& Red
& Red
7.50
7.50
35.00
50.00
150.00
450.00
12.00
12.00
7.50
30.00
45.00
45.00
250.00
15.00
80.00
140.00
Black
Black
Black
Black
Black
Black
Black
(broad 2)
(Roman 2/
(fype I)
(fype II)
550.00
1,500.00R2
4,500.00R3
150.00
1 - The "Roman" 2 is narrower and luJs a curved base - see illustration on page 2.
2 - Shuts of Sonora no. 5 came with the error CENTAVO.. at Position E in either one row or both. The sheet with the single error is
the rarer of the two.
3 - Five intact sheets of no. 6 were recorded. in 1921. At least one of these luJs since been broken up and one is in the Smithsonian Institution.
Watennark
Numbers 2 through 7 may come with the papermaker's watermark "Peerless Mills." Singles showing a portion of the
watermark are worth a 50% premium. Sheets showing the watermark across four stamps or in the gutter are worth a
20% premium. Watermarked sheets of nos. 5 and 6 are not known .

Sonora
No.
Scott
No.
Description
2vl
2v2
2v3
3vl
3Avl
3v2
3v3
4vl
4v2
5vl
5pvl
3
5
(326a)
5pv2
7vl
10
Double embossing
Without embossing
Reversed embossing
(depressed from front)
Double embossing
Double embossing
Without embossing
R eversed embossing
(depressed from front)
Double embossing
Without embossing
Without embossing
With error (Pos. E)
CENTAVOB at left
CENTAVOS at left
with dot in 0 (Pos. E)
Double embossing
lOO .OOR
15.00
RR
100.00
RR
15.00
Sheet
100.00R
100.00R
225.00RR+
100.00R
RR
150.00R
100.00
175.00
160.00
250.00R
150.00R
150.00R
RR
50.00
lOO.OOR
RR
4 -A 2 sheet exists with the embossed word applied nine times to one row with Position C triple-embossed.
Usage
The most frequently encountered non-philatelic cover is no. 5 paying the 5 letter rate. Value from $75.00;
Combination 2 + 3: from $125.00.
1 single franking (unsealed letter rate) are usually philatelic (Dr. Francis Nicholas): value from $15.00; Non-philatelic
covers are R.
1 + 2 + 2: from $75.00 (most are philatelic, especially when Position C narrow 2 is present).
10 on cover is R. 10 bisected is RR. 2 bisected with two additional 2 exists- usually philatelic; non-philatelic
covers are RR.
Forgeries
Forgeries of the I, narrow 5 (fype II), and I 0 have been seen. These are not plateable; the red printing is darker than
the genuine. They are seldom encountered and are not particularly dangerous.
In 1914, a lot of genuine unfinished sheets or half-sheets lacking the embossed word was taken from the printing office
in Hermosillo. In order to market these to philatelists, fake embossing was applied to the stamps. Numbers 2, 4, 5 and
7 are known with this fake embossing. Mint examples of nos. 4 and 5 in particular should be closely examined to
determine that the word reads from top to bottom. Then, if enough letters are visible, it may be possible to determine
the authenticity of the embossing using the following for comparison:
ORIGINAL
FIRST FORGERY
SECOND FORGERY
Genuine and Fake embossing as seen from the back of the

stamp - as near actual size as possible.
Original embossing: This appears slightly taller than either of the forgeries. Both of the letters "C" are of the same style
and shape, with rounded corners. The letters "0" are upright ovals. The word measures 44 mm
in length and is about 4 mm high .
First forgery: This is the more common of the forgeries. It measures 48 mm in length and 3.5 mm high. The second
letter "C" and both of the letters "0" are square shaped with fancy pointed corners.
Second forgery: Both of the letters "C" and both of the letters "0" are square shaped with fancy pointed corners. It
measures 40 mm in length and about 4 mm high.
Stamps with embossing which is demonstrably fake have value only as space fillers. In some cases, however, it is
impossible to differentiate between originals and remainders with fake embossing because the embossing is too indistinct.
Since these issues are scarce even when one includes some remainders in the count, such stamps with ambiguous
embossing should not be rejected, but should sell for a modest discount. Valuations in this catalogue apply to stamps with
demonstrably genuine embossing. Stamps with particularly distinct embossing that is clearly authentic should be worth
a prerruum.
Back-dated favor cancels exist, often applied to stamps with forged embossing. The cancel used was the Hermosillo
circular date stamp (cds) with name at the top instead of at the bottom. This cancel was not introduced until after the
1913 Sonora issues were no longer in circulation. The cancel was also used for manufacturing a few White Issue covers.
III. WHITE ISSUE - BLACK ROULETTES

CORREOS
Eahdo llbro y Soberano de
I "@Y I
fi
(j
O!:CRETO DE 13 DE
MA.I'tO
DE
t813
lh
Date:
June 16, 1913 (earliest known usage)
Printing:
Typeset. A new setting was used for the black printing, Setting II,
incorporated rouletting rules to eliminate an extra step in production.
Sheet size:
8 x 3112 inches
Paper:
Smooth white rag paper sometimes showing papermaker's watermark

"Yukon Aurora."
Separation:
Black penetrating roulettes on all sides
Quantity issued:
4,000 (estimate)
Sonora
Scott
No.
No.
(329)
Description
5
Black & Red
Sheet
85.00
50.00
900.00t
Watermark
8w
"Yukon Aurora" watermark
50% premium
RR
Varieties
8pv
The error "MARO" for "MARZO"

(positions A and B)
20% Premium
Forgery
Unfinished remainders of no. 9y without the Green Seal received fake embossing and are frequently offered as no. 8.
These are printed on a soft wove paper, never watermarked, and usually have a creamish tint. This paper shows little
weave when held to the light or put in watermark fluid. The "Yukon Aurora" paper, on the other hand, shows a more
obvious weave pattern or mesh and has a slightly grayer, never creamish, color. In a comparison, the two are readily
distinguishable.
10
THE GREEN SEALS
In order to properly identify Green Seal issues, it is essential to first determine the position of the
stamp in the sheet by studying the black printing (the characteristics of which are described on page
2), and then to determine the type of seal in order to be able to tell if it is normal or transposed.
According to George W. Linn's 7he VVhite and Green Seal Issues if Sonora, the circular green seals which
replaced the rather impractical embossed control, were applied with a printer's cut known as a zinc
etching. The five seals each have their own peculiar and constant features. The following diagrams
illustrate key differences between the five seals, as well as the three arrangement of the seals.
There are also obvious differences in the way the liberty cap is shaded.
On their original mounting, 10 mm apart, their spacing did not accurately correspond to the spacing
of the stamps from the first setting (Sonora number 11 through 14). To remedy this the first seal was
separated from the other four to allow for an adjustment. It was either placed in front of the other
four, or in back, thus producing the transposed seal varieties.
/0 1
Normal Seals
~//
Seal "A" further to the Left
//~
Transposed Seals
11
IV. 5 CENTAVOS GREEN SEAL ISSUES WITH

INKED PENETRATING ROULETTES
Date: (earliest known usage)
9x - July 1, 1913
9y -July 9, 1913
10 -July 27, 1913
lOa- August 24, 191 4
Printing: Typeset. These issues were printed from two settings:

Setting II, used to print no. 9x and no. 9y, is the same one used to print no. 8.
Positions A and B always show the "MARO" variety
Setting III, used to print no. 10, does not include "MARO" varieties
To determine the setting of stamps from positions C, D and E, it is necessary to study
the alignment of the frame-lines.
,--------------..
:-------------- - -- - -.- ---------- .. -- .. ----.-- - --.-----.--.- -- -.---. - -------.
CORREOS
ht1U Lt~re r hHrall de
Sc0A.
CORREOS
htal
.
.
ll~rl
SONORA .
OaCRETO DE 13 Oa
MAJIIODilteta
CORREOS
r hHIIII d1
~
2
n
0
..
n
2
DKCRKTO 0& 13 0&

WA .. O Oil leta
htadl
ll~re
CORREOS
SONORA .
~
~
DKCRKTO 0& 13
u
0
Z in Marzo omitted
2nd I in 19 13 broken
Z in Marzo omitted
thus MARO
0 in Centavos at left
is a cypher
I st C in C inco at right
is in wrong font
thusMARO
0 in Maro is a cypher
0 in Centavos at right
is a cypher
1st I in 1913 broken
..
Lt~re r h~er
SONORA .
oac,.IITo oa ta na
MA .. ZO Oil tta
- ! . . . - - . . . . - . - . - - . . . - ~ - - - - - - - .. - . - - - - - - - - _. - - - . . . .
Eatede
~0
MA,.ZO Oil leta
. ..
.. .
SONORA.
oa
CORREOS
htade Lt~re r ''~"'" de
r hhra11 de
.
n
2
oacR&TO o t3 oa
MAJIIZO Oil leta
de
51
'
'
'
. . .. - . . - - - . . . . . . - - - - - - - . . - - . - - . -
0 in M arzo is a cypher
2nd I in 1913 broken
has a dot of color
in ce nter
C in Centavos at right
is in wrong font
Setting II
~-
- -- - . -- . --- - - - - -- - - - ------ . --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - ----- - -. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - . - -- - - - - - - - - - . - - - - - - - - . - - - - - . -
~--------~
CORREOS
htaCI
L1~11
r hhraoe de
.. (~
SONORA .
DKCRETO DR 13 DK.
MAitzO o 1811
..
n
z
0
..
.
~
.......
CORREOS
htada
Ll~r1
~~~
SONORA .
OK.CRilTO OK 13 OK
MARZO o 1811
~
n
~
~
<
0
..
.
0
u~..
, ~.....
SONORA .
DIECRK.TO 01: 13 01:
MAitZ.O o 18U
-----------~
CORREOS
CORREOS
CORREOS
htade
de
hlado
L1~11
r Iober de
SONORA .
DlllCRitTO 0& 13 01:
MAitZ.O D. 1811
. ~~
z
htade
.
0
Ll~rt , ..-.....
SONORA .
@)
dl
n
a
n
O&CRCTO Dl: 13 DC
M AltZ.O 011 18U
E
51
- - ------ - . . . !. - --- ----- --.-- --- - ' - -- .. -- - - - -' ...-. . -..- .--_-__ ____
_ ___ _ _ .__
. - - - - - - -. -
0 in M arzo is a cypher
Z in Marzo below base line
is a cypher
0 in Centavos at left
is a cypher
I st C in Cinco at right
is in wrong font
c
lst I in 1913 broken
Setting Ill
12
0 in Marzo is a cypher
C in Centavos at right
is in wrong font
0 in Ce ntavos at right
has a dot of color
in center
Sheet sizes: 9x- 8 x 31f2 inches or 8112 x 33/s inches

9y - 8112 x 3112 inches
10 - 77/s x 4 1/s inches or T/s x 4 1/4 inches: R
x: Smooth white rag, sometimes showing paper manufacturer's watermark, "Yukon
Aurora." This shows a weave pattern or mesh, and is somewhat grayish in tone.
Paper:
y: Cream colored soft wove unwatermarked paper showing little or no weave
pattern.
No. 9 comes on both papers. No. 10 is found on two papers- Porous white wove
and close wove (showing no mesh pattern). The relative scarcity of the two papers
has not been determined.
Setting II
Sonora
Scott
No.
No.
Description
5
5
9x
9y
Black, Red & Green

Black, Red & Green
Sheet
20.00
8.00
4.00
2.50
250.00
100.00
3.00
4.00
50.00
2.00
2.25
7.50
35.00
45.00
3.00
3.00
10.00
200.00R
200.00R
Setting III
10
lOa
lOb
(340)
(340a)
5
5
5
Brownish black, Red & Green

Dark brown, Red & Green
Light brown, Red & Green
With Transposed Seal
lOT
lOTa
lOTb
5
5
5
Brownish black, Red & Green

Dark brown, Red & Green
Light brown, Red & Green
5.00
5.00
75 .00R
The red and green colors come in differenl shades. The lighl. brown shade, which some writers called lilac brown, has only been seen on the
close wove paper.
In Linn's book, 9x is listed as Linn 9 and 9y is listed as Linn 10. Number 10 in the presenl listing corresponds to Linn 17.
Watennark
Sonora no . 9x occasionally shows "Yukon Aurora" watermark; 50% Premium - singles or sheet.
13
Errors
Sonora
Scott
No.
No.
Description
9yv
Sheet
RR'
Missing seal
lODD
lOv
1,000.00
Double seal
Red printing omitted
750.00
RR3
RR2
I - The sheet, believed unique, has one row qfjive witfwut the seals. It is in the Smithsonian Institution. Singles are from the looted stock qf
unfinished remainders. All tfwse examined have all had fake embossing added to make them resemble no. 8 and thus have little value.
2 - The sheet (believed unique) sfwws the variery in one row.
3 - The onl:y recorded example is Position E, cancelled September 19, 1913.
Plate Varieties
9x and 9y: The error "MARO" instead of " MARZO" occurs on all stamps from positions A and B (Scott 344-c).
Premium: 20%.
Usage
Covers: value from $7.50.
Forgeries
Forgeries of l ODD, the double seal variety exist. Examples of this variety should be expertized.
V. GREEN SEAL ISSUES WITH COLORLESS ROULETTES

Sonora nos. 11 through 14 are identical (setting, sheet size, paper, etc.) to nos. 2, 4, 5 and 7 except
that they have the Green Seal instead of the embossed control. This is Setting I.
Dates: (earliest recorded usage) 11 -July 17, 1913
12 -July 18, 1913
13 -July 20, 1913
14- August 20, 1913
liT- September 25, 1913.
5 - 200-250 (estimate)
Quantities:
Sonora
No.
11
12
13
14
14
Scott
No.
(336)
(337)
(338)
(339)
Description
1
3
5
10
Black,
Black,
Black,
Black,
Red
Red
Red
Red
&
&
&
&
Green
Green
Green
Green
Sheet
5.00
4.00
750.00
2.50
5.00
4.00
250.00
2.50
55.00
45.00
30.00
With Transposed Seal

Sonora
No.
Scott
No.
liT
12T
14T
The color
Descript ion
1
3
10
Black, Red & Green

Black, Red & Green
Black, Red & Green
R
35.00
3.00
50.00
30.00
4.00
Sheet
500.00RR
35.00
of the green seal varies somewhat
On the non-transposed seal sheets, the spacing of seals A and B can be either 12 mm or 10 mm The 10 is also known with an 11 mm
spacing.
Watennark
Examples showing Peerless Mills watermark: llw, 12w, 14w
Singles - 50% premium
Sheets - 20% prem ium
12Tw and l3w are R.
13w mint is RR.
II Tw is RR and only known used.
Errors
l2U
l2Uv
Imperforate (one row in sheet)

Bottom imperforate
RR
12 Uv - one example reported - needs to be confirmed.
Plate Varieties
13pvl
13pv2
CENTAVOB at left (Pos. E)

CENTAVOS, dot in 0 (Pos. E)
850.00
300.00
R
Usage
5 single: from 350.00. This stamp was used only at Hermosillo, and on mail cars of the Ferrocarril del Sur out of
Hermosillo.
3 + 2: from 40.00
1 + l + 3: from 50.00 (usually philatelic)
Mixed issue franking, 3 + 2 White issue: from 75.00 (usually philatelic; non-philatelic R ).
Transposed seal issues on cover are R - RR.
Manufactured covers exist with no. 13. The envelopes are green, and usually un-addressed .
15
Manufactured Covers
Various Green Seal issues, starting with no. 12 and including varieties of nos. 19-21 were used in making up batches of
covers which were cancelled by favor and never mailed. These are frequently found un-addressed. Several groups were
made up at Nacozari. Others were cancelled at Naco, Nogales and Agua Prieta. The following is a list of dates known
for each place:
Nacozari (cds):
21
18
19
20
18
SET 1913 3 50 PM
(?) OCT 1913 (time?)
NOV 1913 8 AM
NOV 1913 4:50PM
DIC 1913 4:45PM
There was also a group using no. 14 where the dateline in the Nacozari cds is scrambled.
Naco (oval):
15
19
13
14
OCT
OCT
NOV
NOV
Nogales (cds):
10 NOV 1913 6:10PM
Agua Prieta (4 lines):
1913
1913
191 3
1913
NOV 1 1913
DIC 3 1 1913
No. 13 has been found on unaddressed green European-sized envelopes tied by the Hermosillo duplex-type cancel. These
manufactured covers have no value beyond that of the stamps on them.
16
VI. GREEN SEAL ISSUES - COLORLESS ROULETTES WITH

EMBOSSED CONTROL
These are Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 6 with the green seal added. They are therefore from Setting I, and are
on white rag "Peerless Mills" paper. (fhe 2 and 3 are not to be confused with the similar nos. 11
and 12 which lack the embossing and have darker green seals).
September 28, 1913
Date:
Sonora
No.
15
16
17
18
Scott
No.
(322a)
(323a)
(324a)
(325a)
(327a)
Description
1
2
3
5
Black, Red & Pale bluish

a. Roman 2 (Pos. C)
(Type II)
green
green
green
green
1,000.00R
1,000.00R
RR
500.00
0
750.00R
1,000.00R
RR
600.00
Sheet
RR
650.00
Watennark
Nos. 16 and 17 exist with "Peerless Mills" watermark, both are RR.
Error
No. 18 exists without embossed control, RR.

Usage
Several covers, mainly bearing the 5 exist.

Forgeries
Nos. 2, 3 and 4 have been seen with fake seals added to make them appear to be nos. 15- 17. The seals are obviously
different in many details from the five genuine types. Nos. 11 and 12 are found with fake embossing added to imitate
15 and 17. However, the seals of these stamps are the wrong shade of green- darker and much less bluish. Expertization
recommended.
17
VII. GREEN SEAL ISSUES WITH BLACK NON-PENETRATING ROULETTES
The stamps in this group of listings all have the green seals in the normal sequence. Black-rouletted
stamps with transposed seals are the 1914 Re-issues, nos. 23 - 25.
The black printing was done from five different settings according to George Linn whose book,
Mexico: The VVhite and Green Seal Issues qf Sonora, is the standard reference on these. Actually, the only
differences are slight changes in the alignments of the frame-lines. Identifying single stamps by setting
is usually difficult, but can be done by first identifying the row Position of the stamp, then referring
to the detailed information on frame-line alignments given in chapter six of Linn's book. However,
in the present work, singles are not cataloged by setting since the differences in value are slight.
Sheets, on the other hand, are easily identifiable by setting because the sizes of the sheets are different
in each case. The catalog lists sheets by setting.
Dates: (earliest known usage):
1 Setting IV
September
1 Setting VIII November
2 Setting IV
September
2 Setting VII
November
September
3 Setting IV
Sheet sizes:
Setting IV
Setting V
Setting VI
Papers:
7, 1913
2, 1913
7, 1913
2, 1913
13, 1913
81;4 x 3% inch es
8% x 3 1/4 inches
8% x 31/4 inches
5
5
5
5
Setting
Setting
Setting
Setting
IV
V
VI
VII
Setting VII
Setting VIII
November 3, 1913
September 10, 1913
October 6, 1913
October 17, 1913
83/s x 31/4 inches

10 1/4 x 3 1/4 inches
Settings IV and V printed on cream-white medium weight paper.

Settings VI, VII and VIII printed on white soft wove paper.
The 3 and 5 Setting IV stamps were also printed on several other papers,
usually in very small quantities.
Separation: Black, non-penetrating roulettes. Usually scissors were employed in separating.

(Single stamps showing the roulettes complete on all four sides are
rather scarce.)
18
Sonora
No.
Scott
No.
19
19a
20
21
21a
22
22a
(341)
(342)
(343)
2
3
(344)
Description
Black, Red & Green

Very dark, dull green seal
Black, Red & Green
Black, Red & Green
Pale bluish green seal
Black, Red & Green
Brownish red denominations
1.50
10.00
1.50
2.00
7.50
2.00
2.50
1.25
7.50
1.25
1.50
4.00
1.25
2.00
Sheets
Sonora
No.
Scott
No.
19
20
21
2la
22
22a
341
342
343
1
2
3
344
IV
Description
Black, Red & Green

Black, Red & Green
Black, Red & Green
Pale bluish green seal
Black, Red & Green
Brownish red denom.
Settings
VI
16.00
16.00
30.00
75.00
VII
VIII
100.00 1
13.00
22.00
27.50
100.00
27.50
No. 19a is not known in a full sheet

1 - Price for 19 VIII is for a sheet with end margins intact Trimmed examples: $2 0.00.
No. 21 comes in various shades. Prices for 21 and 21 a are for sheets that do not contain the error CENTAVO_ at Position B in either row.
A variety qfno. 21 is known that measures 8 3/4 x 3 1/2; two examples recorded.
Paper Varieties
Sonora
No.
Scott
No.
Description
3 centavos
2lx
2lax
2ly
2lyw
2lz
2lxx
2lyy
2lzz
Thick white wove paper

same, pale bluish green seal
White rag "Peerless" paper
same, "Peerless Mills" wmk
Thin porous paper
Heavy enameled paper
Greenish-white wove paper
Thick pulpy white paper
20.00
15.00
25.00
37.50
25.00
20.00
30.00
25.00
RR
25.00
Sheet
RR
R
R
RR
RR
RR
R
RR
5 centavos
22ax
22ay
22az
22azw
Heavy smooth white paper

Heavy pulpy cream paper
Same showing "Peerless Mills" wmk
3.50
2.50
20.00
30.00
15.00
22.50
40.00
RR
RR
RR
A "deep cream" paper was identified by H amilton and Tillman, but it is almost indistinguishable from the common crea"9' white medium
weight paper in terms qf thickness and texture; it is slightly more yellow.
19
Errors
Sonora
No.
Scott
No.
Description
1
5
l9v
22v
Missing seal (Setting IV)

Missing seal (Setting V)
Sheet
RR
100.00
RR
RR
Plate Varieties
The 3 comes with an error, "CENTAVO_" at left. lb.is is found at Position Bin some sheets and may appear in both
rows or in only one row.
Sonora
No.
Scott
No.
Description
Cream wove paper, CENTAVO_ error
Error in one row
Error in both rows
same, pale bluish green seal,
CENTAVO_ error
Error in one row
Error in both rows
CENTAVO_ error both rows
same, "Peerless Mills" watermark,
CENTAVO_ error
Heavy enameled paper
2lv
2lav
2lyv
2lywv
2lxxv
Usage
5
2
1
1
2
single franking:
+ 3:
+ 1 + 3:
single franking:
single franking:
from
from
from
from
from
$5.00
10.00
15.00
15.00
20.00
Mixed issue franking with Ejercito issue:

3 + 2 (no. 348):
from 50.00
5 x 3 (registered):
from 25.00
See note on manufactured covers following no. 14.
20
25.00
20.00
Sheet
R
70.00
75.00
60.00
RR
RR
R
RR
R
LINN SONORA SAMPLE STAMPS
George Linn, who had been recommended to the Sonora government as a printer by another
philatelist, H. R. Howard, prepared a set of five stamps. He sent samples in late 1913 or early 1914
but by that time the Constitutionalists control had spread beyond the State of Sonora and the design
was rejected as inappropriate. Instead, Linn was engaged to produce a new supply of the 5 centavos
Transitorio Issue and the result was no. 365.
The sample stamps were lithographed on white wove paper and rouletted except for the 5 which
is perforated 12. Each value was printed in a pane of 10 (5 x 2) with blocks of 10 of the 1, 2, 3,
and 10 printed se-tenant in a sheet.
1 Violet, 2 Green, 3 R ed, 5 Orange, 10 Blue - Set $ 10.00.
1mperforates
The 5 orange exists imperforate - scarce; black imperfor ate - R ; the 5 has also been seen partially rouletted.
Overprinted- OFICIAL
The 1 and 10 have the overprint in red, the others normally in black - Set $10.00.
The settings consisted qf 10 sulljects and can be plated
Errors
The 5 exist with black overprint inverted , red overprint normal, inverted , double and double inverted . Prices are $10.00
to $20.00 each . A 1 with double overprint has also been seen - R .
Overprinted S. 0. D. G. D. E.
(Servicio Oficial Del Gobierno Del Estado)
The 1 and 10 were overprinted in red, the others normally in black - Set 10.00.
As with the OFICIAL, the setting
of this overprint
consisted
of 10 sulljects.
Errors
The 5 exists with black overprint inverted and red overprint normal and inverted. Price is $10.00 to $20.00 each . The
overprint is also known in black on the 5 imperforate - R. The 10 is known with double overprint - R .
21
VIII. 1914 GREEN SEAL RE-ISSUES

In late August 1914, after the Maytorena regime in Sonora broke with Carranza, a new printing was
made from the type used for producing the 1913 stamps. These re-issues can be recognized by their
having the green seals transposed. Also, the style of numeral on the 5 is broad instead of narrow (as
on the earlier roulette stamps).
Date:
August 28, 1914
Sheet size:
8 114 x 33fs inches
Pap er:
White soft wove unwatermarked paper
Sep aration: Black non-penetrating roulettes on all sides of the stamp

Quantities:
Sonora
No.
23
24
25
26
27
Scott
No .
(345)
(346)
5
20,250
1
20,000
2
10
18,730
21,380
3
20,070
Figures are based on archival research by Carlos Lucero
andjuan Cabuto.
Descrip tion
1
2
3
5
10
Black,
Black,
Black,
Black,
Black,
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
&
&
&
&
&
Green
Green
Green
Green
Green
Sheet
1.25
1.50
1.50
2.50
1.25
1.25
1.50
1.50
1.25
1.50
15.00
17.50
17.50
25.00
15.00
Sheet
Error
Sonora
No.
Scott
No.
25vl
Description
RR'
Green seal omitted
I - Singles qf this variety have not been seen.
Plate Varieties
Sonora
No.
23pvl
23pv2
24pvl
24pv2
25pvl
Scott
No.
Description
"erano" (Pos. D)
"Sojerano" (Pos. D)2
"erano"
"Sojerano"
"erano"
*
50.00
7.50
30.00
40.00
30.00
0
50.00
7.50
25.00
40.00R
27.50
Sheet
RR
30.00
45 .00
55.00
47.50
2 - The "Sqjerano" and, later, the "erano" varieties occur at Position D in one row on{y in the sheet and represent disintegration or a
dropping out qf type comprising the word "oberano. ".
22
A variety "TRSS" for "TRES" at left on No. 25 was reported by C. S. Hamilton as coming from Position E in one row
in the sheet. However those examined by the MEPSI Expertization Committee have been found to be forgeries. The
status of this variety is uncertain .
Usage
5 single franking:
2 + 3:
1 single franking:
2 single franking:
10 single franking:
from $5.00
from 10.00
from 20.00
from 15.00
from 15 .00
Forgeries
Manufactured covers which never passed through the mail were made by the fugitive postmaster of Nogales, Francisco
Orrantia y Rocha, using original cancelling devices. These include the Nogales circular datestamp, the OPA 205 duplex
cancel, and hand-stamps for registered letters. These devices were not available at Nogales at the time when these stamps
were used. The Rocha covers are frequently un-addressed. They were produced in large quantities. (Rocha fled Nogales
sometime in early August, 1914.)
23
SONORA COACH SEAL ISSUE
Date:
October 2, 1914 (authorized), earliest usage seen: October 3
Printing:
Typographed at Hermosillo, Sonora
Plate Information:
Sheets consist of 40 stamps, and are comprised of two panes of 20

stamps (2 rows of 10) arranged tete-beche and separated by a gutter
(the width of which varies with the width of the paper).
Each stamp is normally composed of three major elements. The first
of these to be printed was the background, in 2 rows of 10, first on one
side of the sheet which was subsequently turned so that the other side's
background could be printed tete-beche. The background for each
stamp was assembled from 30 pieces of 12-pica fancy border type
arranged in 6 rows of 5 elements each. Frame-lines and inscriptions
were assembled from individual pieces of type and these were printed
next, one row of 10 stamps at a time, four operations per sheet. Finally
the coach seal control was printed, again one row at a time, four
operations per sheet.
These stamps were printed from four distinct settings of the background
type.
Identifying the Settings

Color can serve as a clue to the setting, but except in two cases (the 5 and 20 from Setting I with
their distinctive orange backgrounds), it is not an infallible basis for identification. In general, stamps
from Setting I have backgrounds printed in darker inks with a somewhat watery impression while
later stamps are paler. (Setting IV stamps are particularly faint.) The only reliable method for
properly identifying the setting is to plate the background. In some cases it is also necessary to
examine the frame-lines.
The type elements composing the background show an X surrounded by four little circles, one of
which is further from the center than the other three. In the settings given below, each type element
is referred to by its orientation. Thus, if the circle most distant from the crotch of the X is the one
at the bottom,
24
it is orientation "B,"
at top "T,"
to the left "L,"
to the right "R."
The backgrounds are diagrammed on the next two pages.
25
BACKGROUND - FIRST SETTING

BLBRR
BLTLR
L RBB T
TTLRL
BTT LB
LRBBT
RLTLT
L T RRR
T RLBT
RRRBL
BLLLL
RLLLR
L
B
B
L
R
B
BLTR
BRRB
BBLB
T BBB
RRBT
BTTL
BBBBT
BBBBB
BBBBL
BBBBR
LBLTT
TRLBR
TTTTB
LTLLL
LLTLR
LBLBL
L L LLR
BBBT T
BBBLL
B BBBT
T BTBR
BBLLL
R T RLL
L BRBL
TL
RL
LR
BB
BR
RB
B
T
R
B
L
T
LLR
RBR
LRL
T BB
RRL
LTT
LTLT
LT LT
BTTR
T RBL
LTTB
BLTR
TT
LR
TL
LB
BL
TR
BBR BB
BBBBB
BBRBB
BBBBR
BRRRR
BBBBB
BBBB T
BBBB B
BBBL B
BBBBB
BLRRB
LLBLB
BBLTT
T LRT B
TBTBB
BBBRB
BBBBT
BRRR L
LRTRB
T T LBL
BBLLR
R L BBR
RT RBB
R L BBR
LT RBB
LTBLB
RBTLR
BBTRB
BTTTR
LBLRR
RTR
LBB
BRL
BLL
BRB
LBR
BBBRR
BBB L B
BBRBB
BBBB L
RRL LB
RBBBB
BRT RR
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBLT L
BLLBL
BBBBB
RTBBB
RBBBT
BBBBL
BBBRR
BBBBL
BRLLB
B BBBB
R BRBB
B BBRR
B BBBB
BBBTL
BLLBL
BRT BB
BBBRB
RRT TB
BBBRR
BBBBB
BLL
LRL
BTR
LLT
RRR
TTL
TR
TT
LT
LB
TT
RB
BACKGROUND - SECOND SETTING

LTTRL
T T LBL
LTTRL
L RRT T
RT RBB
T LBLR
RLLLT
BTTTT
TLTTT
T TBTB
T BLRB
B BRTT
T
T
L
T
T
T
TLLLR
RLRBR
LRLT L
BBTBB
BRRRL
RBLT T
BBBBB
L T BBT
RRRTL
BBTLB
L RRBB
T LLBB
R
L
T
R
B
R
B L BRR
BLT LR
L RBBT
T T LRL
BT TLB
L RBBT
LTLT
T RRR
RLBT
RRBL
LLLL
LLLR
RT
TT
TT
RT
LL
TT
TT
TT
TT
RR
RT
TT
T RBB R
TLLBT
BTLRT
LLRT L
LBBBL
T LBT R
BB
BB
BB
TT
LL
LT
RBB
BRB
BRB
TTT
LLT
TTT
RRB
TLT
LLT
RLL
TRT
LTL
LL
RR
TB
RR
LL
RT
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBB B
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBB B
BBBB B
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBR
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBB
B BBBB
B BBBB
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBB
TTTTT
TTTTT
BBB
BBB
RLL
TLT
LTT
TLT
TTRL L
LBT L B
TBBRB
LRLBB
LBBRT
TBRT B
BLBBB
BBBT B
RRLBB
LRRLT
RBBBL
LBLLL
TLTLL
RBLBR
RBLBR
T BBBB
RTTLR
T LBLB
BRLTT
RLTLB
RLTBB
LLLLL
BBLBB
BLBRT
LT
BB
LR
TR
BL
RT
BACKGROUND - THIRD SETTING (only 2)

LLLLL
LBLL L
LTLLL
BTT LB
LRBB T
LRBBT
BBTTB
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBB
B BBBB
BBBBB
B
B
B
B
B
B
BBBB
BBBB
BBTB
BRRB
BRRB
BRRB
LRLLL
LRRLL
BB BBB
T T L BB
R L RBR
R L RBR
BB
BB
BB
BB
BB
BB
BBB
BBB
BBB
BBB
BBB
BBB
BBBBR
BBBBB
BBBL B
BBBBB
BBRBB
BBBBB
BBBR B
RRRR B
BBBB B
BBBB B
BBRB B
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBR
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBB
BBBBB
B BBBB
BBBBB
B BBBB
BBBBB
B BBBB
BBBBB
BBLTT
T LRT B
T BTBB
BBBRB
BBBBT
BLBBB
BBBT B
RR BB
RRRL T
RRBB L
LBLL L
T TRLB
LBTLB
T BBRB
BRLBB
BBBRT
BBRT B
TLTTR
L TTBL
T LTRT
BBBLT
BBBBB
RLLLR
T BBBB
RT TLR
T LBLB
TLTTT
RB L BR
R B L BR
LL
BB
BL
BR
RL
RL
LLL
L BB
BRB
LTT
TLB
TBB
TRT RR
TLLRT
TTTTT
BBBBB
BBBRB
BBBR B
RRBL L
TLTRR
LLTTB
RLLRR
TBT LB
LTLRT
TTLRL
BTTLB
LRBBT
BLBRR
BLTLR
L RBBT
RRRBL
BLLLL
RLLLL
RLTLT
L T RRR
T R LBT
BBBBB
L T BBT
RRRLL
L BTBB
BRRRL
RBLTT
mmmmmm
commmcoco
cococomcom
mcommcoco
comcocococo
mmmmmm
cocococococo
mcommcoco
cocococomm
mmmmmm
cocococococo
cocococococo
cocococococo
cocococococo
commcococo
cocomcococo
commcomco
comcocococo
mmmmmm
cocococococo
commmmm
cocommmm
mmcommm
mmcommm
It can be seen that the background compositions of certain

positions in one setting are the same as found at other positions
in another setting. Where this is so, it is necessary to also give
very close attention to the frame-lines in order to determine
setting. Altogether there are five different background
arrangements that occur in more than one setting:
BLBRR
(.!)
cocococococo
cocococococo
mmmmmm
mmmmmm
mmmmmm
mmmcocom
mcommmco
mcommmm
mmmcomm
mmmmmm
mmmcocom
mmcomcom
cocococococo
cocococococo
mmmmmm
mmmmmm
commmmm
mmmmcom
mmcocomm
cococommm
mmmmmm
cammmcam
mcacammm
mmmmmm
cocococococo
cocococococo
mcommcam
mcocommm
cocococomco
mmmmcom
cocommcom
mcammmca
mmmmmm
mcacocomco
mmmmmco
mcocococom
mmmcocom
cocomcococo
mcommmm
mmcococom
commmmm
commmcoco
cocommmco
mmmmmco
cocomcocom
cocommmm
mcommmm
mmcocomm
mmmmmm
commmmm
mmcommm
comcococom
mmmmmm
comcommm
mmmmmm
cocococomm
mcommmm
mmmmmm
camcocomm
commmcom
mmmmmca
mmmmmm
mmmcomm
mmmmmm
mmmmmm
commmmm
mcommmco
comcocococo
mcocomcoco
mmmmmm
cocomcamm
coco...Jcocom
mmmmcom
cocomcomco
mmmcomm
mmmmcoco
B L T L R
L R B B T
TTLRL
B TTL B
L R B B T
en
:I:
1-
a:
::>
0
LL
c
z
::J
0
a:
(.!)
~
(.)
<(
a:l
This arrangement occurs in Setting I at

Position 1 and in Setting II at Position 14.
On the 1, these can be differentiated in
that Setting I Position 1 shows a nick
on the outside of the left frame-line
about 1I 4 down from the top. Setting
II, Position 14 shows a break at the
middle of the top frameline. On the
2, Setting II, Position 14 also shows
this break at the middle of the top
frame-line .
For the 5 and 20 the two set-tings are
in different colors.
On the 10 and 50 values, Setting I,
Position 1 shows the same nick on the
outside of the left frame-line as seen
on the 1 (and which 1s absent at
Position 14 of Setting II).
RLTLT
LTRRR
TRLBT
RRRBL
B L L L L
RLLLR
Occurs in Setting I at Position 2 and in

Setting II at Position 13. Setting I,
Position 2 shows no breaks or nicks in
the frame-lines (all values).
TLLLR
RLRBR
L R L R L
B BT B B
BRRRL
Setting II, Position 13: the 5 shows a

nick at the outside of the top frameline 2.5mm from the left end. The 2
and 50 show a nick in the outside of
the right frame-line 7 mm up from
the bottom. The 1, 10 and 20
show both of these nicks. Occurs in
Setting I at Position 4 and in Setting
27
II at Position 11.
the 1 Setting I, Position 4
frame -lines touch at top left and are
slightly apart at top right. The reverse
is the case on Setting II, Position 11.
On the 2 Setting I, Position 4 shows a
break at the middle of the top
frame-line; absent on Setting II,
Position 11.
On the 10 Setting I, Position 4
frame -lines touch at top left, but are
well apart on Setting II, Position 11.
The 50 is more difficult to differentiate.
On Setting I, Position 4 the corners of
the frame-lines at bottom left touch
whereas on Setting II, Position 11
they are slightly apart, vertically.
On
Co111position found in b oth Settings II and III
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
R
B
B B B
BBB
This composition occurs at Position 8 in both Setting II and Setting III. The
2 is the only value known from Setting III so only that value requires
discussion.
The Setting II stamp shows a horizontal separation of frame-lines of nearly 1
mm at top left. The right frame-line has a very tiny break 9.5 mm up from
the bottom.
On the Setting III stamp the separation at top left is not as great and the right
frame-line is unbroken.
Co111position found in Settings II, III , and IV
BBB BB
BBBBB
B B B B B
B B B B B
B B B B B
B BB BB
28
This arrangement of background types occurs in Setting II at Positions 6, 7 and

9. In Setting III at Positions 5 and 9 and in Setting IV at all positions
except 13. Obviously this presents difficulties. However, since the Setting
III stamps (2) are the only ones that are relatively rare and commercially
significant, we will focus on the problem of how to recognize these stamps.
The 2 Setting III, Position 5 shows a shallow depression at the middle of the
outside of the bottom frame-line. Only Positions 5 and 15 of Setting IV
show this. The Setting IV stamps (both positions) show a tiny break at the
middle of the right frame-line . This break is much more obvious on Setting
III, Position 5.
The 2 Setting III, Position 9 shows obvious separation of frame-lines
horizontally at top right and vertically at bottom left. There are no breaks
or nicks in the frame -lines themselves.
For cataloging purposes, all other 1, 2 and 5 stamps with this background
composition should be considered Setting IV (unless, in the case of the 1,
the colors are strong).
Paper:
All values are found on wove paper with a more or less pronounced mesh
(visible when held to the light). 1 and 2 values from Setting IV are also
found on wove paper showing no mesh. There is no difference in value. Issued
without gum.
Separation: Issued imperforate. Some values exist privately perforated.

Quantities: Setting I only:
Sonora
No.
27
28
28a
29
29a
30
31
32
33
1
2
5
10
20
50
20,000
20,000
40,000
12,000
12,000
8,000
Frame-lines and Text in Black

Setting I
Description
*
0
Scott
No.
1
(394)
2
(395)
2
(395)
(396a)
5
5
(396)
10
(397a)
(399) 20
(398) 20
(400) 50
Sonora
No.
Scott
No.
28a
29a
(394)
(395)
1
2
30
(396a)
Blue & Red (shades)

3.00
Green & Orange (shades)
2.50
Light green & Orange (shades)
Orange & Dark green
1. 75
Yellow orange & Green (shades)
30.00
Blue & Red (shades)
15.00
Orange & Dark blue
Yell ow orange & Green
Light bluish green & Orange
(shades)
10.00
Description
Pale gray, Blue & Red

Light green & Orange
(shades)
Orange & Dark green
2.00
2.00
Setting II
.40
.30
.40
.30
.30
3.50
.25
1.50
1.50
1.25
1.50
1.50
.50
7.50
15.00
10.00
Setting III
Setting IV
.25
.35
.25
.20
.30
.20
20.00
No. 29a Setting Ill (2 c) was issued during late January - earry March 1915 and is known used from Guaymas and Sanlil Ana onry.
29
Sheets and Multiples
The 10 Setting I sheet;

R
1 Setting I:
$125.00
2 Setting I:
$250.00
+ 10% over 40 singles.
others:
2 Setting III has not been seen in a sheet.
Tete-heche pairs:
+ 50% premium.
Errors
Sonora
No.
28
28v
29v
30
Scott
No.
(394)
(394)
(395a)
(396b)
Description
1
1
2
5.
Double seal
Seal omitted (Setting IV)
Seal omitted (Setting IV)
Seal omitted (Setting II)
R
30.00
100.00
250.00R
Faint double ('kissed') impressioru of the black printing are found on the 2 and 5 values.
The 20 Setting I (no. 31) is found appearing to have the background printed on both sides. This is on!Y a strong offtet.
Usage
5 letter rate (various frankings) Oct. 14- Feb. 15:
10 letter rate (various frankings) Feb. 15 - Oct. 15:
l unsealed letter or circular:
2 local delivery:
Registered (various frankings) 15 or 30:
from
from
from
from
from
$ 5.00
$ 7.00
$15.00
$15.00
$25.00
Numerous philatelic covers were produced, the more obvious ones being worth a premium of 25 - 50% over the value
of the used stamps. The most frequently encountered addresses on these are J. Vergobbi, The Encinas Hermanos,
Gerardo Sisniega ("Libreria Renacimiento") and Luis Cambustion. While these persons did receive ordinary as well as
philatelic mail, their names should inspire a close look.
Manufactured Covers
In August, 1914, the Constitutionalist Postmaster of Nogales, Francisco Orrantia y Rocha fled across the border taking
with him cancelling devices with which he began manufacturing covers. These covers did not pass through the mail (they
are frequently un-addressed), and are not worth more than the value of the used stamps.
30
THE "E S" OVERPRINT

The "E S" stands for ,Estado [de] .S.onora.
This overprint is found on definitive issues of 1899, 1903, 1910, the 1908 Postage Dues, the
"Ejercito," "Transitorio" and "Denver" issues. Some readers may not be familiar with these issues.
The issue of 1899 and similar issue of 1903 are listed in Scott as nos. 294-309. The 1910 or
"Centenario" issue is Scott nos. 310-320. The 1908 Postage Due or "Complementario" issue is Scott
nos. J1-5. The "Ejercito" issue, Scott nos. 347-353 is treated in this work on pages 42-46. The
"Transitorio" issue, rouletted Scott nos. 354-361 and the perforated reissue, no. 369, are treated on
pages 47-49 and 53. The "Denver" issue, Scott nos. 386-393, will be found on pages 59-60. Because
nearly all overprints of the Revolution occur on these stamps, it is important to be able to readily
recognize them.
on 1899 issue
on 1910 issue
on 1908 "Dues"
on "Ejercito" issue
on "Transitorio" issue
on "Denver" issue
Date:
Authorized November 10, 1914. Earliest known usage: November 13,

1914.
Printing:
Hand-stamped on existing stocks of stamps
At the same time the overprint was authorized, all stamps without overprints, other than the Coach
Seal issues, were declared invalid. This eliminated the possibility that stamps obtained from sources
other than the Maytorena government could be used. The overprint's primary importance was that
it enabled the government to issue, with control, its stocks of the U . P. U. -recognized definitives of
1899-1910 which were needed because the Coach Seal issues were not recognized abroad.
31
Overprinted in Purple
On Issue of 1899
Sonora
Scott
No.
No.
Descript ion
35
36
37
38
(296)
299
300
302
3
15
20
39
40
41
42
43
44
304
305
306
307
308
309
1
2
4
5
10
50
lp
Brown
Lavender gray and Claret
Rose and Blue
Blue and Black
On Issue of 1903
Violet
Green
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Carmine and Black
4.00
8.50
R
4.00
8.50
R
12.00
1.50
12.00
7.50
20.00
15.00R
1.75
15.00R
10.00
R
On Issue of 1910
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
50
lp
5p
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
O range
Blue & Orange
Gray blue and Claret
Red and Blue
Red brown and Black
Blue and Black
Carmine and Black
2.50
5.00
6.00
12 .00
1.00
10.00
10.00
12.00
15.00
20.00
2.50
5.00
6.00
12.00
1.00
10.00
10.00
12.00
12.00
20.00
- These varieties reported hut not confirmed.
On Postage Due Issue of 1908

56
57
58
59
60
32
Jl
J2
J3
J4
]5
1
2
4
5
10
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
On the Ejercito Issue

Sonora
No.
61
62
Scott
No.
(347)
349
Without Talon
Description
Bright Yell ow green

Brown
5.00
7.50
With Talon
15.00
7.00
A stamp with Talcn, or coupon, attached is shown in the illustration on page 42.
On the Transitorio Issue

Sonora
No.
Scott
No.
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
354
355
356
35 7
358
359
360
36 1
Description
1
2
4
5
10
20
50
1p
Deep Blue
Yell ow green
Blue violet
Gray green
R ed
Yell ow brown
Claret
Bright violet
5.00
2.50
7.50
3.50
5.00
7.00
7.00
7.00
6.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
On Transitorio Re-issue (perforated)

71
71I
369
369u
5
5
Dark green
Imperforate pair
1.50
3.00
1.50
3.00
There was philatelic involvement with 63-71. Many used 63-70 and all used 71 and 71l examined are cancelled Nogales 5 Sept 1915
10:55 AM.
Numher 70 exists imperforate (many with this same cancellation). This variery is entirely speculative.
On Denver Issue
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
1
2
3
5
10
15
50
1p
Pale blue
Light green
Orange
Deep rose
R ose
Rose lilac
Yellow
Violet
3.50
3.50
3.50
3.50
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
3.50
3.50
3.50
3.50
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
Most used copies were cancelled by Javor at Nogales in September, 1915.
33
Errors
Inverted, sideways, and double overprints exist but are worth only a modest premium.
Usages
5
2
2
2
(no.
(no .
(no.
(no.
48) letter rate:

39) + 3 (no. 34):
45) + 3 (no. 46):
39) local delivery or after Feb. 1915:
from
from
from
from
$15.00
$30.00
$40.00
$25 .00
Examples of the 5 Denver issue have been seen on cover with the E S overprint in blue, apparently applied cift.er the stamps were riffo:ed,
perhaps as a validating hand-stamp. Status uncertain.
Forgeries
Forgeries were made from several different hand-stamps. Most are common but none are particularly dangerous. Genuine
overprints are easily recognized when one studies the following features:
1. The bottoms of the ovals are somewhat pointed.

2. The space created by the overlapping of the two ovals is much larger than one finds on any
of the forgeries. (1.1 mm x 4 mm).
3. The shape of the E-stern is like a lens seen in section.
4. & 5. These spaces are usually more constricted in the forgeries .
6. The space between the tip of the E and its top is 1 mm.
7. The space between the tip of the S and its top is 1.3 mm.
34
COACH SEAL ISSUE FOR BAJA CALIFORNIA

Placement of these issues in the Sonora section is based on the fact that the faction using these stamps
was sponsored by the government of the State of Sonora led by Jose M. Maytorena. They were
produced with the same equipment used for printing the Sonora Coach Seal issues.
Date:
March (?) 1915.
Printing:
Typographed at Hermosillo, Sonora.
Plate information:
The sheets of 40 were produced in the same

manner and sequence of operations as the
Sonora Coach Seal issues. The background was
printed first in two operations per sheet; next
came the typeset inscriptions in four operations
per sheet. Finally, the Coach Seal control was
applied, in four operations per sheet. There is
only one setting of the background elements and
this is identical to Setting IV of the Sonora
Coach Seal issue.
There are various minor irregularities in, and
adjustments made to, the setting for the black
printing. The most prominent of these is a larger
font "A" in "LA" in the fifth stamp of each row,
all values.
Paper:
Wove with mesh (seen when held to the light).
Separation:
Imperforate. The 5 is known with crude perforations, probably

private.
1- 5
200,000 each
10
50,000
Note: The quantities in philatelic hands seem to be fairly equal despite these figures.
Quantity Printed:
Framelines and Text in Black
Sonora
No.
Scott
No.
80
81
82
83
(401 )
(402)
(403)
(404)
Description
1
2
5
10
Yellow & Blue

Gray & Olive green
Olive & Rose
Pink & Dull violet
*
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
Sheet
35.00
30.00
20.00
20.00
50.00
50.00
50.00
50.00
Used prices apply to stamps with cancellations that are clearly genuine.
35
Varieties
Sonora
No.
80v
82DD
82v l
82vDD
82v2
83v
Scott
No.
(40la)
(403a)
(404a)
Description
1
5
5
5
5
10
Missing seal
Background double
Missing seal
Missing seal, background double
Privately perforated
Missing seal
50.00
20.00
50.00
75.00
50.00
50.00
On 82DD and 82uDD tht doubling of tht background isJairf:y obvious but mqy nroerthtless be a "kissed" impression rathtr than a true double
impression.
Usage
Most covers are the 10 letter rate, 5 + 5 or 10, from $125 .00. All other frankings are R or RR. No philatelic covers
have been recorded.
Forgeries
Fake cancels exist. The most frequently seen genuine cancel is the STA ROSALIA cd s. The line below the date is broken
at the right end near th e "A" of CALIFORNIA
36
ANVIL SEAL ISSUE

Date:
? O ctober, 1915
Printing:
Typeset and typographed from one setting of the

background elements. Sheets of 40. First the background
was printed in a single operation. The black printing was
pri nted in two operations from a setting of 20. Seals were
also applied in two operations.
Paper:
W ove
Separation: Imperforate
Frame-lines and text in black

Sonora
No.
Scott
No.
84
85
86
87
88
(405)
(406)
(407)
(408)
(409)
Description
1
2
5
10
20
Blue & Red

Green & Orange
Yell ow & Green
Blue & Red
Yellow & Green
5.00
.50
.50
.50
25 .00
0
2.00
.50
.50
.50
10.00
Most used stamps are cancelled to order.
Sheets: I RR, others I 0% premium over 40 singles.

Errors
Sonora
No.
Scott
No.
84v
86v
88vl
88DD
88v2
(405a)
(407a)
(409a)
(409b)
Description
1
5
20
20
20
Without seal
Without seal
Without seal
Double seal
Seal printed diagonally
50.00
50.00
50.00
80.00
20.00
Usage
These stamps were prepared during the last days of the Conventionist government in Sonora and there is considerable
question as to which values were actually issued. The Postmaster General of Sonora until November 11, 1915, Manuel
Lacarra M., wrote in a letter to George A. Linn that only the 5 and 10 were regularly issued, but in later statements
he contradicted this saying that all were issued. Linn stated they were only used from Nogales.
37
5 + 5 or 10 from Nogales (non-philatelic): from $200.00R

Covers with these and other values exist from Hermosillo. Most if not all are philatelic. They are scarce. When franking
makes the 20 letter rate or the cover is registered these are worth from $50.00.
Manufactured Covers
Envelopes, usually green, bearing either a complete set or a variety of Anvil Seal issues and Coach Seal issues were made
up by J. Vergobbi. These are frequently un-addressed. They are worth no more than the price of the used stamps.
38
ANVIL SEAL ISSUE WITH "PLATA"
Date: Prepared late October, 1915
The 1, 10 and 20 of the previous issue, overprinted with the word "PlATA" (silver) plus a 50
with "PlATA" as part of the typeset text.
Frame-lines and text in black
Sonora
No.
Scott
No.
89
90
91
92
93
(410)
(411)
(4 12)
(4 13)
(413a)
Description
1
10
20
50
50
Blue & Red

Blue & Red
Yell ow & Green
Gray green & Orange
Without seal
1.00
1.00
2.50
2.50
1.00
5.00
3.00
Sheets are worth a 10% premium

Numbers 83 and 84 occur in the same sheet, the top fwo rows having the seal. Sheets in which all
seal are more common. No 50 sheets are known in which all if the stamps have seals.
Most,
if not all,
used 50 were cancelled
if the stamps
are no. 84 - without the
qy Javor.
Sonora
No.
Scott
No.
891
89 + 84
88 + 91
9IDD
92 + 93
(410a)
(410b)
(412a)
(413+a)
Description
1
1
20
20
50
PLATA inverted
Vertical pair w I and w I o PLATA
Vertical pair w I and w I o PLATA
Double PLATA overprint
Vertical pair w I and w I o seal
50.00
12.50
lOO.OOR
50.00
4.00
39
Plate Variety
Sonora
Scott
No.
No.
93v
(413b)
Description
50
WI o seal, "LATA'' (missing P)
75 .00
Usage
Numbers 80-82 were never placed in use. Claims that Nos. 83 and 84 were issued are supported by scarce philatelic
covers, Hermosillo 30 October 1915. It is not known how the stamps for these were obtained.
40

1913- 1914
Septemher I9I4 registered cover from Matehuala, S.L Potosi state, franked
with the 5 "Derwer" postal issue and I 0 "Denver" revenue. Except for a
small numher ofphilatelic usages from Matamoros in I9I5, the I 0 revenue
is on!J known on a Jew covers (Cover ex Sales, Follansbee, current!J in the
William Ron Mitchell collection).
41
EJERCITO ISSUE
Date:
Authorized for Postal use in Sonora November 7, 1913.

A few covers have been found from places outside of
Sonora sent prior to this date - earliest recorded use
October 23, 1913.
Printing:
Lithographed by the Maverick-Clarke Printing Co. , San

Antonio, T exas.
Plate Information: Sheets of 100 (10 x 10), with transfer blocks of 10 (2 x 5)

used to make up the stone. The 50 centavos was the first
value produced; the other values were created by
modifying the ten positions in the transfer block. It is not
known if more than on e stone was used for any one valu e.
Paper:
Soft, white, pregummed. Unwatermarked. Stamps from

early printings (all , or nearly all, stamps issued for postal
purposes are early printings) are on paper whi ch shows a
distinct horizontal mesh ("porous wove"). Later printings
show little or no mesh when held to light or placed in
watermark fluid.
Separation:
Rouletted 7, 14 or 9 1/ 2 in various combina tions, some of

whi ch can be found together in the same sheet. All
margin copies have straight edges. O ccasionally these
margins were not trimmed. The roulette varieties,
recorded by Joe D. Stuart, are as follows:
1. 14 x 7, 14 between stamps and talon.
2. 14 x 14, 9 1/2 between stamp and talon .

3. 14 x 9 1/2 (ri gh t) x 14 x 14 Qeft), 9 112 between stamp and
talon (scarce).
4. 14 x 9 1/2, 9 112 between stamp and talon .
5. 14 x 14, 14 between stamp and talon (with straight
edge at bottom) (scarce).
6. 14 x 9 112 (right) x 14 Qeft) with straight edge at bottom,
14 between stamp and talon (rare).
7. 14 x 9 1/2 , with straight edge at bottom, 14 between
stamp and talon (rare).
8. 7 x 7, 7 between stamp and talon. (seen only on 5
pesos revenue stamps, so far).
42
The first variety mentioned comes from sheets in which all of the stamps are rouletted the same
way. Preliminary studies by Joe Stuart, supported by further observations by Nicholas Follansbee,
have found that all of the examples examined that have genuinely applied postal cancellations
have this roulette configuration.
Varieties 2 through 7 occur in combinations originating from two different configurations of
rouletting harrows. Configuration II is shown below.
14
,---
14
14
14
14
14
t-
7
4
7
4
14
,
4
"l
14
"
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
43
Configuration III consists of all stamps being variety 4 (14 x 9 112, 9 1/2) except for the bottom row
which is variety 7 (14 x 9 112, 14).
Quantities: Director of Posts Hinojosa stated that only the 1 through 20
were issued for postage, and that the quantities issued in Sonora
were:
1
2
5
10
20
9,000
12,000
114,800
11 ,000
5,000
These figures are only partial because Ejercitos were used in other
northern states as well (though probably in a more limited extent).
T he "Ejercitos" were originally intended for revenue use only and were to be overprinted with the
name of the district office when so used. They were issued for postal purposes as well because the
delivery of the Transitorio issue was delayed. In most cases, the talon or coupon below the main
portion of the design was removed (from stamps without overprints) before they were sold at the post
office. However, genuine usages of stamps with talon, as well as stamps with district name overprint
are known. T here is some question whether the 50 and 1 peso values were regularly issued for
postage though they exist with postal cancellations. Stamps of 5 peso and above were used only as
revenues.
Prices for used stamps are for examples with postal cancellations.
Without Talon
No.
347
348
348a
349
350
351
352
353
1
2
5
10
20
50
1p
Description
Bright yellow green

Violet
Deep blue-violet
Brown
Claret
Gray green
Blue
Orange
1.50
3.00
2.00
4.00
.50
2.00
4.00
12.00
40.00
.50
2.50
5.00
15.00
50.00
A: With Talon
5.00
10.00
15.00
1.25
6.00
15.00
35.00
125.00
2.50
5.00
10.00
.75
3.00
7.50
20.00
60.00
Used stamps with talon are assumed to have Javor cancels and mqy be from the later printing (paper slwwing little or no mesh).
44
Imperforate (with Talon)

A: With Talon
Description
No.
347A-U
348A-U
348aA-U
349A-U
350A-U
351A-U
352A-U
353A-U
1
2
5
10
20
50
1p
Bright yellow green

Violet
Deep blue-violet
Brown
Claret
Gray green
Blue
Orange
50.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
10.00
20.00
40.00

Without Talon
347Ub
Description
No.
1
A: With Talon
RR
Imperforate between stamp and talon
With District Overprint

347V
348V
349V
350v
35lv
1
2
5
10
20
Bright yellow-green
Violet
Brown
Claret
Gray green
4.00
5.00
2.50
5.00
8.00
2.50
10.00
12.00
7he overprints seen are Nogales, Hermosillo and C. Juarez. 7he mqjority are Javor cancelled Only the 5 lws been seen on non-philatelic
covers. (Nogales overprint). Unused examples exist but are not priced - t~ are considered to be revenue stamps.
Plate Varieties
Without Talon
Description
No.
347PV1
349pvl
349pv2
35lpvl
20
351pv2
20
352pvl
50
Top frameline missing at

upper left (Pos. I)
Plate flaw: upper left frame
defective and redrawn (Pos. 6)
Plate scratch
(Pos. 81, 82, and 92)
Plate flaw: break in top border
(Pos. 1)
Plate flaw: spot of color
near eagle's head (Pos. ?)
Plate flaw: damaged frame
on upper left side (Pos. ?)
A: With Talon
5.00
5.00
10.00
6.00
5.00
7.00
10.00
8.00
1.00
.75
3.00
2.00
45
Usage
Stamps without talon:
5 Qetter rate):
from
1 x 5 or 1 + 2 + 2: from
1 (circular rate):
from
from
2 Qocal delivery):
10 (double weight):
from
$5.00
10.00
12.00
20.00
30.00
5.00
philatelic
from
non-philatelic
50.00 R
5 with district name:
most are philatelic
non-philatelic
R
Mixed issue frankings
with Green Seal issues: most are philatelic: from I 0.00
non-philatelic R
5 with talon:
The Ejercito issue (as well as the subsequent "Transitorio" and "Denver" stamps), were not recognized as valid abroad.
Covers to the U . S. often bear an additional 2 U . S. stamp. Price: from $10.00
Forgeries
Stamps have been seen overprinted with a circular green seal similar to that used on Sonora No. 9 through 27. The seals
are fake. lmperforates have been fraudulently rouletted.
Manufactured Covers
Two groups have been seen:
1. Hermosillo duplex-type canceller dated 14 DIC 13 6pm tying 5 stamps (without talon) to envelopes which are
often unaddressed.
2. Ciudadjuarez duplex dated 19 SEP 16 (!) 5 AM, which 5 with talon and overprinted with the Ciudadjuarez
district name .
46
TRANSITORIO ISSUE
Date:
January8, 1914
Printing:
Lithographed in sheets of 100 by Maverick - Clarke Printing

Co., San Antonio, Texas.
Plate information: The design was laid down in blocks of ten (2 x 5) transferred
ten times to complete the stone. The first stone of the 1 centavo
is an exception; the ten types being laid down singly and in
random order. The original drawing was of the 1 centavo. The
other values were created by erasing the denomination tablet in
the transfer block and inserting the new value. Two stones were
used for both the 1 and 5; the other values appear to have
been produced from single stones. Stamps within the transfer
block are spaced 3 mm apart on the stone.
Paper:
Soft, white, pregummed. Unwatermarked.
Separation:
Rouletted 9 1/2 horizontally by 14 vertically, except for one

vertical row of 9 1/2 which occurs between different rows on
different sheets, as the vertical roulette rules were reset at least
five times. No premium has yet been established for stamps
rouletted 9 112 on a side. Sheet margins are imperforate.
Occasionally the margins were not trimmed, such that stamps
can have an extra wide imperforate margin (over 3 mm). These
are worth a 50% premium; $2.00 minimum.
Quantities:
Mr. Hinojosa has stated that the following quantities were

issued, but it is unclear whether these represent only those
distributed in the state of Sonora or are totals for all states:
1
2
4
5
Description
No.
354
355
355a
356
327,500
336,000
222,100
553,000
1
2
2
4
Deep blue
Yellow green
Deep yellow-green
Bluish violet
10
20
50
1p
*
.35
.50
2.50
12.00
333,500
228,698
125,900
127,100
0
.30
.30
2.00
2.50
47
No.
357
358
359
359a
360
360a
361
5
10
20
20
50
50
1p
Description
Gray green
Red
Yell ow brown
Brown
Claret
Deep claret
Bright violet
10.00
.30
.50
2.50
2.50
7.50
15.00
1.00
.30
.50
2.50
2.50
7.50
12.50
l111perforate
All values exist imperforate: Price $ 5.00 - $ 10.00 each. The 50 in the deep claret shade is the only one known to have
been sold regularly.
Errors
356Ubv
357Ubv
359Ubv
359V
360Ubv
361Ubv
4
5
20
20
50
lp
Pair, imperf between vertically

Double horizontal roulette
200.00t
50.00
200.00t
R
200.00t
200.00t
Plate Varieties
354pvl
357pvl
358pvl
10
Large white spot below and connected

to eagle's wing at right
Plate scratch (Pos. 24, 35, 45, 55,
65, 75, 85 or 95)
Rectangular blot of color u. 1.
10.00
10.00
20.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
Usage
5, 1 x 5, 1 + 2 + 2, 1 + 4 (5 letter rate):
Same, to U. S. with either 5 1910 issue or 2 U. S. issue:
2 + 4, 4 x 2 or 10 single Guly 10 - 16) overpaying
5 letter rate due to shortages of 1 and 5 values:
10 bisect Guly 16- 29 from towns in Sonora):
1 single (circular rate):
2 single Oocal delivery):
from
from
3.00
4.00
from
from
from
from
15.00
25.00
15 .00
15 .00
When these stamps were issued the 1913 Sonora issues and Ejercito issues became invalid. Covers exist with Ejercito
issues cancelled "Nulo" or otherwise marked as invalid, with postage paid by Transitorios being added. These are R.
Philatelic Covers
Philatelic covers exist with Transitorios used together with Sonora or Ejercito issues to make the postage. A quantity of
philatelically inspired covers with the 10 bisect were posted during the period of regular use, July 16-29, 1914. Since
48
these are perfectly representative usages and often practically indistinguishable from ordinary mail, the author is of the
opinion that these are perfectly collectible and worth only slightly less than covers that seem to be free of philatelic
influence (for example, Chinese business correspondence). Some of the larger philatelic mailing are described:
18July 1914 1:20PM various addresses;
18July 1914 10:55 PM to Francisco Bolot;
19 July 1914 4:25 PM from AR Encinas; there is a chance this was a large business mailing but it is
known that Encinas was involved in philatelic mailings on other occasions.
22 July 14 10 AM from AR Encinas
OPA842
Hermosillo 23 July 1914 4:25 PM from Encinas (with or without return addresses); vanous addresses (a Sr.
Demetrio Sanchez received several).
Nogales
Hermosillo
Hermosillo
Forgeries
10 bisect dates prior to 16 July 1914 are fakes made by using back-dated cancelling devices. Bisects of the 2 and 20
are also fakes. Most were made by Francisco 0 . y Rocha using the Nogales cds of OPA 205 duplex. The surcharge "05"
on half of a 10 issue is the invention of Dr. Francis Nicholas of Carbo, Sonora.
Another common bisect forgery on covers usually bearing a handstamped address "P. SANDOVAL & C . I NOGALES,
SON," was made using a fake Hermosillo circular cancel with dateline omitted.
The imperf between pairs have been faked by adding roulettes to imperforate material. Vertical pairs, imperforate
between are imperforates with forged roulettes.
49
"Victoria de Torreon" OVERPRINT ISSUE

Transitorio issue overprinted in black.
Date:
April3, 1914
Printing:
Overprinted by Ellis Brothers Printing Co., El Paso, Texas
Plate Information: Type was set for a horizontal row of 10 and the plate was
made by duplicating the setting by electrotyping. Thus, the
peculiarities of each of the original 10 "types" were reproduced
in each vertical column. Stamps from the eighth vertical
column show an apostrophe after "de." Due to faulty
electrotyping, positions 70, 80, 90 and 100 show a flaw best
described as a "bracket" before the "V" of "Victoria." An error
"1912" for "1914" exists. The 1 centavo and a 10 centavos
values have been seen. Both plate to sheet position 4. Except
for the error in the date, these show all the characteristics of
stamps from the fourth vertical column down to details visible
only under magnification. How this variety came to exist has
not been satisfactorily explained, but it may be from trial
impressions taken from the original typeset row of ten, made
before the electrotyping was done and immediately corrected.
Quantities:
1
2
4
5
300
300
300
1000
10
20
50
300
50
50
This series was issued at CiudadJuarez during a meeting of revolutionary leaders and in celebration
of General Francisco Villa's victory in the Battle of Torreon. They were sold at the C. Juarez post
office at face value but practically all were bought by collectors. There is no evidence that they were
produced for philatelists.
No.
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
50
1
2
4
5
10
20
50
Description
Deep blue
Yell ow green
Blue violet
Gray green
Red
Yell ow brown
Claret
175.00
175.00
175.00
15.00
150.00
1500.00
1500.00
125.00
150.00
250.00R
15.00
125.00
1500.00
1750.00R
Errors
Description
No.
365Ubv

10 qf these varieties were produced
350.00R
Plate Varieties
362pvl
362pv2
365pv1
366pv1
1
5
10
Basic stamps with white spot

off eagle's wing at right
" 1912" for 1914 in ovpt
Plate scratch
"1912" for 1914
RR
RR
25.00
RR
362pv2 and 366pvl: see note under <<plate information."

Usage
All known covers are philatelic but conform to effective rates and were carried. All are cancelled Ciudad Juarez.
Description
5
1 X 5
1 + 2 + 2
1 + 2 + 2 + 5 (+5$ 1910)
1 + 4 (+ 5 191 0)
2 + 4 + 4 (Transitorio)
10 + 10 1910 issue
5 + 10 (registered)
$50.00
RR
RR
RR
RR
RR
RR
200.00R
No other frankings have been recorded.
Forgeries
Many forgeries exist, some of which are fairly deceptive, while others are easily recognized. Some are signed Aguirre.
The better varieties should be certified.
Genuine overprints show the following characteristics:
The A of Abril is slightly raised.
TORREON is exactly 2 mm in height (one of the best forgeries is short by just 0. 1 mm).
The overprint is crisply printed with a very slight ridging of ink around the edges of each letter being clearly
visible under strong magnification.
The ink is shiny.
"Victoria de" has an even baseline whereas on one otherwise excellent forgery the letters are slightly
misaligned.
Genuinely cancelled stamps invariably have a Ciudad Juarez duplex-type cancel with an April date. The final test for
verifying the authenticity of a "Torreon" is to determine that it has the characteristics peculiar to stamps from one of
the ten vertical columns in the sheet. In some cases these characteristics can not be easily seen without the aid of a very
strong magnifier (the writer uses a 50 power microscope) and occasionally may be obscured by a cancellation or by excess
ink. These characteristics are as follows:
51
From
Vertical
Colurrm No.
1.
The first "1" of "1914" is slightly left of the center of the "0" of "TORREON" above. These stamps always
have a straight edge at the left.
2. The first "i" of "Victoria" is nicked at the middle of the left side. The first "I" of" 1914" is very slightly to the
right of the center of the "0" above.
3. The "T' of "TORREON" has a tiny nick at the bottom right. The first "1" of "1914" is left of the center of
the "0" above.
4. The second "R" of "TORREON" shows a very tiny nick on the right side of the first leg. The first "I" of
"1914" is very slightly right of the center of the "0" above.
5. The first "R" of "TORREON" shows a very tiny nick on the left side of the second leg. The first "I" of" 1914"
is right of the center of the "0" above .
6. The "I" in "ABRIL" has a nick at the bottom right. The first "I" of" 1914" is very clearly right of the center
of the "0" above.
7. The "V" of "Victoria" has the left stroke slightly shorter than the right so that the top has a slight slant. This
characteristic is difficult to discern and is not at all clear at positions 57 and 97. The first "1" of " 1914" is
slightly right of the center of the "0" above.
8. There is an apostrophe after "de" and the first "0" of "TORREON" shows a nick at the bottom right. The
first "1" of "1914" is directly under the center of the "0."
9. No special characteristics. The first "1" of "1914" is slightly right of the center of the "0" above. These are
often indistinguishable from stamps from the 7th vertical column.
I 0. The first "1" of "1914" is right of the center of the "0" above. These always have a straight edge at right.
52
5 TRANSITORIO REDRAWN AND PERFORATED

Date:
July 1 (?), 1914 toJuly 31, 1914.
Printing:
Lithographed by W. M. Linn Printing Company, Columbus, Ohio, in

sheets of 100 (10 x 10)
Separation: Perforated 12
Quantity:
Description
No.
369
75,000 issued in Mexico plus an unspecified quantity sold by the printer

(who was not paid for the delivery).
Dark green (shades)
.10
.50
Varieties
369U
369v
369UH
369UV
Imperforate
Double vertical perforation
Imperforate horizontally (pair)
Imperforate vertically (pair)
.50
2.00
2.50
2.50
Proofs
369DP-l (a- o)
369DP-2(a - o)
Die proofs on India (3 x 4 1/ 2 inches)

15 different colors 1
25.00 each
Die proofs on card (3 x 4 1/ inches)

15 different colors 1
25.00 each
Die proof card in light blue with additional text: "1bree hundred copies issued for distribution at the annual meeting
of the American Philatelic Society - Niagara Falls - 1914."
369DP-3
369DP-4
Overprinted with serial number

in black, in folder
Same, no overprint (no folder)
25.00
25.00
Usage
Single on cover
Together with 5 1910 UPU issue to U. S.
Higher frankings exist.
1-
from $10.00.
from $20.00.
Colors: black, blue-violet, light purple, reddish purple (light), deep ultramarine, pale ultramarine, brown, light red
brown, orange, light orange, orange-yellow, yellow, red, dull green, emerald.
53
THE LARGE "GCM" HAND-STAMPED OVERPRINT
Date:
Hermosillo type: May 27, 1914

Veracruz type:
December 16, 1914
Printing: Applied by hand-stamp to various issues. The Hermosillo type was reportedly
applied at Ciudad Juarez as well as Hermosillo. The Veracruz type was
applied at Veracruz while that port served as Carranza's capital.
The Two Types
Hermosillo
Veracruz
The Hermosillo type fits neatly inside a 20 mm circle. There Is space

between the initial loop of the G and its outer loop.
The Veracruz type is smaller, fitting within a 19 mm circle. There is little or
no space between the initial loop of the G and the outer loop. The ink used
gives a watery appearance and is always violet. (The example in the illustration
is unusually clear. )
Philatelic Influence
The Hermosillo type was struck in several colors. Violet was the regularly issued color except in the
case of the 1 where magenta is normal . The 5 in magenta is also frequently seen. The 1, 2 and
5 have been seen used on cover with an overprint in pale green. Other values in magenta and green
were almost certainly produced to satisfy collectors. Black overprinted stamps are also philatelic
products said to have been produced at CiudadJuarez.
54
On Issue of 1910
Hermosillo - Type
Violet
No.
370
371
372
373
374
375
1
2
3
4
5
10
Magenta
Description
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & orange
5.00
1.25
2.00
2.50
.60
2.50
5.00
1.25
1.50
2.00
.50
2.00
1.00
5.00
6.00
6.00
1.00
6.00
1.00
3.00 10.00
3.00 10.00
5.00
7.50
2.50 5.00
7.50
Violet
Description
No.
376
377
378
379
380
Green
Magenta
15 Gray blue &

Claret
5.00 2.50
20 Red & Blue
10.00 7.50
50 Red brown &
Black
12.50 10.00
1p Blue & Black 25.00 20.00
5p Carmine &
Black
200.00 150.00
This overprint has been seen on the 3
if 1899,
1.00
Green
7.50
10.00
5.00
12.00
15.00
35.00
25.00
40.00
225.00
225.00
Black
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
Black
used: R
Veracruz Type
Violet
Description
No.
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
50
1p
5p
Dull violet
25.00 5.00
Green
5.00
Orange brown
5.00
Carmine
35.00 15.00
10.00
.75
Orange
Blue & Orange
7.50
Gray blue & Claret
7.50
Red & Blue
15.00
Red brown & Black 17 .50
Blue & Black
30.00
Carmine & Black
250.00RR
55
On 1908 Postage Dues - Hermosillo Type

Violet
Description
No.
381
382
383
384
385
1
2
4
5
10
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Green
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
Booklets - 1910 Issue
Prices are for complete booklets
Hermosillo type
Violet Green
Contents
1 block of 4, 2 block of 8,
5 block of 8 x 2
350.00
500.00
Veracruz type
Violet
250.00
These listings include only varieties that we have examined and found to be genuine (either issued stamps or philatelic
varieties). Other catalogs have produced much more extensive listings which in some instances were no doubt based on
forgeries. It is possible that all values of the 1910 issue exist with the black overprint as has been suggested by George
Linn in his book, The War Stamps of Mexico, (pp. 77-79), Linn also states that the 1, 2 and 5 exist with maroon
overprint, that the 1908 postage dues exist with magenta, green and black overprint, and that the 1, 2, 10, 15 and
I peso can be found in pairs with violet and green overprints. If their existence can be confirmed, they will be listed in
subsequent editions. It is more doubtful that the 1899 (other than the 3) and 1903 issues or the Transitorio and Denver
issues exist with genuine Hermosillo GCM overprints.
Errors
Inverted, sideways and double overprints exist, as well as pairs in which one stamp is not overprinted. Such varieties
were, in most instances, made to order, and as curiosities are worth a modest premium.
Usage
5 single
Combinations making 5 rate -
Hermosillo type:
Veracruz type:
Hermosillo type:
Veracruz type:
from
from
from
from
$10.00
7.50
15.00
35.00
The following prices are for Hermosillo type (Veracruz types are more scarce):
1 (circular rate):
2 ~ocal delivery):
3 (official letter)
15 (registered)
56
from
from
from
from
20.00
25.00
75.00R
30.00
The Hermosillo type is found used with Transitorio issues and,

more rarely, the Denver issue . 5 letter rate:
from
$15.00.
Forgeries
Forgeries exist from over l 00 different hand-stamps. Some of these types are quite common and a few are dangerous
so it is advisable to have better varieties expertized. The genuine Hermosillo type overprint can be recognized from the
following characteristics:
l There is space between the initial loop of the "G" and the outer loop.
2. There is practically no space between the belly of the "G" and the lower loop.
3. The point is sharp and closer to the "C" than to the top loop of the "G. "
4. There is a slight space between the lower "G" loop the "M" loop.
5. There is a small nub on the underside of the "C" (encircled by the "M" leg).
6. The second of the two top points of the "M" is thinner and taller.
7. The end of the final loop of the "C" passes through the first and second strokes of the " M" and its terminus is
a nub on the right edge of the third stroke .
57
General CoJDJDents - Hennosillo Type GCM Hand-statnp

1bis hand-stamp could be distorted by pressure or uneven application, so that the thickness of lines and the width of
spaces can vary. I have seen examples where the space at point 4 is closed so that the loops touch . The right end loop
of "M" is especially subject to distortion. It is therefore useful to study a number of genuine examples, or perhaps a sheet
or large multiple, in order to get a feel for how much variation can b e tolerated. I have not seen a stamp which is known
to be genuine that is distorted to such a degree that it cannot pass the circle test.
A Small Satnpling of Forgeries
58
"DENVER" ISSUE
Date:
July 31, 1914
Printing:
Lithographed by Smith- Brooks Printing Company, Denver, Colorado

in sheets of 200 (20 x 10) cut into two sheets of 100.
Paper:
White, medium, pre-gummed. Without watermark.
Separation: Perforation 12.
No.
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
392a
393
1
2
3
5
10
15
50
50
lp
Description
Pale blue
Light green
Orange
Deep rose
Rose
Rose lilac
Yellow
Ochre
Violet
.35
.30
.50
.50
.75
1.50
2.00
2.00
7.50
.35
.30
.30
.25
.75
1.50
2.00
7.50
1mperforates
lmperforates were not issued. Prices for pairs:
386U
387U
388U
389U
390U
391U
392U
393U
5.00
20.00R
5.00
5.00
5.00
20.00R
50.00RR
30.00R
2
3
5
10
15
50
1p
Errors
386v1
386v2
388vl
390vl
392vl
1
I
3
10
50
Double
Double
Double
Double
Double
perforations
perforations
perforations
perforations
perforations
horizontally
vertically
vertically
vertically
vertically
5.00
5.00
10.00
10.00
15.00
The 3 exists with 2lmm untrimmed straight edge top margin. The 5 exists where a vertical row of perforations was
59
shifted about 8mm to the right creating pairs, one stamp extra wide and the other narrow. Two stamps for some 5
sheets show a blurred double impression caused by a scrap of paper on the platten (underneath the sheet).
Trial Color Proofs
No.
389TC-l
389TC-2
Description
5
5
50.00
50.00
Orange (imperforate)
Yellow (imperforate)
These are ungum171d and on a less smooth papa than the original stamps.
Usage
5 single
5 + 5 1910 UPU (to U.S. )
l X 5, l + 2 + 2
2 + 3, 1 + 1 + 3
15 registered
1 (circular)
2 ~ocal delivery)
3 single (official mail)
from
from
4.00
7.00
from
from
from
from
110.00
20.00
12.00
12.00
Manufactured Covers
Quantities of covers bearing combinations of the I, 2 and 3 to make the 5 rate were created. These never passed
through the mail and are frequently un-addressed. They bear the following postmarks:
ongm
1 AG0'14 3AM La Cananea
3AGO'l4 OPA 205
8AGO'l4 6PM Hermosillo
9AG0'14 1:50 PM Nogales
10AG0'14 6AM OPA 205
60
backstamp
2AG0'14 6PM Nogales
3AG0'14 6PM Nogales
9AG0'14 1:50PM Nogales
1OAG0'14 6PM Hermosillo
I OAG0'14 6PM H ermosillo
"DENVER" REVENUE ISSUE

Date:
June 2, 1914 (authorized for postal use).
Printing:
Lithographed by the Smith - Brooks Printing Company,

Denver, Colorado.
Sheet infonnation: Sheets of 100. Each stamp had a "talon" or coupon below the
main position of the design and with rouletting between. The
talons were removed before the stamps were issued for postal
use.
Paper:
White, medium, pre-gummed. Without watermarks.
Separation:
Perforated 12 top and sides, rouletted 7 at bottom.
Stamps used fiscally were overprinted with the name of the town or district office. Overprinted
stamps were not regularly issued for postage with a few exceptions. Stamps overprinted "Rio Verde"
(violet rubber hand-stamp) were issued at Cerritos, San Luis Potosi, and stamps overprinted "San Luis
Potosi" (hand-stamped in violet or printed in black) were used at Charcas. The 10 overprinted
"Nuevo Laredo" is known on a cover (franking accepted). Occasionally stamps with other overprints,
sometimes with the talon still attached, were used to mail letters but such frankings were rejected by
the post office. Such covers usually received hand-stamps such as "Estampilla de Documentos," "Falta
de Porte," "No Franqueado," etc. These are worth from $20.00.
Prices in the catalog are for stamps with genuine postal cancellations. They are mostly from towns
in the Northeastern portion of the country, though a few were mailed from Mexico City in
September, 1914. Price of the 10 is from examples bearing the cds of Matamoros in early 1915
(from philatelic mail). Genuine cancels from other sources are worth a 100% premium. Mint stamps
without overprints became directly available in the U. S. and are plentiful (10 each).
Description
No.
393A
393B
393C
393D
393
1
2
3
5
10
Rose
Light green
Light orange
Red
Gray green
0
15.00
12.50
17.50
5.00
20.00
61
With District Overprint
Description
No.
393Bv
393Dvl
393Ev1
393Dv2
393Ev2
2
5
10
5
10
Rio Verde
Rio Verde
Rio Verde
San Luis Potosi
Nuevo Laredo
0
RR
35.00
RR
50.00R
RR
Two covers from Sept 1914 have been seen used from Mexico City bearing 5 centavos stamps
overprinted "MEXICO," ("D.F." presumably was on the talon). They appear to have passed through
the mail, though it is unlikely that the stamps were sold through a post office.
Usage
5 single
Same, Rio Verde overprint
5 + 5 1910 UPU issue
2 + 3
1 + 1 + 3
Any rate other than 5
from
from
from
from
from
25.00
75.00
35.00
75.00
100.00
RR
Covers with the 10 used from Matamoros in late 1914 or early 1915 are philatelic and worth 30% over the price of
the stamps (they are not common). Non-philatelic covers with the 10 are RR. Mixed issue franking with the Denver
postal issue are RR. Philatelic covers bearing the set (1- 10) exist cancelled OPA 95. These are Rand are worth
$100.00. Covers with the set cancelled 2June 1914 (First Day Covers) exist: $200.00R
Covers cancelled with a 3-line Saltillo cancel which resembles typewriting and addressed to a Sr. Kreutzmann exist. They
are of doubtful authenticity.
Forged or Favor Cancels

The following cancellations were fraudulently used to simulate postal usage:
Aldama, Chih.
Doctor Cos, N . L.
Chisnahuapan, Pue
Nogales, Son
San Dieguito, S. L. P . 1
Villa de Guadalupe, S. L. P.
OPA 205 (Sonora)
A violet 3 -line cancel: Saltillo, Coah. I Jun- 2 (or 3 or 4) - 1914. I (Time) is believed to be a forgery associated with
a "Dr. Schulze."
1 - A few covers are lawwn from San Dieguito which appear to be genuine but loose stamps should be considered suspect at besL
62
UNISSUED MADERO SERIES
Stamps of the above design were prepared by the Ellis Brothers Printing Company of El Paso and
were reportedly ordered by General Francisco Villa. The stamps which are inscribed "Gobierno
Constitucionalista" became inappropriate for the Villa faction after it broke with the Carranza
"Constitutionalists." The following values and colors perforated 12 are the ones originally intended
for use: 1 green, 2 purple, 3 red or dark red, 5 Prussian blue and 10 orange. These came in
many shades and are common. (Value: $2.00 per set.) Imperforates, while not as common, are still
plentiful. The following also exist:
Part - perforated stamps (most values).
Double impressions of the 1.
Printed on both sides (2 perf and imperf, 10 perf and imperf).
Color errors of the 5 in orange and dark red (the latter also known imperf and printed on both
sides).
Trial impressions or proofs of all values are found imperforate on manila paper, including double
impressions of the 1, 2 and 5.
63
THE "DOLLAR-SIGN" OVERPRINT
The name of this issue derives from the small dollar sign found between the words "GOBIERNO
CONSTITUCIONALISTA" in the overprint applied to the 1 through 20 denominations. The
higher denominations have a different overprint which includes a tiny "v" instead of the dollar sign.
Date:
September 1, 1914
Printing:
Typographed at Mexico City on various issues
Plate information: 1 - 20 denominations: Type was set composing 50 subjects

from which plates were made by electrotyping from the setting.
It is not known how many plates were made but they come in
two different compositions which are referred to as "Plate I" and
"Plate II."
Before these can be described, the reader should know how to
recognize inverted from normal dollar signs. The lines that pass
through the body of the mark extend slightly further below than
above when the$ is normal and the reverse if it is inverted. The
easiest way, however, to tell the normal from the inverted is by
studying its relationship to the I of GOBIERNO. The I, if
continued to the right would pass through the middle of the $ if
it is inverted. If normal, the body of the $ would rest on top of
this extension.
--=
.....
:z:
-'
ooCIC
:z:
~$~
:::;,
s:D
=
=
-'
=
...., =
~
= ..........
=
:z:
a::
:z::
co
:::;,
C)
en
:z::
0
~Normal
64
~Inverted
-.....
en
en
-'
:z:
=
...., $ =
= ..........
=
:z:
a::
ca
:::;,
C)
en
:z:
C)
Gonstitucionalista Error
Plate I
Two identical plates of 50 were electrotyped from the entire setting and joined together to overprint
a full sheet of 100. Thus the top and bottom halves of the sheet contain the same varieties. These
include:
Positions 43/93 and 46/96 having normal dollar signs.
Position 32/82 having the dollar sign inverted with the error GONSTITUCIONALISTA
("I - G" variety).
Position 50/100 having the dollar sign normal with the error GONSTITUCIONALISTA
("N - G" variety).
All other positions have the dollar sign inverted, making this the most common variety.
First "Plate"
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
I
22
I
23
I
24
I
25
I
26
I
27
28
I
29
30
I
31
I
32
I-G
33
I
34
I
35
I
36
37
38
39
I
40
41
I
42
I
43
N
44
45
N
46
I
47
I
48
49
50
N-G
51
52
55
56
57
60
58
I
59
53
I
54
61
I
62
63
I
64
65
68
69
70
66
I
67
71
72
73
80
77
I
79
76
I
78
74
I
75
81
I
82
I-G
83
84
I
85
I
86
I
87
I
88
I
89
90
91
92
95
98
99
96
N
97
93
N
94
100
N-G
65
Plate II
The Electrotype was from the bottom row of the setting only, which contained normal dollar signs
at positions 43 and 46 and the "N - G" variety at position 50. The result is that in this plate (or
group of plates, as there may have been more than one produced in this manner), the stamps in the
third and sixth vertical row have the normal $ and the last vertical row, the "N - G" variety.
Second "Plate"
1
9
I
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
20
18
I
19
N-G
2I
22
23
24
25
26
27
30
28
I
29
N-G
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
I-G
N-G
41
42
43
46
47
50
48
I
49
44
I
45
N-G
51
52
53
54
55
56
59
60
57
I
58
N-G
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
70
68
I
69
N-G
71
72
73
74
I
78
I
80
77
I
79
75
I
76
N-G
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
I-G
N-G
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
N-G
10
N-G
In the original typesetting there are some irregularities in the spacing of the letters in the overprint
and variation in the length of the word CONSTITUCIONALISTA of up to 0.4 mm . One constant
irregularity occurs at position 5/55 on Plate I where the letters CI in CONSTITUCIONALISTA
are raised above the level of the other letters. Other striking irregularities are seen in the bottom row
of the typesetting and therefore in Plate I, horizontal rows 5 and 10, and in Plate II, every horizontal
row. The letters that bear scrutiny are TUC and the second ON in CONSTITUCIONALISTA. A
dash represents a wider than normal space:
66
TUC
TUC
TU-C T-UC TU-C TU-C
10
TUC
TUC
TUC
TUC
0-N
0-N
0-N
In addition, there are very slight variations in the vertical placement of the dollar sign which, together
with the above mentioned features, make it possible to plate stamps to the vertical row from which
they come. Expertization of stamps from Plate II is based on this.
50 - 5 pesos:
These denominations have a larger overprint. Instead of a dollar sign between the words, there is a
small "v."
The plate of 100 subjects was electrotyped from a type set row of ten. It is probable (but not certain)
that only one plate was made .
On 1899 - 1903 Issues
(all Plate II)
A
$ inverted
Description
No.
421
422
15 Lavender &
Claret
150.00
Rose
&
20
Dark blue 750.00
B
$ normal
c
"N-G" variety
175.00
175.00
200.00
300.00
500.00
800.00
550.00R
0
350.00R
800.00RR
On 1910 Issue
Plates I and II
A
$inverted
Descr iption
No.
423
424
425
426
427
1
2
3
4
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
(Plate II only)
5 Orange
B
$normal
.25
.30
.45
.50
.25
.30
.45
.50
.30
.40
.55
.60
.30
.40
.55
.60
.15
.15
.20
.20
67
On 1910 Issue
Plates I and II
A
$inverted
No.
Description
428
429
10 Blue & Orange .30

15 Gray blue &
Claret
.75
.80
20 Red & Blue
430
$normal
.30
.40
.40
.60
.70
.85
.90
.70
.80
"GONSTITUCIONALISTA"
Description
No.
423
424
425
426
1
2
3
4
427
428
429
5
10
15
430
431
432
433
20
50
1p
5p
$ inverted
$normal
Dull violet
.60
Green
.80
1.10
Orange brown
Carmine
1.25
(Plate II only)
Orange
.50
Blue & Orange .80
Gray blue & Claret
1.75
Red & Blue
2.00
Red brown & Black
Blue & Black
Carmine & Black
.60
.80
1.10
1.25
15.00
15.00
20.00
15.00
15 .00
20 .00
.50
.80
5.00
10.00
5.00
10.00
1.50
1. 75
20.00
20.00
2.00
7.50
40.00
20 .00
20.00
1.50
5.00
30.00
On 1908 Postage Dues

T he 1- 5 are known from both plates. The 10 is known from Plate II; it is uncertain if any were
overprinted from Plate I.
A
B
$normal
$inverted
Description
0
No.
0
*
*
434
435
436
68
1 Blue
2 Blue
4 Blue
1. 75 1.75
2.00 2.00
15.00 15.00
2.00 2.00
2.25 2.25
17.00 17.00

A
$inverted
Description
No.
437
438
5 Blue
10 Blue
Description
No.
434
435
436
43 7
438
1
2
4
5
10
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
$normal
15.00 15.00
2.50 2.50
17.00 17.00
2.75 2.75
A
$normal
0
*
B
$inverted
0
*
4.00 4.00
4.50 4.50
25 .00 25.00
25.00 25 .00
5.00 5.00
25.00
30.00
100.00
100.00
?
Errors
Overprint reading down (inverted)

on 1910 issue
"GONSTITUCIONALISTA"
Description
No.
4231
4241
4251
4261
4271
4281
4291
4301
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
A
$inverted
0
B
$ nonnal
0
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
c
$ nonnal
0
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
It is believed that these were all produced from Plate II. Most, if not all, qf these varieties were deliberate!J produced for philatelic purposes
(these are probab!J the first qf the "Hinqjosa Special Printings" - see note on page 126). Probab!J on!J one or two sheets qf each were
produced
Overprint Inverted
No.
4311
4321
4331
D escription
50
1p
5p
50.00
50.00
100.00
69
Double Overprints
A
$inverted
No.
423DD
424DD
425DD
427DD
428DD
434DD
438DD
423var
Description
75.00
2
3
5
10
1 (1908 due)
10 (1908 due)
1 Overprinted on
back (Plate II)
RR
RR
35 .00
50.00
50.00
(B)$ normal+ 25%; (C) GONSTI11JCIONALISTA + 100%
Usage
5 Oetter rate)
1 (circular rate)
2 ~ocal delivery)
15 (registered)
15 + 5 or 20
(registered with "AR" return receipt)
from
from
from
from
5.00
15.00
15.00
20.00
from
30.00
Forgeries
Numbers 421, 422, 431-433, 4311-4331 and double overprints have been forged. The 5 of 1903 is also frequently
encountered with forged overprint (it is not known if this variety, listed in Scott as No . 420, exists genuine). Stamps with
the dollar sign omitted are forgeries (genuine stamps showing barely a trace of the $ do exist, however). Stamps are
expertized by plating stamps from Plate I to one of the fifty positions in the setting, and Plate II stamps to one of the
ten types repeated vertically in the sheet.
70
VERACRUZ "ESSAYS"
The "stamps" pictured above were alleged to have been prepared for the Carranza government
during the period in which it had established itself at Veracruz after the split with the Conventionists
(November 1914- August 1915). They were never actually issued but one philatelic cover bearing
the set was posted (?) at Mexico, D. F. 13 June 1915 at which time the Conventionists were
occupying the capital. I have seen another set cancelled at Quevetavo, 14 October 1915.
Printing:
Lithographed
Paper:
White Wove
Separation: Perforated 12
Set of 10 values (1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 50, 1p) each bicolored: $20.00
Error
The frame of the 1 value was included in the stone of the l peso. The regular 1 is purple and blue, and shows an eagle
bearing the constitution. The l peso and the l centavo error are black and red, with the center showing an allegorical
scene of a figure holding a flag and attended by three people. Price of error $10.00.
Proofs
Alleged proofs, imperforate , denominated 5 centavos exist, printed on surface coated colored papers. At least 8 colors
are known.
71
.'
..;.
~.
:;.:
... ' . . .
~-
.}.
.. : ,..
. .: .
-.
: . :Sali lli;~il~i- ~~. o:,: ca~~:7 .
.-"
., ......,.,, .~:':/::: : ),:-: .::::ss~s._s: ...;
Registered, La Paz (Bqja California) to San Francisco, 9 December 1915.

Vwlet 7jpe I overprint (so Jar, these are the onfy examples known).
Highest known franking and on9' block qf aTry value known on cover.
73
INTRODUCTION
The overprints dealt with in this section were applied by the Constitutionalists to captured stocks of
Federal stamps and later to their own issues without overprints as a control to prevent the circulation
of stamps originating from any other sources. They were usually applied to the 1910 "Centenario"
and other Federal issues but later, when the revolutionaries themselves went to war against one
another, the overprints were even applied to such Constitutionalist issues as the "Transitorios" and
the "Denvers."
While there is no documentation to indicate that the local overprints were authorized by the
Constitutionalist Directorate of Posts, they are generally regarded as being a locally improvised
response to Circular No. 14 issued in Sonora State, May 27, 1914, which authorized the large rubber
hand-stamped GCM monogram. Although they were locally produced, many of these overprints were
issued throughout large areas. They were accepted as valid throughout Constitutionalist territory and,
when applied to UPU - recognized issues like the Centenario issue of 1910, they were accepted on
foreign mail (while issues like the Transitorios and Denvers were not). It would be a mistake to
dismiss these stamps as "mere locals" or to consider them anything less than a vital part of the
philately of the Mexican Civil War. Furthermore, there are numerous precedents which support their
being listed in the major general catalogs.
The local provisional overprints are generally scarce, having been in use for anywhere from a few
days to a few months, and during a time when communications were widely disrupted and commerce
was severely depressed. The first overprints appeared in early June, 1914. Some were used into 1915.
Some readers will be surprised by the degree to which detailed measurements are included in the
descriptions of both genuine stamps and forgeries. In the past, some collectors have complained that
these "soft rubber overprints" were subject to considerable distortion. Recent studies have shown this
problem to be greatly overstated. H. C. Hopkins said, "Rubber stamp surcharges are somewhat
difficult to measure, but with care it can be done." The measurements given in this study were
usually taken from several stamps with the overprint struck with various degrees of pressure. It is
useful to use a Ioupe with a reticule measuring in tenths of millimeters.
In almost every case, the actual first day of use of these overprints is not known. When a day is given
in the following text, these are the earliest usages so far recorded.
74
ACAMBARO
Date:
J uly 15, 1914
Printing: Hand-stamped in violet on the 19 10 issue
On Issue of 1910
D e scription
No.
1
2
3
4
5
7
1
2
3
4
5
15
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Gray blue & Claret
0
RR
RR
50.00R
RR
20.00
RR
Usage
The 5 on cover: from $300.00R.
All other frankings are RR.
Forgeries
There are several different types of forgery.
The genuine overprint has 2 1/ 2 mm openings in both letters. Straight lines laid across the vertical center of each letter
(bisecting their inner spaces) will be parallel. The back of the "G " is 4 mm at its widest and the inside of its top is a tight
curve. The lower end of the "C" projects further to the right than the upper end does.
The most dangerous forgery is similar to the known genuine except that the back of the G is not as thick (3 mm), the
inside space enclosed by the top of the G is larger and more open, and the upper end of the projects more to the right
than the lower does. This overprint is not as rare as the known genuine. It has been seen inverted. The overprint is
known on covers from towns in Michoacan. These were found in the Rezagos archive , but it has been proved these
received the overprint subsequent to their use.
The other forgeries studied have all had the openings of the letters too wide. Straight lines laid across the vertical center
of each letter will converge below.
75
AGUASCALIENTES
September 8, 1914
Date:
Printing: Hand-stamped in violet on various issues.
On Issue of 1910
Description
No.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
5
10
15
20
50
1p
5p
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Gray blue & Claret
Red & Blue
Red brown & Black
Blue & Black
Carmine & Black
7.50
6.00
15.00
20.00
5.00
10.00
R
R
0
5.00
5.00
7.50
12.50
4.00
5.00
12.50
20.00
30.00R
50.00R
150.00RR
On 1908 Postage Due

12
13
14
15
16
1
2
4
5
10
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
Usage
Fewer than 20 covers are known .
from
$150.00
Forgery
A forgery, dating from mid-1915 and known on cover has the letters A and M plain (unserifed)
and the crossbar of the A is horizontal. The genuine has the A and M with serifs. The A has a top
bar and a diagonal crossbar. The asterisks have six points and are formed out of crossed lines. The
asterisks on the forgery have thick ends.
76
BAJA CALIFORNIA
Type I
Date:
Type II
Type I - January 28, 1915

Type II - December 29, 1914.
Printing: Applied with metal-typeset hand-stamps in black or violet on stamps

of the 1910 issue.
O n Issue of 1910
Description
No.
A - Black Ovpt
0
*
B- Violet Ovpt
0
*
Type I Overprint
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
Dull Violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Gray blue & Claret
Red & Blue
RR
RR
RR
RR
RR
6.00
30.00
RR
RR
7.50
15.00
RR
20.00
Type II Overprint
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Gray blue & Claret
Red & Blue
5.00
RR
RR
10.00
10.00
RR
30.00R
RR
30.00R
5.00
RR
30.00R
20.00
R
RR
RR
77
A - Black Ovpt
Description
No.
B - Violet Ovpt
Type II Overprint
The
17
50
Red brown & Black
$ between the words did not alwqys prinL
RR
Usage
5 Type I :
Type II:
from
from
200.00
175.00
All other frankings are RR. Highest known franking is a 10 Type I block of 4.
One 20 Type II single franking, and one mixed with other franking exist.
Forgeries
There is at least one type of forgery of Type I, which is fairly good as well as common, and a few different forg<:tie-s of
Type II; these out-nwnber the genuine.
Type I
The genuine has a period after "Constitucionalista" and the distance between the bottom of one word and the bottom
of the other is 2.4 - 2.5 mm. On the forgery this spacing is 3.2 - 3.3 mm. The forgery was made with a rubber
hand-stamp, and lacks the period after "Constitucionalista."
Type II
On the genuine the distance between the bottom of one word and the next is nearly 5 mm. The $ between the words
has one line through it. "Constitucionalista" has a tiny period at the end. The most common forgery (which is more
frequently seen than the genuine) is from a rubber hand-stamp. There is no period after "Constitucionalista" and the
distance between the bottom of one word and the next is 5.3 - 5.5 mm.
Two other forgeries are easily recognized by their having two lines through the $ instead of one.
78
CHIHUAHUA
Date:
July 10, 1914
Printing: Applied with rubber hand-stamp to various issues. Usually the

overprint was applied either horizontally or diagonally, but stamps
with vertical overprint are known. Occasionally the overprint was
applied after the stamp was affixed to the cover so that it served as a
cancel. In violet, red, magenta, dark grayish blue, or black.
On 1910 Issue
Horizontal Ovpt.
Strip of Four
Description
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Gray blue & Claret
Red & Blue
7.50
10.00
12.50
10.00
2.50
10.00
12.50
15.00
Single
.75
1.00
1.25
1.00
.25
1.00
1.25
1.50
Horizontal Ovpt.
Strip of Three
Description
No.
9
10
11
50
lp
5p
Red brown & Black

Blue & Black
Carmine & Black
*
25.00
35.00
5.00
7.50
15.00
7.50
2.00
15.00
15.00
Single
5.00
7.50
75.00
79

Horizontal Ovpt.
Strip of Four
Description
No.
12
13
14
15
16
1
2
4
5
10
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
30.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
Single
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
RR
RR
On Denver Issue (#386 - 9)

Horizontal Ovpt.
Strip ofFour
Description
No.
17
18
19
20
1
2
3
5
Pale blue
Light green
Orange
Deep rose
Single
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
In most casi!S, violet is the common color rif the ovf:Tprin~ tlwugh red appears to have been used at Hidalgo del ParraL Double and inverted
ovf:Tprints are encountered - no significant premium
Usage
The overprint was used in portions of the states of Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila and Zacatecas. One cover sent from
Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas and another from Cardenas, S. L. Potosi are known. Most of the covers in collectors hands
are from the Dead Letter Office archive which contained about 100 Chihuahua covers.
5 Oetter rate):
1 + 4
Either with additional 5 Denver:
Most other frankings are R.
from
50.00
from
70.00
+ 10.00
Forgeries
This is a difficult issue to expertize and in many cases no opinion can be given so it is advised to collect this issue
cautiously. The study of this overprint has been made difficult by the fact that most bear only single stamps showing only
a portion of the overprint. The problem is compounded by the fact that more than one hand-stamp was genuinely used.
Genuine overprints are approximately 83.5 mm long. The letters are well aligned except that one of the hand-stamps
used shows the second "o" of "Constitucionalista" raised very slightly and another shows the second "c" of
"Constitucionalista" very slightly raised.
80
Several hand-stamps have been identified as being forgeries. The two most frequently seen are:
"Forgery A"
"Forgery B"
A . The first 0 in "Gobierno" and the "l" in "Constitucionalista" are raised. The second "o" of "Constitucionalista"
is weak or has a break on the left side. The space between "1" and "i" is wide and the "i" is tilted a little to the
left.
B.
The first "o" in "Gobierno" is weak or broken at left and the "i" is high relative to the "e." The second "o" in
"Constitucionalista" is raised. Length is almost 85 mm. The capital "C" is occasionally flattened.
July 1914 cover to Torreon with the overprint used as a cancellation.
81
CIUDAD GONZALES
Date:
July2, 1914
Printing: Printed with a rubber hand-stamp in black on issues of 1910. The

right end of the overprint is occasionally distorted (enlarged) by
uneven application.
On 1910 Issue
Description
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
2
3
4
5
10
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
15.00
22.00
15.00
20.00
30.00R
20.00
6.00
35.00R
6.00
35.00R
Usage
It is estimated that 25 - 30 covers are in philatelists' hands.
5 (letter rate):
All others are R - RR.
from
$150.00
Forgeries
Forgery A
Forgery B
Forgery A which closely resembles the original

"CONSTITUCIONALISTA," are wider.
has been
Forgery C
seen
in
violet.
The
"N"s,
particularly m
Forgery B in black or violet is almost identical to the original, but can be detected by studying the relationship of the
Gin "GOBIERNO" to the first I of "CONSTITUCIONALISTA." On the forgery, the I is directly below the center
of the G , whereas in the genuine it is right of the center.
Another much cruder forgery ("C") shows both words having an uneven baseline and shows no sign or a period after
"CONSTITUCIONALISTA." A period, or a trace of one, is usually visible on the genuine.
82
CIUDAD JUAREZ
This is the most philatelic of the local overprints with many made-to-order color varieties and inverts.
September 21, 1914
Date:
Printing: H and-stamped on the 1910 and postage due series in

black, blue-gray, blue, violet, magenta, red, gold and
green. Double overprints in combinations of these
colors are also found. On denominations up through
20, the overprint was normally centered on a block of
four (so that singles show If.. of the overprint). Overprints were also applied to pairs and, very rarely, to
singles despite the fact that the overprint was too large
to fit. Higher values were normally overprinted by the
pair, but are also fo und where the overprint was
centered over a single.
On 1910 Issue
Overprint
centered
on
Block
Description
No.
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
3
4
5
6
7
8
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Gray blue & Claret
Red & Blue
*
4.00
4.00
7.50
5.00
3.50
5.00
7.00
10.00
Partial Ovpt
on
pair
Single
3.00
3.00
.50
.50
1.00
.60
.40
.60
.75
4.00
3.00
0
12.00
15.00
20.00
7.50
15.00
25.00R
1.25
Overprint
Centered on
Pair
Single
9
10
11
50
1p
5p
Red brown & Black

Blue & Black
Carmine & Black
15.00
25.00
200.00
5.00
7.50
75.00
The high values were not overprinted where the handstasmp covers a block.
83
Some rifthe 1, 2 and 5 are from the booklet panes that wm removed from the booklets prior to overprinting.
In Various Colors on 1908 Postage Dues

Overprint
centered
on
Block
No.
12
13
14
15
16
Description
1
2
4
5
10
Partial Ovpt
Single
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
30.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
0
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
In Gold on Issue of 1899

Overprint
centered on
Single
Description
No.
17
5p
Partial Ovpt
Carmine & Black
RR
Usage
Six covers exist from the Dead Letter archive . Even counting philatelic covers it is probable that fewer than 25 covers
are in collectors' hands.
from
from
5
10
125.00
125.00
Forgery
The one known forgery is easily recognized. The diameter of the inner circle is only 19 mm as compared to 21 .3 mm
on the genuine. The letters are much bigger (The first "T" of "CONSTITUCIONALISTA" is nearly 3 mm high). The
height of the letters in the original is usually 2.0-2.1 mm, though in some impressions they may be up to 2.4 mm. (It is
not known if more than one hand-stamp was used, or if a single hand-stamp is responsible for the different sizes of
lettering.)
84
COLIMA
Date:
July 22, 1914
Printing: Hand-stamped in violet on the 1910 issue
Description
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
2
3
4
5
10
15
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Gray blue & Claret
10.00
8.50
10.00
15.00
30.00R
15.00
2.50
20.00
30.00R
Usage
23 covers have been recorded -
5
All other frankings are R - RR.
from
125.00
Forgeries
Several doubtful or forged overprints resembling the genuine exist.
The genuine is usually poorly struck, so that "TRANSITORIO" is hardly readable. When complete it is 17.5-18 mm
long. The ends of the word often curve upward. The letters are sans-serif, 1.0-1.5 mm high. The letters "EC" both have
periods after them and are 3.7-4.0 mm high. The center bar of the "E" is an equal distance from the others. The "C."
is round. The "E.C." is about 3 mm above "TRANSITORIO." Together, the "E." and "C." are 9.5 mm long.
The probable forgeries all have different measurements. One type has serifed letters in "TRANSITORIO." Another lacks
periods. Another shows the central bar of the "E" closer to the top bar.
The above type mqy be genuine, but no

examples on cover lwve been seen.
85
CULIACAN
Date:
August 23, 1914
Printing: Applied with a rubber hand-stamp to various issues. Colors are

violet, black or blue.
A- Violet Ovpt
Description
No.
B - Black Ovpt
C- Blue Ovpt
6.50
8.00
On Issue of 1903
1 5
2 50
RR
RR
Orange
Carmine & Black
On Issue of 1910
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
50
1p
5p
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Gray blue & Claret
Red & Blue
Red brown & Black
Blue & Black
Carmine & Black
8.00
8.00
8.00
10.00
4.00
10.00
15.00
17.50
30.00
50.00
200.00R
10.00
10.00
10.00
5.00
15.00
20.00

14
15
16
17
18
1
2
4
5
10
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
15.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
Ejercito Issue (#347-9)
19 1
20 2
21 5
86
Yell ow green
Lilac
Brown
RR
RR
RR
On Transitorio Issue
A- Violet Ovpt
No.
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Description
1
2
4
5
10
20
50
lp
Blue
Yell ow green
Blue violet
Dull green
Red
Yellow brown
Claret
Purple
All values exist with violet overprint but unkrwwn
B - Black Ovpt
C- Blue Ovpt
R
R
if mint or used -
to be checked.
On Denver Issue
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
1
2
3
5
10
15
50
1p
Pale blue
Light green
Orange
Deep rose
Rose
Rose lilac
Yellow
Violet
10.00
10.00
10.00
7.50
10.00
12.00
15.00
20.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
7.50
10.00
12.00
15.00
20.00
15.00
15.00
Usage
A small quantity of philatelic covers is known. Non-philatelic covers are all R.
Forgeries
Forgeries are known of this overprint. The following measurements are useful for recognizing the genuine:
Length of "Transitorio" from left end of "T' to end of hyphen: 22.5 mm
"Transitorio" from T-stem to the right edge of the "o":
19.0 mm
"Transitorio" from T-stem to left edge of first "o":
17.1-.3 mm
The length of Transitorio in the forgeries is usually about 0.5 mm shorter.
The impression of the forgeries is usually a bit crisper than the genuine. Red overprints are fake .
One common forgery shows a deformation of the capital "T' of "Transitorio" where the bottom of the stem is bent to
the left and the left half of the bottom serif is missing.
87
DOLORES HIDALGO
August 1914
Date:
Manuscript overprint on 1910 issue:
No.
1
Description
0
R
Orange
Usage
Several covers are known:
$ 200.00R
DURANGO
Type I
Type II
Type III
Found in red as follows:

Type I: 5 1903 issue; 20 1899 issue; 1-15 1910 issue; 2 "Denver"
Type II: 1910 issue 1-1p (4 not yet seen)
Type Ill: 1910 issue - all values 1 to 5p
No used examples have been seen off cover. One cover bearing the 5 and 10 Type I is known
which appears to be genuine. However, until the authenticity of these overprints is better established,
we are not pricing them.
88
ESPERANZAS
Hand-stamped in violet on the 1910 issue.

At present only two covers are known, one of which bears a pair of the 5 and the other a single
5. Price: RR. Another 5 cover is known where the handstamp was used as a cancellation.
GUAYMAS
Date:
Mter October 6, 1915. This is the latest of the overprints.
Printing: Hand-stamped in violet or blackish-violet on Coach Seal issues

after the Constitutionalists took Guaymas away from the
Maytorenistas.
On Coach Seal Issue (#528a, 29a, 31 - 3)
Description
No.
1
2
3
4
5
2
5
20
20
50
Settings rifcr to the background
of the
Setting
Yell ow-green & Orange

Yellow-orange & Green
Orange & Blue
Yell ow-orange & Green
Blue-green & Orange
IV
IV
I
II
*
R
R
5.00
1.50
5.00
0
RR
10.00
basic stamp (see Sonora listings).

Usage
Only no. 4 is known on cover:

from
(No philatelic covers have been seen.)
200.00R
Forgeries
Forgeries in green are known .
89
HIDALGO DEL PARRAL

Date:
October 21, 1914 (most are December)
Printing: Hand-stamped on the 1910 issue in black, violet or red, usually

horizontally, but vertically has been seen.
The overprint resembles the Monterrey overprint but is smaller

and the letters in the two lines are the same size. "GOBIERNO"
is 9 mm long; "CONSTITUCIONALISTA" is 19.5 mm
(Including a tiny period at the end.) Overall height is about
6.2-6.5 mm.
On Issue of 1910
No.
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
6 10
7 15
8 20
Description
A - Black Ovpt
*
0
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Gray blue & Claret
Red & Blue
B- Violet Ovpt
C- Red Ovpt
RR
RR
RR
RR
35.00R
RR
30.00R
35.00R
RR
RR
RR
RR
No unused examples are known.
Usage
Five covers have been recorded. Two bear the I 0. One with the 20 with red overprint was in the Larson collection
mis-identified as a Monterrey type. The fourth is a registered philatelic cover bearing the I- 5 All are RR.
Forgeries
No forgeries intended to be this issue are known.
One of the forgeries of the Monterrey type is almost this small: "GOBIERNO" is I 0 mm long.
90
LEON
Date:
September 26, 1914
Printing: Hand-stamped horizontally in violet

On Issue of 1910
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Description
2
3
4
5
10
15
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Gray blue & Claret
50.00R
R
R
5.00
R
5.00
30.00
RR
Usage
Nearly all of the known covers come from the Dead Letter Office (Rezagos) and are franked with a single 5. Price from
$50.00. Any other franking: RR.
Forgeries
The genuine hand-stamp is 11 mm high, with "Gob" 12 mm long including a rectangular period placed at mid-height
to the body of the "b", and approximately I mm from it. "Canst." is 14.8 mm long, not including the period which is
lower and to the right of the "t" by about 1.5 mm. In "Gob.," the "G" is tilted slightly leftward and the "o" is slightly
dropped and closer to the "b" than to the "G." The "b" has a break at the bottom next to the stem. The "o" has a dent
on the outside edge at about 7 o'clock. In "Const.," the letters "ons" are evenly spaced while the "c" and "t" are spaced
further from their neighbors. The "t" is high relative to the other letters.
Doubtful variety
A common forgery
Forgery Oacks period)
The doubtful variety mentioned above is similar in overall measurements but the spacing of the letters is much closer
than in the genuine. This is especially apparent in "Const." The overprint is generally more heavily struck than on the
confirmed genuine.
Others show different spacing relationships among the letters and measure differently . "Gob. Canst." and "Gob. Cons."
overprints with smaller letters, listed by Larson, Celis Cano, Col. Hamilton, and others as coming from Leon are bogus.
91
MATEHUALA
Date:
July23, 1914
Printing: Hand-stamped in violet on the Denver postage and revenue issues.

Note: Spacing
of "E" and
"C" can vary.
On the Denver Issue (#389)
No.
1
Description
5
Rose
0
RR
On the Denver Revenue Issue (#393A-D)
2
3
4
5
3
5
Pale rose
Light green
Orange
Rose
25.00
30.00
35.00
25.00
Usage
Covers are seen more frequently than used stamps. The 2 + 3 combination is the more "plentiful" (none are common).
Price: from $125 .00.
Forgeries
There are two forgeries. Both are more common than genuine stamps. Forgery A is
easily recognized because of two characteristics: I) The lower half of the serif of the
center bar of the "E" is only half the width of the top half (on the genuine they are the
same width), and 2) The bottom of the "M" comes to a sharp point and does not
merge with the flanking bottom serifs (on the genuine, it is blunt and is joined to the
two serifs). Forgery B has the second stroke of the "M" longer so that the point of the
"M" is off center. The "C" is larger than the "E."
Fakes are frequently found with overprints in colors other than violet.
Forgery A
92
MONTERREY
Date:
Late May 1914 (according to H. C. Hopkins who

interviewed postal officials in the district).
Earliest recorded use: June 3, 1914.
Type I
Type II
Printing: Hand-stamped in violet, blue, black and also in red

and green - these latter probably by favor. On
various Issues.
Overprint is usually diagonal, but may be found
horizontal.
There are two types of hand-stamp. Both are known used early in June 1914.
CONSITUCIONALISTA
Type 1:
Note relationship of "N"s in "GOBIERNO" and "CONSITUCIONALISTA" is:
N
N
CONSTITUCIONALISTA
Type II:
Relationship of "N"s in "GOBIERNO" and "CONSTITUCIONAUSTA" is: N

N
On Issue of 1899 (violet overprint)
A: Type I
Description
No.
2
3
4
5
1
3
15
20
1p
Green
Orange brown
Lavender & Claret
Rose & Blue
Blue & Black
RR
B: Type II
*
0
RR
RR
50.00R
RR
75.00
RR
RR
Of No. 5, 22 copies were reportedly sold at Matamoros. The 3, No. 2, was sold at Ceralvo, N L The overprint has also been seen on a
5 1898 "Mulita" but this is clearly a favor - not regularly issued.
93
On Issue of 1903 (violet overprint)

A: Type I
Description
0
*
No.
6
7
8
9
1
2
4
5
Violet
Green
Carmine
Orange
B: Type II
0
*
RR
40.00
RR
RR
50.00
60.00
A shut ofNo. 8 (pmt!J tkfictive) was acquired I!J! H C Hopkins at Monterr9. The 5, No. 9. was sold at Ceralvo, N. L
On Issue of 1910 (violet or purple overprint unless otherwise noted)

10
a
b
11
a
b
12
a
b
13
a
b
14
a
b
15
a
b
16
a
b
17
a
b
18
a
19
a
20
a
10
15
20
50
1p
5p
Dull violet
Blue overprint
Black overprint
Green
Blue overprint
Black overprint
Orange brown
Blue overprint
Black overprint
Carmine
Blue overprint
Black overprint
Orange
Blue overprint
Black overprint
Blue & Orange
Blue overprint
Black overprint
Gray blue & Claret
Blue overprint
Black overprint
Red & Blue
Blue overprint
Black overprint
Red brown & Black
Blue overprint
Blue & Black
Blue overprint
Carmine & Black
Blue overprint
Note: The "hlilck" overprint is usualbJ grf!)lish and mqy have a slight bluish
94
2.50
30.00R
3.50
30.00R
4.00
.50
5.00
5.00
.70
5.00
2.00
1.00
50.00RR 8.00
2.00
3.00
5.00
30.00R
RR
RR
tinL
4.00
.25
1.50
1.50
5.00
1.00
3.00
3.00
8.00
1.25
5.00
5.00
15.00
1.50
5.00
5.00
25.00R
2.00
8.00
5.00
15.00
50.00
100.00R
.75
.50
.70
1.00
3.00
.25
1.00
2.00
2.50
3.50
7.00
75.00R
H C. Hopkins reported that light green and red inks were used 1!)1 favor on some values. The greens are R but are also near!J! impossible to
experti<;e because they are so pale. Genuine red overprints exist. In 1915, S. B. Hopkins offered complete booklets (1 pane of 4, one 2 and
two 5 panes of 8) with this overprint but there is no subsequent record of these.
On 1908 Postage Dues (violet, purple or black overprint unless otherwise noted)
Description
No.
21
22
23
24
25
1
2
4
5
10
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
These were issued for prepqyment ofpostage during the summer and also November
A: Type I
0
*
B: Type II
0
*
5.00
5.00
5.00
.50
.50
.50
.50
.50
5.00
of 1914. Most were bought 1!)1 S.
B. and H C. Hopkins.
On Ejercito Issue (no. 347 - 53) violet or black overprint

A: Type I
Description
No.
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
1
2
5
10
20
50
lp
Bright yellow green

Blue-violet
Brown
Claret
Gray-green
Blue
Orange
without Talon
B: Type II
*
8.00
8.00
5.00
0
8.00
8.00
5.00
R
R
RR
RR
These were probably made to order. Most were used on philatelic covers. With talorL' 25% premium
On Transitorio Issue (no. 354- 361) violet or black overprint

A: Type I
Description
No.
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
1
2
4
5
10
20
50
1p
Deep blue
Yell ow green
Bluish violet
Gray green
Red
Yell ow brown
Claret
Bright violet
B: Type II
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
10.00
95
Dollar Sign Overprint Issue

The following values have been seen cancelled: 5 and 20 (both Type I)
Usage
The Monterrey overprint is the Local Provisional most frequently found on cover, representing over 30% of the
Provisional overprint covers in philatelic hands. The total quantity exceeds 650 and m ay be as high as 800. About 1/3
are the "CONSITUCIONALISTA" variety.
1910 Issue
5 for first class letter rate :

1 + 4:
1 + 2 + 2 or 2 + 3:
1 X 5:
10 single (double weight):
15 Registered:
from
from
from
from
from
from
Type I
Type II
25.00
40.00
45.00
50.00
50.00
RR
15.00
35.00
37 .50
50.00
30.00
60.00
Other frankings/rates are R to RR.

No non-philatelic examples of the 1899 and 1903 issues on cover are known . H. C. H opkins wrote that he prepared a
few philatelic covers with some: RR.
The 1908 postage dues, E!jercitos and Transitorios have only been seen on philatelic covers. These are worth the price
of the stamps on them plus 10% with $20 as a minimum.
Forgeries
One forgery of the "CONSITUCIONALISTA" variety and several of the normal spelling are known.
The "CONSITUCIONALISTA" forgery is easily recognized because of the uneven spacing of the letters (in the genuine,
the letters in both words are evenly spaced). The "G" of "GOBIERNO" has only a suggestion of a serif and the final
"0" is more open than in the original. "GOBIERNO" measures 10.4 rnm by 2.3 mm compared to 10.7-10.8 by 2.4-2.7
rnm in the genuine (variations are a result of being applied with different degrees of pressure).
The genuine examples of the Type II (normal spelling) overprint show the following measurements:
GOBIERNO- 10.6-11.0 rnm long, 2.4-2.7 mm high (same as Type I)
CONSTITUCIONALISTA- 19.5-20.0 rnm long, 1.6-2.0 rnm high
Overall height- 6.7-6.9 mm
Distance between words- 2.4-2.5 rnm
96
Variations may be caused by varying pressure and angle of application but their range suggests that there might also have
been more than one hand-stamp.
Forgery A:
Forgery B:
Forgery C:
Forgery D:
Note :
Letters are more square. "GOBIERNO" is too long- 11.2 mm and "CONSTITUCIONALISTA" is
also too large both in length and in height- 20.7-8 by 2.3 mm.
"GOBIERNO" is only 10.0 mm long and "CONSTITUCIONALISTA" is only 19.0 mm long.
Measurements fall within the ranges of the genuine but the color is a dense green .
Overall height is only 6.3 mm. The first "0" and "S" in "CONSTITUCIONALISTA" are larger than
the other letters.
The overprints of Monterrey and Queretaro are similar to one another but are easily distinguished by the size
of the space between the words. The words are 1.5 mm apart in the Queretaro while in the Monterrey they
are close to 2.5 mm apart.
OAXACA (STATE)
Date:
August ?, 1914
Printing: Hand-stamped in violet
Description
No.
Issue of 1910
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
10
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
30.00R
30.00R
R
RR
20.00R
R
Usage
Covers are usually franked with combinations making the 5 rate.
Price: from $300.00R
97
Forgeries
One forgery is easily recognized by measuring:
Genuine
Overall height:
Overall width:
Height of "d" in "de":
Height of "M":
Forgery
21.0-21.3 mm
19 mm
4.5 mm
19.2 mm
18.5 mm
4.0mm
4.2 mm
5.7-5.8 mm
QUERETARO
Date:
August ?, 1914
Printing: Hand-stamped in purple, gray-black or gray-blue on the issue of

1910. The Queretaro overprint resembles that of Monterrey
except the words are closer together and "GOBIERNO" is both
taller and longer.
Issue of 1910 (purple overprint)
D escription
No.
1
2
3
4
4a
4b
1
2
3
5
5
5
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Orange
Orange with gray black ovpt
Orange with gray blue ovpt
RR
RR
RR
15.00
2.00
1.50
2.00
Usage
5 on cover:
from
45.00
No other value has been reported on cover.
REFUGIO (S. L. P .)
Virtually nothing is known about this black hand-stamped overprint other than
the fact that it is genuine. It is known on a 5 Hidalgo envelope. The 5 issue of
1910 with this overprint shown on left was found in some bundleware about ten
years ago and a cover has since been seen.
Issue of 1910
Description
No.
1
98
*
RR
SABINAS (COAHUILA)
Date:
Type II
Type I
Type I: "Constitucionalista"
"Gobierno."
IS
January-February 1915
Printing: Typeset on Issue of 1910. Sheets were overprinted

in two operations from a setting of 50 subjects (5
x 10). The sheet was turned after the first
application so that the overprint reads up on the
left half of the sheet and down on the right. In the
setting, the left row has the word "Constitucionalista" composed of a smaller, denser type font, so
that there are two basic types:
known 24.5-25.5 mm long and m the same style font as for
Type II: "Constitucionalista" is 23 mm long and in a different font than "Gobierno."

On Issue of 1910
Type I
Description
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Gray blue & Claret
Carmine & Blue
Type II
0
*
*
1.00
4.00
20.00R
1.00
7.50
3.00
5.00
12.00
RR
5.00
5.00
25.00R
10.00
RR
15.00R
Prices for overprints reading either up or down are identicaL
Tete-Beche Pair
No.
1
5
6
7
Description
1
5
10
15
Dull violet
Orange
Blue & Orange
Gray blue & Claret
*
10.00
10.00
75 .00RR
25.00
The other values have not been confirmed (although at one time all existed).
99
Setting Varieties (Errors)
Type I
var. 1 "Contiticionalista" (Positions 12/89 and 62/39)
var. 2 "Constitncionalista" (Positions 52/49)
var. 3 Capital "C" dropped down (Positions 94/7)
value x10
value x15
value xlO
Type II
var. 4 "Constitucionaiista" (Positions 61140)
value x3
Thtse varietits occur in overprints reading up or dowTL

Errors (Printing)
Type I
No.
2DD
3DD
5DD
Description
2
3
5
Green double ovpt (reading down)

Orange brown (reading up)
Orange (reading up)
Type II
25.00
25 .00
25.00
75.00RR
75.00RR
75.00RR
Usage
All are R or RR. 5 and 10 are known .
SALAMANCA
Date:
August 5, 1914
Printing: Hand-stamped in pale bluish green or gray black on the

1910 issue and 1908 postage dues. Apparently more than
one hand-stamp was used because there is variation in the
spacing of the letters (though the space between the two
words is constant).
On Issue of 1910
A
Bluish Green
No.
1
100
Description
1
3
4
3
4
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
*
3.00
3.00
5.00
5.00
0
4.00
4.00
8.00
10.00
B
Gray Black
8.00
A
Bluish Green
Description
No.
6
7
8
9
10
5
10
15
20
50
1p
Orange
Blue & Orange
Gray-blue & Claret
Red & Blue
Red brown & Black
Blue & Black
2.50
3.00
5.00
10.00
12.00
20 .00
B
Gray Black
0
*
3.00
5.00
5.00
10.00
Most used examples were cancelled to order during September and October.

11
12
13
14
15
1
2
4
5
10
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
Usage
Abou t a dozen covers are known.

5 single franking:
from
100.00
No philatelic covers are known which is interesting in light of th e cancelling to order that was done.
Forgeries
These stamps are difficult and in some cases impossible to expertize because of the paleness of most overprints.
Cancellations help (we can perh aps be grateful th at cancelling to order occurred). Forgeries often have a stronger color
than the originals.
H. C. Hopkins describes, in unpublish ed notes, a counterfeit which shows the "G" having an uneven curvature of the
inside so th at it flattens out as it comes to the bar, joining it at almost a right angle . On the genuine, this curvature is
even right to th e bar.
Genuine overprints show the following measurements:
"GBNO" is about 17 mm long with the "G" 4.5 mm high and the other letters about 3.0 mm high .
"CONST'' is about 20.5 mm long with the "C" 4.5 mm and other letters 3.0 mm high .
The spacing of the letters varies but is usually around 1.0 mm.
Stamps with spacing between letters narrower than I mm are doubtful.
101
SALVATIERRA
Date:
All three types appeared in October 1914.
Printing: Hand-stamped in violet on the 1910 issue. There are three types of
overprint:
Type I
Type III
Type II
Issue of ) 10
Type I
Description
No.
1
3
1
3
RR
25.00R
Dull violet
Orange brown
Type II
25.00R
Orange
Type III
10
20.00
Orange
Usage
Only a few covers of each type are known:
from
Forgeries
Forgeries of all three types are known .
102
200.00 R-RR
Type I
Measurements of genuine are:
Gobierno - 17. 7 mm long
Constitu. (including period) 16.7 mm long
Forgery
On the genuine the second "o" of "Gobierno" and "itu" in "Constitu." are slightly raised. There is also a vertical "sliver"
following the "e" of "Gobierno" and the "n" in the same word has a nick in the top. In the forgery, the "e" of
"Gobierno" and the "s" and "u" in "Constitu." are dropped lower than the base-line of the other letters.
Type II
Forgery
GOBIERNO is about 18.5 mm long compared to 19.5 in the genuine. The "G" is over the capital "C" whereas in the
genuine it is over the first "n." In the forgery the "R" of "GOBIERNO" is raised slightly and tilted to the right while
the "N" is aligned with it and dropped slightly below the base-line.
Type III
Forgery
On the genuine, the letters are a common typewriter face. Spacing between the lines of letters and their placement
relative to one another varies, but the spacing of the letters within a word are fairly consistent: In Gobierno, the "i" and
"e" are widely spaced ("e" is 1.3 mm from "i's" stem) and "r" and "n" are closer together. In "Constitu-," "tu-" stands
slightly apart from "ti." In "cionalista," "ci" stands slightly apart from "onal." The "l's" and "i's" have large serifs. The
typeface is different on the forgery, "0" a bit narrower, and the "l's" and "i's" have smaller serifs. The final "i" in
"cionalista" lacks a bottom serif. There is more space between the letters.
103
SAN FRANCISCO del RINCON
On Issue of 1910
Description
No.
1
Th on!Y known examplts
of this issue
RR
Orange
are on two covers found in the Dead Letter Archive.
SAN JUAN de ALLENDE (COAHUILA)

Date:
June 10, 1914
Printing: Hand-stamped m violet on the 1910 Issue and 1908

postage dues.
Issue of 1910
Description
No.
1
2
3
4
104
1
2
5
10
Dull violet
Green
Orange
Blue & Orange
RR
RR
20.00R
RR
SAN PEDRO (COAHUILA)
November 24, 1914
Date:
Printing: Hand-stamped in gray-blue
Issue of 1910
Description
No.
1
5
1
5
RR
20.00R
Violet
Orange
Usage
price from l25.00R
Covers:
Forgery
The forgery is seen much more frequently than genuine stamps. The lettering is heavier
and less well formed and is hm ;d-stamped in violet. It is most easily recognized by the
narrower space between "Gobierno" and "Constitucionalista": 1.0 mm instead of 1.6
mm. "S" and "P" are 3.0 mm apart while the genuine has them 3.2 mm apart.
Lettering is broader - especially the first "n" in "Constitucionalista."
SINALOA
Date:
Type I - September 19, 1914

Type II - October 30, 1914
Printing: Hand-stamped in violet on various issues. The
overprint is normally diagonal, but is occasionally

found reading horizontally.
Type I
Type II
Type 1: without period after "CONSTITUCIONALISTA"

(The "G" of "GOBIERNO" is directly above the stem of the first "T" m
"CONSTITUCIONALISTA.")
Type II: with period after "CONSTITUCIONALISTA"
("G" of "GOBIERNO" is above the "TI" of "CONSTITUCIONALISTA.")
107
A
Type I
Description
No.
Type II
Issue of 1899
1
2
1
3
Green
O range brown
RR
RR
Issue of 1903
3
4
1
10
Dull violet
Blue & O range
RR
RR
On Issue of 1910
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
50
1p
5p
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Blue gray & Claret
Carmine & Blue
Red brown & Black
Blue & Black
Carmine & Black
Booklet with
I pane of 4 ofNo. 5,
I pane (B) ofNo. 6 and
2 panes (of B) ofNo. 9, all JYpe 1
2.50
3.50
3.50
3.50
1.25
4.00
4.00
7.00
15.00
20.00
100.00
2.50
12.50
3.50
12.50
3.50
3.50
1.00
5.00
4.00
4.00
10.00
20.00
30.00R
150.00RR
RR
1908 Postage Dues

16
17
18
19
20
108
1
2
4
5
10
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
12.00
12.00
12 .00
12.00
12.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
20.00
8.00
8.00
10.00
8.00
3.00
15.00
15.00
20.00
No.
Description
Type I
Type II
Transitorio Issue (# 354 - 36 1)

21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
2
4
5
10
20
50
1p
Blue
Yell ow green
Blue violet
Dull green
Red
Yell ow brown
Claret
Purple
20.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
7.50
6.00
10.00
Denver Issue (# 386 - 393)

29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
1
2
3
5
10
15
50
lp
Pale blue
Light green
Orange
Deep rose
Rose
Rose lilac
Yellow
Violet
15.00
15.00
15.00
Usage
Used from various places in the State of Sinaloa, most commonly from Mazatlan and Culiacan. It is also occasionally
found used from towns in the states of Durango and B<Ya California (RR).
The following prices apply to the Type I overprint. Type II is significantly more scarce - at least a 50% premium.
5 used singly:
l + 4:
2 + 3, five 1, or combinations
with other issues to make 5 rate
from
from
35.00
45.00
from
50.00
Many other frankings are known . The Southern Pacific Railroad generated a quantity of covers with higher frankings
(including some with 50 and l peso stamps) so that, of all the local overprints, Sinaloa has more high frankings.
Forgeries
There are several different forgeries of both types, which can be readily detected with careful measurement and
attention to some of the letters.
109
Type I - without period
Genuine
Forgery
Forgery
Forgery
Forgery
Forgery
Forgery
Forgery
Forgery
Forgery
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
Remarks:
Genuine -
Height of
letters (rnrn)
Overall
height of
overprint
(rnm)
Space
between
words (mm)
GOBIERNO
(rnm)
CONSTITUCIONALISTA
(rnm)
2.5-2.7
8.2-8.4
2.7
10.2-10.4
21.7
11.3
10.7
24.4
22.3
10.0
10.2-10.3
10.2-10.3
11.0
10.1
8.5
21.7
21.2-21.3
21.2-21.3
22.0
22 .7
19
7.3-7.4
2.7-3.0
2.8-3.0
3.0
3.0
2.4
2.2-2.3
8.6
8.5-8.7
8.3
2.9
2.6
2.2
8.0
3.1
Back of "G" in line with stem of first "T'' below. Final "0" of "GOBIERNO" over first A. Regular
lettering. "O"s have narrow center. Center bar of "E" closer to top bar. First "A" in
"CONSTITUCIONALISTA" closer to "L" than to "N."
Forgery A - Wide spacing between letters. Bars of "E" equally spaced.
Forgery B- Has only been seen in gray black (originals are violet).
Forgery C - Measurements practically the same as for genuine. Lettering is slightly irregular; final "0" of
"GOBIERNO" is raised and "I" slightly closer to "E" than to "B."
110
Forgery D- Wide space between "B" and "I" in "GOBIERNO." Bars of "E" equally spaced. (Very common
forgery).
Forgery E- Letters regularly spaced- first "A" i.n "CONSTITUCIONALISTA" is spaced evenly between "N"
and "L."
Forgery F- Very similar to Forgery "E."
Forgery G- "I" of "GOBIERNO" closer to "B" than to "E." Final "0" is large.
Forgery H - Squarish lettering - wide "O"s and "S"s. Back of "G" is not in line with stem of "T'' below but
slightly left (a very common forgery).
Forgery I - Measurements decisive.
Type II- with period
There are comparatively few Type II forgeries. These have not been as thoroughly studied as the Type I forgeries
but can be dealt with on the same basis.
Genuine are identical to Type I except:
I) A period has been added which on well-struck examples is a vertically elongated
rectangle in shape.
2) "GOBIERNO" is shifted a little to the right relative to "CONSTITUCIONALISTA"
so that the back of the "G" lines up between the "T'' and "I" below.
SOMBRERETE
Date:
November- December 1914
Printing: The overprint is hand-stamped in black possibly from metal and is

almost invariably poorly struck. It consists of three lines,
GOBIERNO/CONSTITUCIONA/LISTA m poorly aligned
capital letters with serifs.
Issue of 1910
Description
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
2
3
4
5
10
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
0
50.00RR
50.00RR
50.00RR
RR
35.00R
RR
No unused examples have been reported

Usage
Covers are RR
from
250.00
111
TEQUISQUIAPAN
Date:
September-October 1914
Printing: Typeset in rows of 10 with 5 of each type, on the

issue of 1910 and on the 20 with Villa
monogram.
There are two types of overprint:
Type I - italic letters

Type II - upright letters
Type I
Type II
The local postmaster, Rosendo Ruiz, in a 1919 letter tojuan Balme stated that the following
quantities (both types together) were produced:
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
1,000
300
100
7,500
7,500
200
100
80
He added that "very few were used." Most of these have not been seen. It is possible that all 20
have the Villa monogram (none have been seen without).
Type I
Italic Type
No.
Description
Type II
Upright Type
Issue of 1910
5
15.00
Orange
15.00
1910 Issue with Villa monogram (#462)
20
Blue & Claret
Usage
One cover has been seen bearing the 5 with Type I overprint reading down, dated Oct 15 , 1914. This sold in
August 1990 for $1,850.00 plus 10%. A Type II cover with the 5 has also been seen.
112
TORREON STRAIGHT-UNE OVERPRINT

Date:
July 11, 1914
Printing: Straight line type hand-stamped diagonally in violet, red-violet, or

pinkish red on various issues. Toward the end of its use, the
hand-stamp became badly worn. It was replaced with the circular
"T.C." type.
Issue of 1899
Violet or Red violet
Description
No.
1p
Blue & Black
Pink
75.00R
Issue of 1910
Violet or Red violet
No.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Description
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
50
1p
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Gray blue & Claret
Carmine & Blue
Red brown & Black
Blue & Black
*
5.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
1.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
15.00
25.00
0
5.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
1.00
5.00
8.00
10.00
30.00R
1908 Postage Dues

12
13
14
15
16
1
2
4
5
10
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
12.00
12.00
12.00
12.00
12 .00
Transitorio Issue (#358)

17
10
Red
113
Usage
'Ibis is the second most frequently encountered local provisional overprint on cover. About 270 examples have been
recorded, most being from the Rezagos (dead letter) archive.
5 single franking:
1 + 4, 2 + 3:
10:
from
from
from
35 .00
50.00
50.00
Any other frankings are R or RR.

Forgeries
There are several forgeries. The genuine overprints are frequently worn or blurred which
can make taking measurements difficult. The vertical dimension is particularly unreliable,
but when the overprint letters are clear, they should be about 2.5 mm high .
CONSTITUCIONALISTA
(mm)
CONSTITUCIONALI
(1st 15 letters]
(mm)
Overall
length (mm)
GOBIERNO
(mm)
Space
between
words (mm)
Genuine
34.4-34.5
10.0
2.5
22 .0
17.8-17.9
33
28.2-28.3
31.5
30.7
29.1
33.5
25.3-25.6
10.0-10.2
8.2-8.3
9.2
9.2
9.1
10.0
10.5-10.7
2.3-2 .4
1.2-1.3
1.4
1.0
1.0
1.5
l.l-1.2
20.5
18.7-18.8
21.2-21.5
20.5
20.0
22.0
23.7
16.0-16.4
15.0
16.5
16.2
16.0
17.2
19.0-19.1
Forgery
Forgery
Forgery
Forgery
Forgery
Forgery
Forgery
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
Remarks:
Genuine: No period.
Forgery A: "C"s and "O"s rather square. No period.
Forgery B: With period.
Forgery C : With period, letters are shorter (about 2 mm).
Forgery D : With period. Letters 2.0 mm high .
Forgery E: No period. Letters 2.0 mm high.
Forgery F: No period. Letters have serifs.
Forgery G : Period?
Note that all of these forgeries have too narrow a space between the words, with forgery A being the only one that
is at all dangerously close to the genuine in this regard .
114
TORREON "T.C." OVERPRINT

Date:
October 1, 1914
Printing: Hand-stamped in purple on the 20 of 1899 and the issue of 1910.

Also known in gray blue on values of the 1910 issue. Bi-colored
double overprints were philatelic favors and are not known used.
Issue of 1899 - 1903
Violet
Description
No.
18
18A
20
50
Rose & Blue

Carmine & Black
Gray Blue
0
*
*
25.00
RR
Issue of 1910
19
19a
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
1
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
50
1p
5p
Dull violet
5.00
Dull violet- magenta overprint 2.50
Green
6.00
10.00
Orange brown
Carmine
10.00
2.50
Orange
Blue & Orange
10.00
Gray blue & Claret
10.00
Carmine & Blue
20.00
Red brown & Black
Blue & Black
Carmine & Black
5.00
20.00
6.00
10.00
10.00
1.50
8.00
8.00
15.00
7.50
2.50
25.00
25.00
35.00R
19a was probabfy not regularfy issued.
The 50 - 5p luwe not bun seen other than philatelicalfy produced examples with double overprints in two colors (see below). It is like!JI
that a sufficient supp!JI qf these values with the straight-line type overprint remained on hand.
Philatelic Varieties (not regularly issued)

On Issue of 1910
No.
19DD1
19DD2
19DD3
20DD
1
1
1
2
Description
Gray black & Violet ovpts

Gray black & Magenta ovpts
Violet & Magenta ovpts
Magenta & Violet ovpts
2.50
2.50
2.50
2.50
115
No.
21 DD
22DD
23DD
24DD
25DD
26DD 1
26DD2
27DD
28DD
29DD
3
4
5
10
15
20
20
50
lp
5p
Description
Violet & Green ovpts

Magenta & Green ovpts
Vertical pair top magenta,
bottom green ovpts
2.50
2.50
2.50
2.50
2.50
2.50
lO .OOR
7.50
12.50
40.00R
The overprints are sidcwqys on 27DD - 29DD "Green" can tend towards blue or grqy.
Stamps fuwe been seen with the overprint heavi!Y struck in blue or grqy blue where the space between
the final "o" of "GOBIERNO" and "C" of "CONS71TUCIONAllSTA" is on!Y 0. 8 mm as
compared to the usual 1. 7 mm The periods are much heavier and the stem of the "T." of "T. C." is
obviousfy thicker. It is possible but not certain that these were produced with the original hand-stamp.
The 2, 3, 5 and 20 have been seen. Status uncertain.
Usage
About 75 covers have been recorded, most of which bear a single 5 and were part of the "Rezagos" archive.
5 single franking:
Combinations making 5 rate:
Rates other than 5: R to RR
from
from
35 .00
75.00
Forgeries
Several forgeries exist and some are more frequently encountered than are originals. The easiest way to identify an
overprint as being genuine is to study the position of the "G" of "GOBIERNO " relative to the "T " of "T.C." If the
stem of the "T'' were extended directly downward, the "G" would be well to the left, clearing it by about 1.8 mm.
On all of the forgeries, if there is any clearance at all it is 0.5 mm or less.
116
The following points of comparison are also useful:

The diameter of the genuine is approximately l 9.5 mm while forgeries are mostly smaller: 18.5-l 9 mm. One is much
larger: 22 mm.
On the genuine there is no period after "CONSTITUCIONALISTA" whereas several fakes show one.
"T' and "C" are unserifed (one forgery shows serifs), and on genuine examples both letters are followed by periods
which are round, level with the base of the letters. The one after the "T' is about 1.2 mm from the stem. Some
forgeries show square periods, or periods which are slightly raised, and more often than not they are closer to the
letters.
Some forgeries have a narrow space between the words at the bottom - as little as 3 mm, whereas on the genuine
this space is about 9.5 mm.
VIEZCA
Date:
October 8, 1914
Printing: Hand-stamped in red violet on the issue of 1910
Issue of 1910
Description
No.
1
2
5
1
2
5
Dull violet
Green
Orange
RR
RR
25.00R
40.00R
Usage
Eight covers have been recorded, all bearing the 5:
from
200.00R
Forgery
One forgery has been seen. It is violet instead of red violet .
Genuine:
with period, length - 12.5-13 mm including period; height of "E" - 3.2 mm
Forgery:
without period, length - 13 mm; height of "E" - 3.5+ mm
The genuine overprint is usually struck unevenly so that the righl end qf the name is distorted and the "V'' is smaller with the lifi. stroke
shorter than the righL The ''A" is occasionally followed l!J a vertical bar caused l!J the edge qf the hand-stamp.
117
VILLAR
Date:
Late 1914?
Printing: Hand-stamped diagonally in violet.
On Issue of 1910
No.
5
6
Description
5
10
Orange
Blue & Orange
RR
RR
RR
Usage
Three covers are known bearing the 5, one being an uncancelled stamp.
YURIRIA
The two presently known examples of this overprint straddle used pairs of the 5 dollar sign
overprint issue (No. 427) and are hand-stamped in very pale green; RR. The cancellation is
"YURIRIA Nov 5 15" on both. By this date, the dollar sign overprint issues had been
demonitized. It is likely that it was locally revalidated at Yuriria (with the application of the
handstamped overprint) during a shortage of the current issue. This is the latest of the
handstamped overprints.
Unfortunately, the overprint is too pale to reproduce.
118
ZACATECAS
Date:
August 10, 1914
Printing: Hand-stamped in violet, gray blue, red or pale

blue (or greenish blue), on issue of 1910. There
are two types, the difference being in the
orientation of "ZM" to the words and stars
which encircle.
Type II
Type I
Type I -
Left star is 2 mm above "Z."

Right star is level with top of "M."
Diameter is 19.5 mm.
Type II - Left star is level with the top of "Z."

Right star is almost 2 mm above "M."
Diameter is 18.2 mm.
On Type II the end of "CONSTITUCIONALISTA" is bent inward and a period has been
added.
Issue of 1899
Type I
No.
1
Description
3
Type II
Orange brown
0
25.00
Issue of 1910 in violet

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
50
1p
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Gray-blue & Claret
Red & Blue
Red brown & Black
Blue & Black
10.00
10.00
15.00R
15.00R
3.50
15 .00R
1.50
10.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
1.00
5.00
6.00
7.50
R
R
10.00
3.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
RR
'Ijpe I has been seen in dark grCDJish blue on the 5 1910 (used 10. 00) and in very pale blue on the 5 and 10 (both used and R).
'Ijpe II has been seen in red on the 1, grCDJ blue on the 1 and 2 and pale greenish blue on the 3.
There seems to have been some philatelic manipulation with the 'Ijpe II handstamp.
119
Usage
About 150 covers were found in the dead letter archive and these represent the vast m,Yority of the covers in
philatelic hands. 1bis is the third most plentiful local overprint on cover. Nearly all are the 5, usually Type I. Price
from $30.00
Any other franking must be considered R to RR.
Forgeries
Two fairly good forgeries are known.

One resembles Type I in general layout but everything is larger and the stars are composed of six little wedges
instead of 3 crossed lines. There is no period after the "M." "Z" and "M" are nearly 5 mm high, compared to 4.5
mm in both types of original. Diameter is 20 mm.
The other forgery closely resembles Type II but the alignment of the lettering in the two words shows some
differences, the most noticeable being in the word "Constitucionalista" where the second "t" is turned more to the
left than in the original where it points more downward.
Another very common forgery shows a circular outline and the lettering of Gobierno Constitucionalista is italic rather
than upright. 1bis is found on fake covers.
There is a small straight line hand-stamp "ZACATECAS" which is found struck in black. This is not an overprint
but rather a cancellation used in combination with an OPA duplex-type cancellation in order to specify the letter's
place of origin.
120
STATUS UNCERTAIN
A-
This has been seen on the 1-1 p 1910 issue, sometimes bearing a July 1914 cds of
MAPIMI, DURANGO apparently applied by favor (the stamps still have their gum).
No covers have been recorded.
B-
This, either with or without a hyphen between the letters, and in black or black green
has been found on many different stamps with cancels as early as July 1914 and as late
as October 1915 from different places in Northern Mexico. Two covers have been seen.
One theory is that this device was used by a mobile military unit. Or, it could be a
fantasy.
C -
"GC(?)" - two 1 local delivery covers from December 1914 have been seen.
Unfortunately, on both the cancel is blurred so the origin is unknown. The overprint
is in black.
D-
"-guez (?)"-a 5 with violet overprint is known tied to a cover by aJuly 1914 OPA
Mexican National Railway cancel.
E-
"CV IT"- Cindad Victoria, Tamalipas? Only one example (Scott #1910) has been seen
by the author.
MANUSCRIPT OVERPRINTS
The best known, from Dolores Hidalgo, has been catalogued. A "Gubierno/Constititucionalista"
hand written across a pair of 5 is known on cover from Ciudad Camargo and a "Gbno./Const."
on a single 5 is known on cover from Pueblo Nuevo.
121
PROVISIONAL CANCELS
ACAPONETA
SANrA MARIA DEL RIO
BOGUS OVERPRINT S
The following have been determined, or are considered, to be bogus varieties (or "fantasies" ).
Many of these varieties have been seen on stamps showing cancellation dates that preclude the
possibility that the overprint was applied prior to use. Others have been seen on quantities of
higher denominations, while no examples on the denominations used for the common rates have
been seen. A few of the attributions were made by H. C. Hopkins, who was in Mexico during
the Revolution and knew some of the persons from whom these varieties originated.
122
attributed to Carlos Ysla

The following were attributed by Calvin Stier to a certain Sr. Gutierrez in either Salamanca or
Guamajuato.
123
124
THE MONOGRAM OVERPRINTS
Sres.
H. E. Gerher & C!a. Inc.

Aperta do # 1 ,148.
Ci"-1.dad.
Registered local delivery, 2 June 1915. Franking includes the 2 0 1899 issue
with monogram
125
THE GOTHIC GCM (VILLA) MONOGRAM OVERPRINT

The overprint is commonly referred to as the Villa monogram because it was issued by the
Conventionists, whose most prominent military supporter was General Francisco Villa.
Authorized December 28, 1914.
First printing:
December 28(?), 1914- lateJanuary 1915.
Second printing: March -July 1915.
Date:
Note: The two printings were separated by an interval during which

Mexico City was occupied by Constitutionalist forces under
General Obregon.
Printing:
Typographed at Mexico City on various issues.
SPECIAL PRINTINGS
Beginning around mid-1915, the Constitutionalist Director General of Posts, Don Cosme Hinojosa,
began producing stamps and varieties in limited quantities for sale to stamp collectors. These stamps
were usually sold for a premium over the face value, and were not generally available at post offices.
They were valid for postage but few who bought them chose to use them, though they are
occasionally seen on philatelic covers. In the listings, these "Special Printings" are designated with
the suffix "SP" following the catalog number.
Special printings were made of the Villa monogram in the month or two following the
Constitutionalists' taking permanent control of the capital on July 16, 1915.
PLATE INFORMATION
FIRST PRINTING
Three different plates were used. Each was electrotyped from an original model or made from a
drawing so that the final plate of 100 was a solid unit.
Most positions in these plates do not show any distinctive characteristics that would enable one to
do plate reconstructions, but certain positions do show breaks or flaws caused by faulty plate making.
These are, of course, constant and none of these flaws are found on more than one plate. Stamps or
multiples showing these flaws can be assigned with certainty to the first printing, and also specifically
to one of the three plates. Only a few values of the 1910 issue were overprinted during the first
printing: the 2, 3, 4 and 5. The 2 and 3 were overprinted from Plate I (rare) and Plate II
(common). The 4 is known from Plate I only. The 5 was overprinted from all three plates, with
Plate II being rather scarce.
126
The numbers below the following monograms refer to sheet position:

Plate I
39
Plate II
24
31
32
33
36
37
40
41
43
46
56
65
66
73
79
127
86
93
96
100
Plate I II
22
50
128
32
52
33
53
39
62
49
63
SECOND PRINTING
Stamps were overprinted from a new set of plates of 100. It is not known if these plates were solid
or composed of cliches. These plates seem to be relatively free of flaws, although the two shown
below have been found (positions unknown).
In addition, the 1 centavo was commonly overprinted in blocks of four cut from stamp booklets, using
two different plates of four subjects. The two plates have the monograms in slightly different
alignments.
Overprints were also applied to panes of the 2 and 5 cut from booklets and also to broken sheet
stock of other values using plates of eight subjects.
Booklet pam qf eight (5 centavos) Plate IV
129
There were at least five of these plates of eight (which were probably composed of cliches). Some
Plate 1
Plate 2
l
l l l
l l
Plate 3
Plate 4
Plate 5
130
The following table shows which stamps are known from the different plates.
Issues of:
1899-1903
Plate I
Plate II Plate III Plate IV
15
20
1, 2
3, 15
1910
2, 5
20
5, 20
15
The 2 and 10 of 1903 are from one of these plates but it is not known which one. In addition,
some values of the 1910 issue are known hand-stamped from a single cliche.
THE SPECIAL PRINTING

The new plates which Hinojosa used for making the philatelic varieties were composed of cliches.
Three of these have flaws as shown in the following illustrations:
These three cliches are found in the plates used for overprinting the 1899-1910 and Dollar Sign
overprinted stamps through the 20 at: A - position 53, B - position 87 and C - position 98. These
cliches appear at different positions in the narrower setting for overprinting the Transitorios and the
wider setting for overprinting the 50 - 5 pesos values. At one point cliches were turned in the setting
for overprinting the 1-20 size stamps, at positions 18, 22 and reportedly a third unknown position,
making tete-beche items. Only a few such sheets were produced.
On 1899-1903 Issues
No.
444
445
446
Description
15
20
50
Lavender gray & Claret

Rose & Blue
Red lilac & Black
Printing
II
II
II
150.00 175.00R
200.00R RR
RR
131
Description
No.
448
450
453
454
5p
2
10
50
Printing
II
II
II
II
Carmine & Black

Green
Blue & Orange
Carmine & Black
0
RR
200.00R
RR
RR
444, 445 and 453 were overprinted on small presses from plates of eight subjects. The impression of 444 (Plate I) is heary. 445 and 453
(Plate III and Plate ?) are finer impressions hut not as fine as the Special Printings. Reportedly two copies of 448 were sold. They were
hand-stamped. It is not certain whether they still exisL 454 was apparently overprinted on a press. The impression is iriferior to those qf the
Special Printings. 446 was overprinted, singly or possibly in vertical pairs, on Plate II of 8 subjects.
Description
No.
439-SP
440-SP
441-SP
442-SP
443-SP
444-SP
445-SP
446-SP
447-SP
448-SP
449-SP
450-SP
451 -SP
452-SP
453-SP
454-SP
1
2
3
5
10
15
20
50
1p
5p
1
2
4
5
10
50
Quantity
reportedly
made
Green
Vermilion
Orange brown
Dark blue
Violet & Orange
Rose & Blue
Red lilac & Black
Blue & Black
Carmine & Black
Violet
Green
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Carmine & Black
(20)
(10)
(50)
(50)
(20)
(20)
*
100.00
100.00
50.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
250.00
250.00
500.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
10.00
125.00
200.00
RR
RR
449 has been seen on a philatelic cover. No. 452 saw very limited use on Second Class mailing receipts which
Hinojosa's control since these receipts were not supposed to leave the post qffice.
452-SP exists in panes
of six cut from
of course
stamp booklets: R.
Errors
No.
441I-SP 3
4421-SP 5
4441-SP 15
4451-SP 20
4521-SP 5
Description
Inverted
Inverted
Inverted
Inverted
Inverted
overprint
overprint
overprint
overprint
overprint
75.00
50.00
RR
RR
25.00
The 3 and 5 inverts were produced in sheets. The 15 and 20 may he from a different setting containing turned cliches.
132
remained under
On 1910 Issue
A - Press printed I or II
Description
No.
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465-SP
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
50
1p
5p
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Gray blue & Claret
Red & Blue
Red brown & Black
Blue & Black
Carmine & Black
Printing
II
I, II
I, II
I, II
I, II
II
II
II
II
II
.75
.35
.50
3.00
.20
10.00
5.00
15.00
25.00
25.00
100.00
II
II
II
II
II
R
20.00
.75
.35
.50
3.00
.20
10.00
5.00
15.00
25 .00
30.00
B - Hand-stamped
457
458
459
460
462
3
4
5
10
20
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Red & Blue
R
RR
20.00
RR
The 3 hand-stamped is from th bottom row of a shet with prinled overprint misplaced upward. The hand-stamped examples show part of
th prinled overprint at top. A strip of seven exists. H C. Hopkins owned a shet of th 4 and I 0, since broken up. The top half of th
I 0 shet has remained intact
The I was overprinted both in shets rif I 00 and in blocks
from one of th plates of eight sulljects (plate I) - R.
The 2 and 5 were also overprinted both in shets
panes of 8 from booklets start at $50.00.
of 4 cut from
of I 00 and,
booklets. Price for intact pane
during th second prinling, in blocks
of 4 mint $I 0. 00. It is also known
of 8 cut from
booklets. Prices for intact
Most values exist regummed with a dark grqyish brown gum bifore being overprinted. Gum often got onto th face of the stamp and, whn
washed ojJ, could result in removal of part or all of an overprint A couple of pairs (2 and 3) are known, one without overprint due to
removal ofgum
All values, with th possible exception
of th 2
and 5, exist as Special Printings.
133
Errors
No.
Description
4-551
4-55DD
1
1
4-55
4561
4-56DD
1
2
2
4571
457
4-591
3
3
5
4-60 I
460
4621
10
10
20
4641
lp
Inverted overprint
Double ovpt (from pane of 4-,
coarse print)
Pair, one without ovpt
Inverted (from pane of 8, heavy print)
Double ovpt (from pane of 8,
heavy print)
Inverted overprint
Ovpt on back only
Inverted overprint
Inverted overprint
Pair, one without ovpt
Inverted (heavy impression,
from pane of 8)
Inverted overprint
35.00
50.00R
4-0.00
50.00R
RR
75.00R
R
35.00
50.00
RR
R
75.00RR
35.00
4601 was used from Orizaba.
1he enlire series exists as Special Printings with inverted overprint Impressions are clearer than the above and ink is a dense black.
4551-SP
4561-SP
4571-SP
4-581-SP
4591-SP
4601-SP
4611-SP
4621-SP
4631-SP
4641-SP
4-651-SP
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
50
lp
5p
Inverted
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
7.00
7.00
7.00
12.00
20.00
150.00
"
"
"
"
"
Tete-heche Pairs
460tb-SP
46ltb-SP
462tb-SP
50.00
50.00
50.00
10
15
20
Values other than the ones listed above are believed to be private reprints (see page 140).
Overprinted Front and Back

455-SP
456-SP
457-SP
134
1
2
3
50.00
50.00
50.00
Description
No.
1908 Postage Dues

466-SP
467-SP
468-SP
469-SP
470-SP
1
2
4
5
10
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
12.00
12.00
12.00
12.00
12.00
"Used" were favor cancelled.

Errors
4661-SP
4671-SP
4681-SP
4691-SP
4701-SP
1
2
4
5
10
Inverted overprint
II
II
II
20.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
On Transitorio Issue (nos. 354- 361 )

471A-SP
471B-SP
471C-SP
471D-SP
471E-SP
471F-SP
471G-SP
471H-SP
1
2
4
5
10
20
50
1p
Deep blue
Yell ow green
Blue violet
Gray green
Red
Yell ow brown
Claret
Bright violet
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
These exist used 1!)1 favor.
On Denver Issue (nos. 386 - 393)

472A-SP
472B-SP
472C-SP
472D-SP
472F-SP
472G-SP
472H-SP
47~-SP
1
2
3
5
10
15
50
1p
Pale blue
Light green
Orange
Deep rose
Rose
Rose lilac
Yellow
Violet
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
These exist used 1!)1 favor. Pairs with overprints tete-heche lwve been reported
135
On Dollar Sign Overprint (on 1910 Issue nos. 423- 433)

No.
Description
475
477
480
3
5
20
Orange brown
Orange
Red & Blue
0
RR
RR
RR
The 3 and 5 were sold in Mexico City and the 3 was also used at Puebla. The 20 is known used from Puebla.
480A-SP 50
480B-SP lp
480C-SP 5p
Red brown & Black

Blue & Black
Carmine & Black
30.00
30.00
100.00
The 1 - 20 with Dollar Sign Overprint mqy exist as Special Printings but the author has not been able to confirm this. MaT!JI hundreds
been examined, but have proved to be forgeries.
of examples have
Usage
The first printing was most commonly used from Mexico City until Villa's armies evacuated it at the end of January
1915. Villa established his headquarters at Torreon bringing a very large supply of the stamps with him. They were used
extensively in Northern Mexico, including parts of B.Ya California, until late 1915.
First printing
5
2
2
2
single franking:
+ 3:
or 4 postcard:
or 4 local delivery:
from
from
from
from
7.00
12 .00
10.00
10.00
Mixed issue frankings are found, most often with Dollar Sign overprint issues or script GCM ("Carranza") monogram
Issues.
from
$20.00
Rates other than 2 and 5 are scarce.
The second printing did not appear until March 1915 and was used exclusively in Mexico City and surrounding areas
as far east as Puebla and also in the states of Morelos and Chiapas (rare). Mail to foreign destinations originating from
Mexico City during the period from March through july is seldom cancelled "Mexico, DF" but rather was conveyed to
Veracruz and cancelled there (note these stamps were never issued at Veracruz) or by diplomatic pouch to Washington,
D . C . and cancelled there.
Second printing
2 or 4 local delivery:
from
10.00
The Conventionists doubled their postal rates in February 1915 but apparently a lot
of mail continued to pass at th
All other rates are, at the very least, rather scarce.

Foreign destination covers via Veracruz and cancelled there:
Mail sent via diplomatic pouch cancelled Washington, D . C.:
136
from
from
20.00
50.00
old rates for a while.
Two covers are known bearing 1899 Eagle issues; one bearing the 50 of 1903 is also known.
Mailing receipts for second class materials (periodicals, etc) have the postage affixed and cancelled. Normally these are
not to leave the post offices, but Eduardo Aguirre through his connections acquired a lot which became the best source
for higher denomination stamps. Intact receipts are rare:
from
50.00
Philatelic usages of the Special Printings exist and are worth a 50% premium over the value of the stamps on them. They
are rare.
Non-philatelic covers with Special Printings do not exist, since these stamps were not sold at face value to the general
public.
Forgeries
Many different types of forgeries exist, some of which are excellent, so care must be exercised when purchasing the
scarcer stamps. Expertization is strongly recommended for the rarities. A thorough knowledge of the characteristics of
the genuine is essential. The following diagram shows the most important points for study:
10-7
Important Points
if Genuine
Overprint
137
1) The shape of the inside of the top of the "G" is only slightly arched.
2) The point on top of the "G" should be well-defined and not too thick or square on the end.
3) This "channel" between the top of the "G" and the right shoulder of the "M" tapers slightly towards the top (this
feature is sometimes subtly distorted by ink-fill or ink-flaking).
4-) The ball on the end of the downstroke of the "G" should have a well-defined point that hooks slightly upward to
the right.
5) The way in which the "G"s serif crosses and separates from the third stroke of the "M" is quite important, as is the
shape of the rightward projection of the horizontal bar which on some fakes angles upward.
6) On the downward stroke of the "M" just opposite the very tip of the "C," there is a minute bump. This is perhaps
the single most useful point. On most forgeries it is clearly absent. It is only sometimes lost on originals when the
coverage of the black ink is not very dense, or when it is very heavily inked.
7) The bottom right end of the "M" is distorted on many fakes .
8) The inside of the bottom of the "G" is an inverted arch.
9) On certain fakes the bottom center of the "M" does not cross the "C." These fakes are easy to detect but are not
nearly as common as those that have this detail correct.
10) The bottom left end of the "M" is distorted on many fakes .
Other points of comparison can be useful as well.
If the clarity of all original overprints was as ideal as is shown in this illustration, the task of weeding out fakes would not
be nearly so challenging. Many details may be distorted or lost due to over- or under-inking. A feel for how much, and
what sort of, distortion can be attributed to this can only be gained from the experience of studying many hundreds of
known genuine examples. These could include stamps cancelled in the proper periods, and also the cheap values in large
multiples, as well as covers. The following shows a clearly printed genuine overprint.
452 SP
The clarity of impression and density of the ink is always excellent on Hinojosa's Special Printings. The 5 orange of
1903, no. 4-52 SP, is seldom found forged mint (used is another matter) and is therefore an excellent stamp to use for
reference. The SP stamps usually show some debossing of the paper due to the pressure with which the overprint was
applied, and the fact that the backing on the press (the make-ready) which is opposite the printing surface was soft and
not correctly adjusted. There is a slight ridging of ink around the contours of the impression which is apparent when
viewed under magnification. Note: Used examples of Special Printings are almost invariably fake.
138
Quality of impression varies widely on stamps of the first and second printings - both from plate to plate and also within
a sheet. The following 5 are all first printings:
Nearly as fine as a Special Printing
Stamps of the second printing show a wide variation in inking and quality of impression. This is particularly true of the
1 1910, on values overprinted with the plates of eight subjects and especially the handstamped varieties:
From a Booklet pane,

Plate 5, Position 2
Handslampfd
(acquired by H. C. Hopkins without knowing the source
one would assume this was fake!)
An otherwise particularly dangerous forgery shows a distinct bump on the inside edge of the final stroke of the "M" about
l 1/2 mrn above where it crosses the bottom of the "C." The tiny but important bump on the outside of the same stroke
opposite the lower end of the "C" is absent.
139
Private Reprints
In late 1915, reprints were produced from a few original cliches which were borrowed from the Post Office Department
- allegedly by Eduardo Aguirre, who at that time was friendly with the Director General of Posts, and who also was shop
superintendent of the lmprenta Franco - Mexicana. The cliches were used to make examples of 439 SP-454 SP and also
tete-heche examples of the 1910 issue. The cliches used for the former were altered by making "secret marks" to one side
or the other of the tiny bump on the outside of the final stroke of the M as shown:
These same marked cliches were used on either side of the inverted cliche on the tete-heche blocks or elsewhere in the
block - which were probably printed as blocks of six with the top center position inverted. These private reprints with
secret marks have no more value than the forgeries. However the unmarked cliches in the tete-heche blocks cannot be
distinguished from genuine Special Printings once they are separated from the stamps overprinted with the marked
cliches. Fortunately, so few of these reprints were produced that these do not significantly debase the stock of the normal
and inverted Special Printings of the 1910 issue with "Villa" monograms. A few blocks have been seen where a tete-heche
pair without a secret mark could be broken out. It is the author's belief that tete-heche pairs of all values below the 10
are private reprints.
A recent discovery, an example of which is shown here, is a group of fakes apparently made from an original die, all
cancelled. The date on those seen up until now is 26 May 1915. The ink of the overprint is not as dense as on the
Hinojosa Special Printings - dryer and very slightly grayer. I have never encountered any unused, and theorize that the
cancel itself, which is a "sucursal _" ~etter invariably blurred, but probably "G") may have been the forger's clue that
would enable him to avoid being later deceived by his own work. This may also have been the work of Aguirre. These
fakes are all exotic varieties such as otherwise unrecorded inverts. Fortunately, they are very seldom seen.
140
THE SCRIPT GCM (CARRANZA)MONOGRAM

OVERPRINT
T his overprint was first used by the Conventionist faction, but was later adopted by the
Constitutionalists, after whose leader, Carranza, this overprint is commonly named.
Dat e :
Conventionist printing - late December 1914?-late January 1915

Constitutionalist printing - authorized February 25, 1915
Printing:
Typographed on 1899-1908 issues, the 1910 issue and the

1908 postage dues at Mexico City
Plate Infonnation:
The plates used by the Conventionists were solid units containing 100 subjects. No plate flaws have
been identified but it appears that at least two plates were used. One gives an impression where the
center of the monogram is weaker than the outer portions. In these plates, the monograms were
spaced to cover the 1-20 values of the 1910 series, and no plates were made with wider spacing
for overprinting the higher values. The 15 1899 and the 1, 2, 3, 5, 15, 20 and 50 (showing
two monograms on every other stamp in a horizontal row) of 1910 were produced by the
Conventionists. The Constitutionalist plates were composed with individual cliches. Many of these
cliches have breaks or flaws which repeat. Not all of the known flawed cliches appear in the same
setting, but some are found in more than one setting. So far there has not been a sufficient supply
of multiples available for study to reconstruct these settings. Special printings exist - see note on page
123 (first page of Villa monogram]. They are from the regular Constitutionalist settings.
On Issues of 1899-1903
Description
No.
483
483A-SP
483B-SP
483C-SP
483D-SP
483F-SP
483G-SP
483H-SP
483J-SP
483K-SP
483L-SP
483M-SP
483N-SP
15
1
2
3
5
10
15
20
50
1p
5p
1
2

Green
Vermilion
Orange brown
Dark blue
Violet & Orange
Rose & Blue
Red lilac & Black
Blue & Black
Carmine & Black
Violet
Green
100.00
150.00
150.00
150.00
150.00
150.00
150.00
150.00
250.00
250.00
500.00
150.00
150.00
125.00
141
Description
No.
4830-SP
483Q-SP
483R-SP
483T-SP
4
5
10
50
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Carmine & Black
150.00
25.00
150.00
250.00
It is probable that betwun 10 and 50 each of 483A-SP to 483T-SP were produced with the exception of 483Q;SP of which an estimated
500 rpere printed. The TTWnogram on No. 483 is not as dens~ printed as that on 483G-SP which is otherwise very similar.
Errors
483QJ-SP
Inverted overprint
60.00R
On Issue of 1910
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
492A
493
494-SP
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
50
50
lp
5p
Dull violet
.75
.75
.75
1.50
.25
1.50
1.25
1.50
10.00
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Gray blue & Claret
Red & Blue
Red brown & Black
.75
.50
.75
1.50
.25
1.50
1.25
1.50
10.00
With two monograms 13.5 mm

apart (first printing)
Blue & Black
Carmine & Black
50.00
15.00
100.00
75.00RR
15.00
100.00
The 50 No. 492 and 492A exist in se-tenant pairs, or strips. Price: $100.00.
492A is sometimes mistaken!J considered a double overprint, but it was actual!J made from a single impression from a plate with the sufdects
spaced to cover the smaller format 1 - 20 stamps.
Errors
Regular issue
487DD
488DD
489DD
4911
4
5
10
20
Double overprint, one faint

Double overprint
Double overprint (monograms overlap)
Inverted overprint
20.00
Some 2 inverted overprints were reported!J sold regular!J, but are not included in the listings for lack
142
25.00R
RR
RR
cif corifirmation.
Special Printings
No.
Description
484I-SP
1
484DD-SP 1
485I-SP
2
485DD-SP 2
486I-SP
3
486DD-SP 3
487I-SP
4
487DD-SP 4
5
488I-SP
488DD-SP 5
489I-SP
10
489DD-SP 10
489DI-SP (489a)
10
15
4901-SP
490DD-SP 15
491I-SP
20
491DD-SP 20
492I-SP
50
492DD-SP 50
4931-SP
1p
493DD-SP 1p
5p
4941-SP
494DD-SP 5p
Inverted overprint
Double overprint
Inverted overprint
Double overprint
Inverted overprint
Double overprint
Inverted overprint
Double overprint
Inverted overprint
Double overprint
Inverted overprint
Double overprint
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
Double overprint, one inverted

Inverted overprint
Double overprint
Inverted overprint
Double overprint
Inverted overprint
Double overprint
Inverted overprint
Double overprint
Inverted overprint
Double overprint
25 .00
10.00
10.00
12.00
12.00
20.00
20.00
30.00
30.00
175.00
250.00

495-SP
496-SP
497-SP
498-SP
499-SP
1
2
4
5
10
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
12.00
12.00
12.00
12.00
12.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
Errors
495I-SP
4961-SP
4971-SP
4981-SP
4991-SP
1
2
4
5
10
Inverted Overprint
II
II
20.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
On Denver Issue (no. 388)

499C
Orange
RR
499C is probably a Special Printing.
143
On Dollar Sign Overprint (on 1910 Issue, nos 423-433)
Description
No.
499K-SP
5p
Carmine & Black
150.00
Usage
5 single franking:
5 + 5 or lO, September 1915
letter rate:
2 local delivery rate
I Circular rate
Combinations or mixtures with other
issues to make 5 letter rate:
Use of 15 or higher denominations:
from
10.00
from
from
from
15.00
10.00
20.00
15.00
from
Scarce to Rare
Forgeries
A great number of forgeries h ave been made. All but one type fail the simple test: At the top of the loop at the bottom
of the first leg of the "M," there must be a tiny break or narrow spot. (This feature of the genuine was first noted by Dr.
R oger G ood.) Forgeries of 483A-SP to 483T-SP have been seen which do show the break in the " M-loop ." On these,
the "G" and "C" are too close together and the end of the " M " does not come as close to touching the upstroke of the
"C" as it does on th e genuine.
144
A second characteristic of the genuine which most forgeries fail to show has to do with the orientation of the overprint.
If a line is laid along the back of the genuine "G," it will lean slightly to the left. The more expensive varieties should
be expertized.
CLICHE FLAWS
~~~~~
6
10
~~
11
12
13
14
15
~~~*
16
17
18
19
20
~
21
22
26
23
27
24
28
25
145
~ q~J Lv~;J&.
g. :t
' Jf3
Registaed Local Delivery sent August 16, 1915, Oaxaca
147

The state of Oaxaca assumed a position of neutrality during the conflict between Constitutionalists
and the Conventionists. The Constitutionalists tried to occupy the state but were repelled and
subsequently they imposed a long siege of the central part of the state during which the Oaxacans
produced the provisional stamps.
5 Type I
wide 5
Date:
2
3
5 Type I
5 Type II
10
5 Type II
typeset 5
June 26, 1915
July 2, 1915
July? 1915
June 26, 1915
Late July 1915
October 26, 1915
Printing: Typographed in sheets of 42 (6 x 7). The 1 centavo printings and the

5 Type I (wide 5) were produced from settings of 21 subjects (3 x 7)
used in two operations to complete the sheet. The 2, 3 and the 5
Type II (with numerals typeset) were printed from settings of 42
subjects. The bicolored 10 was printed from two settings of 42
subjects (one for the framelines and text printed in blue and one for
the coat of arms and typeset numerals printed in red). In addition, the
stamps have a faint solid underprint applied with a setting of 42
rectangular blocks (there are cases where this faint background was
omitted).
Each subject was composed of:

A base cliche, consisting of text, central design and, on the 1 and the 5 Type I only, the
numerals of value.
Framelines, which were composed of printer's rule (except in the case of the 10 where the
framelines were an integral part of the base cliche).
148
Typeset numerals on the 2, 3, 5 Type II and 10. These were set into the base cliche in
place of the original wide 5s which were mortised.
Because only one printing press was used, the settings had to be altered, or removed from the press
altogether, when a different value was printed. Between printings, at least one of the following
occurred:
The numeral types were changed
The setting of base cliches might have been replaced, or altered with substitutions.
The framelines might be recomposed or adjusted.
Twenty-eight different printings of issued stamps have thus far been identified.
SETTINGS AND PRINTINGS

In terms of plating and printing history, the Oaxacas are among the most complicated and interesting
Mexican issues. A full description of the settings is beyond the scope of this present work. However,
users of the catalog section will not find this a handicap for, while it is necessary in most cases to
plate a stamp in order to positively identify it by printing, the catalog can be fully utilized without
requiring classification by printing. References to printings in the catalog section are made for the
benefit of the specialist. Therefore, the following summary of the settings and printings is provided
as a framework for further study by those wishing to specialize. This information is drawn from
unpublished original research by Hubert Wahlberg.
Settings
Settings are defined in terms of base-cliches. When any of the cliches are rearranged, or more than
half are substituted, this constitutes a new setting, which is designated with a Roman numeral. Lesser
alterations are assigned capital letters. Thus "Setting IV" altered with six substituted cliches becomes
"Setting IVA" rather than "Setting V." Framelines and the typeset numerals are separate
considerations which will be discussed later under "Printings."
There are three groups of settings. The first group, four I centavo settings, was composed of cliches
with "CENTAVO" singular. A total of 22 (?) cliches were employed (21 plus a reserve cliche that was
substituted in place of one of the others).
The second group of settings, from which the 2 through 5 values were printed, were composed of
cliches with "CENTAVOS" plural. Twenty-one cliches were employed in the first two settings (5
Type I) after which 42 new cliches were introduced. It appears that in subsequent alterations, 6
reserve cliches and the original 21 (with the "5"s mortised out) received substitutions so that a total
of 69 cliches were employed in this second group. The 10 centavos settings were composed from new
cliches for the blue printing (framelines and text) plus center (eagle) cliches, of which at least some
were derived from discarded cliches from the previous group.
Each group is numbered separately with Roman numerals .
149
The 1 Centavo Settings

These settings consisted of 21 cliches arranged 3 x 7. Two impressions were required to complete the
sheet of 42 stamps.
Setting I:
Setting II:
Setting III:
Setting IV:
has not been fully reconstructed.

the cliches appear in a different order. It is very possible that all 21 cliches used
for Setting I were used for Setting II, but until Setting I has been reconstructed,
we cannot rule out the possibility of one or more substituted cliches.
cliches appear in a different order, and there is one substituted cliche.
cliches appear in a different order and there is one cliche substitution - the cliche
removed from Setting II reappears.
(Note: On the I centavo, the numTals are an integral part
of the cliche.)
The 2, 3 and 5 Settings

There are five settings in this group (numbered I - V). In addition, Setting II was altered once with
the substitution of two cliches and Setting IV was altered three times with substitutions. The first two
settings were for the 5 centavos value only, and were made up of 21 cliches (3 x 7) so that two
impressions were required to complete the sheet. As with the 1 centavo, these 5 centavos cliches
included the numerals as integral elements. To streamline production, the subsequent settings, III
through V, were composed of 42 cliches grouped into two forms (3 x 7) locked together so that a
sheet could be produced from a single impression. The inclusion of the numerals as integral parts of
the cliche was abandoned; these cliches had numerals removed (mortised) and numeral-types inserted
in their places. This had the advantage of enabling the printer to change denominations without
requiring an additional set of cliches.
Setting I:
Setting II:
Setting III:
21 cliches with integral "5"s.

the same 21 cliches arranged in a different order.
42 new cliches with mortises to allow for insertion of numeral types. Used for 2
only.
Setting IliA: reserve cliches have been substituted at positions 21 and 34. Used for 2 and 3
(rare).
On Settings III and IliA most positions show dots or dashes of colors around the numerals caused
by ridges created when the cliches were mortised. These were removed before Setting IV was
composed.
Setting
IV: the cliches used in Setting IliA with 27 of the cliches rearranged and a reserve
cliche substituted. (fhe positions of 14 cliches remain unchanged.) Used for the 2
and 3.
Setting IVA: six cliches substituted. The "new'' ones appear to have actually been ones that had
150
been previously used in Setting II with the "5"s mortised out. Used for 5 centavos
only.
Setting IVB: fifteen more substituted cliches, all apparently formerly used in Setting II. Used for
5 centavos only.
Setting IVC: three additional substituted cliches (new). The 2, 3 and 5 were all produced
from this setting.
Setting V: the 42 cliches from Setting IVC in a different order. The cliches in Column 1 are
interchanged with those of the 6th, Column 2 with Column 5 and Column 3 with
Column 4.
The 10 Centavos Setting
The 10 was printed in two colors from single settings, one for the red center and the other for the
blue framelines and text (numerals of value were typeset and printed in red together with the center
eagle). Both the "red" and "blue" settings were comprised of 42 cliches plus two additional "blue"
cliches which were substituted at two stages during the course of printing.
Setting I:
Setting lA:
Setting IB:
the original setting for each color.

substituted "blue" cliche at position 7.
substituted "blue" cliche at position 3 replacing one that broke.
The Printings
The following are the printings actually issued. A philatelic printing of each of the values 1 through
5 is described on page 157 under "Philatelic Varieties."
1 Centavo:
Six printings from four settings; the first five were printed in shades of reddish
violet and can only be differentiated through plating. They are therefore assigned
a single number in the catalog.
from Setting I. This consisted of only three issued sheets, each believed to have
had the sheet serial number printed in blue in the upper left margin.
2nd Printing: from Setting II. Early sheets have the sheet serial number in the upper left
margin. This was soon changed to the upper right margins. The later sheets
of this and all subsequent printings do not have serial numbers.
3rd, 4th, 5th printings: from Setting III. These can only be differentiated by analyzing the
framelines, which were adjusted or reset between the printings.
6th Printing: from Setting IV. Easily recognized by its dull grayish or blackish violet color
and soft, worn-appearing impression. It is listed as no. 1a in the catalog.
1st Printing:
2 Centavos:
Seven printings from Setting III, IliA, IV, IVC and V, some of which were also
used for printing 3 and 5 stamps.
1st Printing:
Setting III. Most stamps show dots or dashes of color around the numerals
151
(mortise flaws- see note after Setting IliA, page 151 ). No errors.
2nd Printing: Setting IliA. When the cliche was substituted at position 21, one of the
numeral types was reinserted upside-down creating the variety - lower left 2
inverted. The printing consisted of an estimated 300 sheets.
3rd Printing: Setting IV (mortise flaws have been removed). No errors. The printing can be
divided into two stages. In the later stage (which included the majority of the
sheets) the lower left 2 is missing at position 13 (almost certainly the result of
a lift out). It has been estimated that about 100 sheets having this "missing 2"
variety were produced.
4th, 5th, 6th Printings: From Setting IVC. The differences, noted by only the most
advanced specialists, have to do with the alignments of the
framelines and slight variations in the styles of the numeral type
and where these are found in the setting.
7th Printing: From Setting V.
Since most of these require plating to identify, they are not treated separately in the catalog.
3 Centavos:
Four Printings
1st Printing:
From Setting IliA (with dashes or spots of color around the numerals on most).
May have only consisted of a couple of sheets - only a few examples are
currently known . Dark brown and bright orange brown.
2nd Printing: From Setting IV (mortise flaws removed). Deep orange brown. The setting
contains an error at position 2: upper left 3 inverted. About 300 sheets were
printed.
3rd Printing: From Setting IVC. Bright orange brown.
4th Printing: From Setting V. Easily recognized by its dull shade of orange brown and
rather soft worn-appearing impression.
5 Centavos:
Eight printings from two settings of 21 cliches for Type I (wide "5"s) stamps and
a setting of 42 cliches for type II (typeset "5"s).
Setting I. The sheets of 42 were produced from two impressions from the
setting with the sheet being turned before the second half was printed, resulting
in 7 tete-beche pairs per sheet. Most sheets have a serial number in the
margin. These were applied sequentially. The highest number seen so far is
190.
2nd Printing: Setting II. Both halves of the sheet were printed upright. Two intact sheets are
known.
3rd Printing: Setting IVA ("5"s are typeset).
1st Printing:
It should be noted that as in the case of the 2 centavos, there are slight differences in the styles of
the numeral type and the positions at which these types occur change from printing to printing.
152
4th Printing: Setting IVB.

5th Printing: Half printed sheets with the Type I (wide 5) stamps from Setting II were
completed using Setting IVB half of which was inked so that the impression
over the half already printed is albino. Each sheet contains seven se-tenant
pairs, Type I + II or Type II + I.
6th, 7th, 8th Printings: Setting IVC. These are similar to the 4th Printing and can only be
differentiated by plating and a careful study of the alignment of the
framelines (an examination that even the best-informed specialists
find challenging) and slight differences in the type fonts of the
numeral "5"s.
Because the Type II (typeset 5) stamps can only be distinguished through plating they are covered
by one number in the catalog.
10 Centavos: Multiple printings were made from a single setting, altered twice by the
substitution of single cliches. At some point, possibly at the very beginning, an
error at position 29, "0 1" for " 10" at upper right, was corrected.
Paper:
The stamps were printed on the backs of post office forms. Two sheets could be printed on most of
the types of forms used. Twenty-seven forms are known to have been used, most of which were
printed in black, though some have blue lines. The 1 Printing 6 is known printed on plain paper.
Separation:
Line perforated 12. Some sheets were partly, or, in the case of all known 2 from the 5th Printing,
entirely perforated using a sewing machine. The "gauge" of these sewing machine perforations varies
widely. At first a sharp needle was used, but it was soon discovered that a needle with the point
broken off produced a more satisfactory result.
Perforated 12
References to printings [in brackets] in the listings are made for the benefit of the specialist.
Oaxaca Scott
No.
No.
1
2
(414) 1
(414)a
(415) 2
Description
Reddish violet (shades)
Grayish or blackish violet
Bright green
Printings
[1 -4]
[6]
[1-4, 6-7]
.75
.60
1.20
1.00
1.50
153
Oaxaca Scott
No.
No.
3
(416)a
(416)b
(416)c
(417) 5
(418) 5
(419) 10
4
5
6
6A
The mcgoriry
Description
Printings
Dark brown
Deep orange brown
Bright orange brown
Dull orange brown
Orange Type I (shades)
Orange Type II (shades)
Blue and Red
Greenish background
of cancellations were applied l!J Javor ;prices for
RR
2.00 2.50
15.00 7.00
2.00
15.00 17.50
.35
.50
1.50
3.00
[1]
[2]
[{ 1}, 3]
[4]
(1, 2, 5]
[3-8]
used are for Javor cancelled copies.
Sewing Machine Perforations (S.M.)

The following exist. (Pr:inting indicated in brackets)
Oaxaca Scott
No.
No.
1
2
3c
5
(414)
(415)
(4 18)
Description
1
2
3
5
Reddish violet
Bright green
Bright orange brown
Orange Type II (shades)
S.M., 4 sides 12
[5]
2.00 (4]
B
X
s.
M.
s.
[2]
M.
12
[4]
[3, 5]
[3]
[4-7]
1.00 [7]
The relative scarcity of unpriced varieties has not been determined . The following are also known
and are scarce to RR:
1
5 Type I
5 Type II
12x12x12xS.M. [1], 12xS.M.x12x12 [1], 12x12xS.M.x12 [6], S.M.x12x12x12 [6]

12x12xS.M.x12 [I]
12x12xS.M.x12 [7], S.M.x12x12x12 [7]
Tete-heche and Se-tenant Varieties
Oaxaca
No.
Scott
No.
4-TB
4+5
(417a)
(418a)
5
5
5+4
(418a)
Description
Orange Type I tete-beche pair
Orange Type I + Type II
m prur
Orange Type II + Type I
m prur
Other varieties: See "Philatelic Varieties."
154
Printings
*
50.00
60.00
60.00
Errors of Separation
Oaxaca
No.
Scott
No.
Description
1U
1UH
lUV
!HUB
1
1
1
1
2U
2UH
2UV
2HUB
2
2
2
2
3U
4U
5U
5UH
3
5
5
5
5UV
5HUB
5VUB
Printings
[!]
[3]
[3]
R
15.00
15.00
(3]
[2 , 4, 5)
[3]
(4)
R
5.00
15.00
15.00
[3, 7]
[3]
[I]
(4, 6-8)
20.00
25.00
20.00
2.00
[6, 7]
15.00
[6)
15.00
[6]
(6]
Imperforate
Imperforate Horizontally (pair)
Imperforate Vertically (pair)
Horizontal pair, imperforate
between
Imperforate
Imperforate horizontally (pair)
Imperforate vertically (pair)
Horizontal pair, imperforate
between
Imperforate
Type I Imperforate
Type II Imperforate
Type II Imperforate
horizontally (pair)
Type II Imperforate
vertically (pair)
Type II Horizontal pair,
imperforate between
Type II Vertical pair,
imperforate between
lmpeifs if th last primings if th I (blackish violet) and th 3 dull orange brown exist and are considered primer's waste. The I in this
class include some printed on both sides, and tete-heche pairs. Most if th varieties listed above were acquired by Dr. H A. Mondqy through
his connection at th post office, who used some on philatelic covers.
Various imperforate margin items are known as well as some stamps with perforations on one side on!Ji (generalry rare).
Plate Varieties
The base cliches usually show some flaws due to faulty production or wear. Broken or missing letters are particularly
common. Missing "l"s on the 1 centavo are also simply base-cliche flaws. These are not worth a premium. A much
scarcer base cliche flaw is found on the I 0 where "rano de" is broken off (position 3 early). The following errors of
typesetting occur on stamps that were regularly issued:
2pvl
(415a)
2pv2
(415e)
3pvl
6pvl
(416b)
2
2
3
10
It is estimated that around 300
Lower left 2 inverted (2nd printing,

position 21 )
Lower left 2 missing (4th printing,
position 13)
Upper left 3 inverted (2nd printing,
position 2)
"0 I" for "I 0" at upper right
(position 29, early state)
if 2pvi,
I 00
if 2pv2 and about 300 if 3pvi
30.00
30.00
35 .00
35.00
25 .00
25 .00
RR
were produced
155
Double Impressions
Commonly the 2, and to a lesser extent, the 3 and 5 values are found with faint partial double impressions which are
actually "kiss" prints (where part of the sheet flaps up against the printing surface as it is pulling away from making the
primary impression). A true double impression exists of the blue printing on the I 0 centavos; price (mint) $50.00.
Philatelic Varieties
Late in the sequence of printings, but before the final ones for each value, a small number of sheets (apparently between
one and three of each value, 1 and 5) were printed from the base cliche Setting IV altered in various ways to produce
"errors." These stamps were not regularly issued and were almost certainly produced without authorization. One sheet
of 1 centavo stamps was produced where the second cliche in the setting was turned to produce tete-heche pairs, the two
halves of the sheet also being tete-heche, imperforate between. Two or perhaps three sheets of 2 centavos contained
tete-heche pairs (position l-2 and 41-42) and a variety with upper "2"s inverted for at least one position. Positions 21-22
were tete-heche, imperforate between. One vertical and one horizontal row of perforations were omitted. Two sheets,
one printed on the front of a postal form, were produced of the 3 in which cliches were inverted at II and 32 to make
tete-heche pairs. In addition, positions 1 and 42 have two upper "3"s inverted and positions 6 and 37 have "8"s in place
of upper "3"s. The 5 contained two positions with inverted "2"s in place of upper "5"s, plus horizontal pairs imperforate
between. Most of these varieties are RR. Some were used philatelically.
:::::0..
~~4~j
,.<- .-~
Many stamps are found with "missing" numerals which are simply cases where due to poor make-ready, the types failed
to print. These are especially common on the I 0 centavos. They are not significant varieties. No premium.
Proofs
5 Imperforate Essay in violet
5 Imperforate. Die proof in violet
Unique
RR
7he above were composed of ce:nter pieces with lettering, numerals and border rule typeseL (The die proof, though of the accepted design, is
technical!; an essf!Y also because the typesetting was slight!; modified bifore the stereos for the actual settings were taken).
Working Plate Proofs
These were produced from settings of 21 subjects, most cancelled philatelically, 12 or 13 October 1915. They are
probably more correctly referred to as trial impressions. All are imperforate and without gum. All are RR.
2 Green on tan paper, numerals of value an integral part of the printing base , With or without tinted
background. R
Produced from two settings. In the first, most positions had the borders as an integral part
background), the borders were removed and replaced with rule.
156
of the printing base.
In the second (without tinted
5 Type I,
Yellow ochre, trial color proofs- Imperforate, no gum

Lemon yellow
Red orange (yellow background)
R
R
R
A pair consisting of the 2 green and 5 yellow ochre prinled setenant on tan paper imperforate is known on a philatelic cover.
Usage
Non-philatelic O axaca provisional covers are uncommon.
5
5
5
2
3
2
Type II single:
Type I single:
Type I pair:
+ 3 or 1 + 1 + 3:
+ 2 of another issue:
or 1 x 2, local delivery:
From
From
From
From
From
From
$50.00
75.00
75.00
100.00
l25.00R
125.00R
Any other non-philatelic franking is R or RR.

At present covers are known from 22 post offices plus OPA 632. Cancellations of II additional offices are known on loose
stamps.
Practically all covers were sent to places within the state. One is known to Cuba, delivered after Oaxaca was taken by
the Constitutionalists.
Few stamps from the final printing of the 1, 2 or 3 were used. Most cancelled are CTO. Covers with these are RR.
A great variety of philatelic covers were produced, particularly by Dr. H. A Monday and A E. Place, though others were
also involved. These covers frequently bear varieties such as missing or inverted numerals, and Dr. Monday made up
at least 30 covers using imperforate and part-perforated varieties. The catalog value of the stamps on them is a large part
of their value . A series of philatelic covers bears Oaxaca City duplex cancels dated 12 Nov 1915. Other cancellations
which appear repeatedly on philatelic covers are: Ejutla 20July 1915. Oaxaca 12-15 August 1915.
Oaxaca City was finally occupied by the Constitutionalists on March 5, 1916, after which the stamps were invalid.
Forgeries
A great variety of forgeries exist. The most convincing is a lithographed forgery of the 5 Type I, the plate for which was
prepared by photographic means. The color is ochre yellow, and it is imperf. The gum is thicker than that of the originals
and is usually crackly. It appears to date from the time of the originals, and may have been a postal forgery. A few are
known used.
A large number of forgeries were made in 1916 using four original base cliches to produce panes of eight, comprised of
blocks printed tete-heche. The framelines are thinner than on originals and the impression from the base-cliches suggests
that they were worn. These forgeries are imperforate and include the I in green and in black, the 2, 3 and 5 in
colors approximating the originals, the 10 in issued colors and with colors reversed (blue eagle and numerals with
everything else in red) and also with the center interted and numerals omitted in blue or in red. Some are found on fake
covers, often with Constitutionalist issues added as "postage due."
Counterfeit 5 Type Is exist which are simply Type II stamps with a wide "5" carefully drawn over the narrow "5"s.
Very crude forgeries are known including the 10 with center and numerals inverted. They are so poor that even a
novice is unlikely to be deceived.
157
RANOTSOO )VI. GONZALEZ

-:
'-
'
. PLAZA PHTNOTPAL.
,t""-<..
....
<;
:0 '
'"
....2.,
P.O.Box 242.
..,..
...""~
...,.
g
&ew
..~ ~
York
(~
;:;;
The Merida Provisional

October 19, 1916, registered to New York Ciry
Two registered, nine single Jrankings and
one cover bearing two stamps are known.
159
LITHOGRAPHED "FAMOUS MEN" ISSUE- ROULETTED
Date:
September 16, 1915

after October 3, 1915
2 - 10
1
Printing: Lithographed in sheets of 100 by the American Book and

Printing Co., Mexico City.
Plate Information:
Paper:
The design was laid down in a horizontal strip of

ten repeated ten times vertically to complete the
stone. The stones were lettered "A" to "F' for the
values 1 through 10, the letters appearing in the
top margin over the seventh or eight stamp. Sheets
were numbered consecutively from 00001 up for
each value by automatic numbering machines.
White medium weight, pre-gummed.
Separation: Rouletted.
Quantities:
160
1
2
3
4
5
10
1,000,000
2,000,000
2,000,000
4,000,000
2,000,000
6,000,000
No.
500
501
502
503
504
505
505a
1
2
3
4
5
10
10
Description
Violet
Green
Brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue
Indigo
.15
.10
.25
.15
.25
.15
.15
.15
.10
.15
.10
.15
.10
.10
Perforated
The 3, 5 and 10 were perforated 12 both ways on a hand machine and issued duringJuly 1916
in Mexico City. These may have rouletting as well in one direction, either horizontally or vertically.
A few exist with perforations only. Sheets do not have serial numbers.
No.
502p
504p
505p
3
5
10
Description
Brown
Orange
Blue
1.00
1.00
1.00
These perforated varieties should not be confused with the La Carpeta printings (no. 506-511 ) which
have an entirely different appearance. The American Book and Printing Company stamps have a
much finer quality of impression.
H. C. Hopkins (Stamps, March 12, 1938; reprinted inMEXJCANA,January 1976 pp 758-9) wrote that
some of these were used. But the compilers of this catalog have not seen any. Cancels would show
July 1916 dates. The rouletted stamps rarely were used after January 1916 leaving little or nothing
with which the would-be forgers could work. Naturally, only a dated postmark can be considered
significant on a stamp which is not tied to a cover.
The vast majority of lmperforates, and partially rouletted stamps are unfinished remainders delivered to the Director of
Posts and sold by him to philatelists. Sheets lack serial numbers.
u
Imperforate
No.
500
501
502
(pair)
1
2
3
$1.00
1.00
1.00
UH
Imperforate
Horizontally
(pair)
uv
Imperforate
Vertically
(pair)
$1.50
$1.50
161
u
Imperforate
No.
503
504
505
(pair)
4
5
10
uv
UH
Imperforate
Horizontally
(pair)
1.00
1.00
1.00
Imperforate
Vertically
(pair)
1.50
1.50
1.50
1.50
H C. Hopkins reported that a sheet of I 0 Imperforate uertical!JI was sold at Torreon with a serial number, showing that it was regular!JI
issued. The upper half of this sheet is still intacL The serial number is 04286.
Hopkins also had a note that a 5 Imperforate hori<;ontal!JI was sold at a post qffice in Mexico City in July 1916, but this coincides in time
with the sak of the perforated-ouer-roukttes, and it is possibk that, like those, this 5 sheet lacked a serial number, which would make it
indistinguishabk .from the remainders sold philatelical!JI.
Printer's Waste
Sheets with double, triple and offset impressions, often with printing in both directions were delivered to the Director
General of Posts who sold them philatelically. This material is generally worth $1.00- 2.00 per stamp.
Proofs, Trial Printings Rouletted

No.
500P
502P
504P
505P
Description
1
3
5
10
Gray black
Black on card (die) Imperforate
Black on cream wove paper (plate)
Blue on coarse tan paper
5.00
150.00
25.00
2.50
505P exists imperforate vertically.
Plate Varieties
1: All stamps in the first vertical row show a bulge in the middle of the snake.
4: Stamps from the fifth vertical row show a rightward horizontal projection at the foot of the left "4."
Essay
A 4 die essay with the Juarez portrait of the I 0 exists, imperforate, lithographed on white paper and also engraved on
card. (color not recorded].
(It is apparent from Ingham's book that there are more proofs)
Usage
10 Single franking:
4 Single franking:
2 Single franking (printed matter or unsealed letter):
Multiples or combinations making I 0 letter-rate:
30 Registered covers:
162
from
from
from
from
from
2.50
3.50
6.00
3.00
7.50
Other rates are not necessarily scarce. Foreign destinations other than the U. S. are scarce, due in part to the world war.
1bis note applies to the 1916 issues as well. It is unusual to find these stamps used as late as the second half of 1916.
Philatelic covers were made using imperforates and printers waste. Of much greater value are First Day Covers of the
2- 10 together, mailed at Mexico City, 16 September 1915. Price: $100.00 R.
LITHOGRAPHED "FAMOUS MEN" ISSUE -PERFORATED
Type I
(crossed lines
on coat)
Type II
(diagonal lines
on coat)
Date:
January 1, 1916 (?)
Printing:
Lithographed in sheets of 100 by lmprenta La Carpeta,

Mexico City. The original intention was that the previous set
(no. 500 - 505) was to be replaced with a set of engraved
definitives on January 1, 1916, but because these were not
ready, a new supply of the lithographed stamps was ordered.
Why the contract was given to La Carpeta rather than
renewed with the American Book and Printing Company is
not known.
Paper:
Locally made of uneven thickness, often containing slivers of

other foreign matter.
Separation: Perforated 12 (occasionally rather ragged)
163
Plate Information:
The stones were made up from new transfers taken from the same original dies used for the earlier
printing. Two stones were made for most values.
1 Centavo:
Stone I
Stone II
2 Centavos:
Stone I
Stone II
3 Centavos:
4 Centavos:
Stone I
Stone II
233 mm x 275 1/ 4 mm (extremes of design). Individual stamps measure 191J.. mm

x 23 % mm. Transferred from a block of 25 repeated four times.
234 mm x 271 1/2 mm. Individual stamps 19 mm x 23 112 mm. Also transferred from
a block of 25. A white flaw between the "I" and "C" of "MEXICO"
("MEXIICO") is found at positions 34, 39, 84 and 89.
Individual stamps 19 mm x 23% mm. Impressions are poor, some positions badly
splotched.
229 mm x 270 mm. Individual stamps 19 mm x 23 3/ 4 mm.
One Stone only (?).
231-2 mm x 276 mm. Individual stamps 19 1/ mm x 24 mm. Transfers taken from

a block of 10 (5 x 2), repeated ten times. The design is sharper than on Stone II
so that the stamps have a lighter appearance.
229 mm x 270 mm. Individual stamps 19 mm x 23 1/2 mm. Transferred in blocks
of 25 repeated four times. The "CEATRO" variety (where the "U" was flawed so
that it resembles an "E") occurs at positions 1, 6, 23, 28, 51 , 56, 73 and 78.
"CEATRO" variety on left
A defective "U" having a white horizontal dash in the middle, is found at positions
41, 46, 91 and 96.
5 Centavos:
Stone I
Stone II
164
232 1/2 mm x 278 mm. Individual stamps 19 mm x 23% mm.

229 112 mm x 274 1/ 2 mm. Individual stamps 18% mm x 23 1/2 mm. Position 38
shows a scratch through Madero's left eye.
10 Centavos:
Individual stamps 19 mm x 24 mm. The coat is shaded with cross-hatching.
Stone I
Stone II Individual stamps 18 3/ 4 mm x 23 mm. The coat is shaded with parallel lines only.
I Stone 1
No.
506
507
507a
507b
508
508a
509
510
510a
510b
510c
511
511a
5llb
511c
1
2
3
4
5
10
II Stone 2
Description
Dull Violet
Green
Bright light green
Dull (olive) green
Brown
Bistre Brown
Red
Orange
Yell ow orange
Dark orange
Thin paper
Blue (dark)
Indigo
Bright blue
Dull blue
.25
.25
.30
.50
.10
.35
.30
.40
.80
.30
.25
1.00
.15
.50
.25
.25
.25
.30
.25
.25
.25
.30
.30
.35
.40
.40
.20
.25
.30
.30
.30
5.00
.10
.50
.15
.25
.10
l111perforates
No.
507U
508U
5IOU
51IU
511CU
2
3
5
10
10
Description
Green (Stone I)
Bistre brown
Orange (Stone II)
Dark blue (Stone I)
Dull blue (Stone II)
3.00
2.00
2.00
3.00
The imperforates are ungummed

Double perforations exist on some values. Price: From $5.00. The 1 exists in vertical pair, imperforate between 506VUB. Price: $200.00RR
Plate Varieties
1 "MEXIICO" (white flaw between I and C)

Stone II positions 34, 39, 84, 89 5.00
5.00
165
"CEATRO" Stone II
positions 1, 6, 23, 28, 51, 56, 73, 78
5 Vertical scratch through left
eye, position 38 10.00
4.00
4.00
10.00
Usage
10 Single franking:
4 Single franking (before June 1916)
2 Single franking:
Multiples or combinations making 10 letter rate:
30 Registered covers:
from
from
from
from
from
2.00
3.00
5.00
3.00
7.50
The domestic rate (including letters to the U. S. and Cuba) for a single-weight first class letter was 10 centavos until June
1, 1916 when the rate went to 20. Local delivery became 8 and circulars became 4.
20 Rate , :June- August 1916 (10 x 2, 5 x 4, etc.):
8 Rate ~ocal delivery), same period:
4 Rate (Circular) after June 1st, 1916:
60 Registered (10 x 6):
from
from
from
from
10.00
20.00
25.00
25.00
On September 1, 1916, the first class letter rate was raised to 25 centavos. Occasionally lithographed Famous Men issues
were used, usually in combination with "Barril" surcharge issues to make the rate. Local delivery rate was 10 centavos
and the Circular rate was 5 centavos; but no examples franked with Famous Men have been recorded.
Rates other than those mentioned using Famous Men as franking exist (multiple-weight or foreign destination pieces
usually). These are scarce.
ENGRAVED SERIES OF 1915-1916

It was originally intended that this set would consist of 11 values, including issues to replace the
previous lithographed stamps, but only four values appeared.
Date:
40 and 1p
5p
1
November 1, 1915 (authorized).

April 8, 1916 (issued, per Hinojosa).
April 1916 (?).
The 1 centavo is listed later as no. 5 76 (following the order in

Scott's catalogue, which actually places it a few months out of
sequence).
166
. .
P rmtmg:
Engraved, issued in sheets of 100.
Plate Information:
T he 40 centavos was printed from three plates

with engraved numbers in the margin: "1-M,"
"2-M" and "3-M." Sheets were additionally
numbered in the upper right corner with an
automatic numbering machine.
The 1 peso was printed from two (frame) plates on
"21-F' and "22-F."
The 5 pesos frame was printed from a plate
numbered "V-13."
Perforated 12
Separation:
No.
40
512
513
513a
514
lp
5p
Description
Bluish gray
O range-brown & Black
Light brown & Black
Claret & Blue
.25
.35
.40
4.00
.20
.25
.25
3.00
The 40 is known printed on newsprint, perforated and gummed

Imperforate
These were not regularly issued.

40
lp
lp
5p
5p
512U-SP
513U-SP
513bU-SP
514U-SP
514aU-SP
Bluish gray
O range brown & Black
Brown & Black
Claret & Blue
Deep claret & Blue
5.00
5.00
5.00
10.00
10.00
Used exist ftom philatelic covers.

The 40 is lcnown printed on newsprint, ungummed
The l p is lcnown with shifted center; Price: $5.00. Also with doubledftame; Price: $7.50.
The 5p is lcnown with double impression rif the ftame. Price: $2 5. 00.
This material is actually printer's waste.
Inverted Centers
(Not issued)
5131-SP
5141-SP
(513a)
(514a)
lp
5p
Brown & Black

Claret & Blue
150.00
300.00
167
l111perforate with Inverted Centers

(Printer's waste)
No.
513IU
514IU
Description
lp
5p
Brown & Black

Claret & Blue
25.00
50.00
The 1p exists with the center doubled and invated Price $25.00.
Proofs
Card small die proofs

(mounted on larger cards)
512P-l
512P-2
512P-3
512P-4
512P-5
512P-6
513P-3
513P-4
513P-5
514P-3
514P-4
514P-5
40
40
40
40
40
40
lp
lp
lp
5p
5p
5p
Green
Slate
Brown & Green
Olive green
Brown
Bluish Gray
Black
Orange brown
Brown & Green
Brown & Black
Black
Black & Brown
RR
RR
RR
RR
RR
RR
RR
RR
RR
RR
RR
RR
Partial Proofs - Center or Frame Only, Imperforate, Ungummed.

513P-l
513P-2
514P-l
514P-2
lp
lp
5p
5p
Brown (frame only)

Black (center only)
Claret (frame only)
Blue (center only)
10.00
5.00
25 .00R
5.00
The following were marketed by Hinojosa as Trial Color Proofs but were probably prepared entirely for philatelic
purposes.
Imperforate, the 40 is usually gummed, the others usually ungummed. Some can be found with a small geometrical
punch.
Plate Proofs, Trial Colors
512TC-l
512TC-2
512TC-3
512TC-4
512TC-5
512TC-6
512TC-7
512TC-8
168
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
Black
Yell ow ochre
Red
Rose red
Brown
Violet brown
Green
Grayish green
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
No.
512TC-9
512TC-l0
512TC-ll
512TC-l2
512TC-13
512TC-14
513TC-l
513TC-2
513TC-3
5l3TC-4
513TC-5
513TC-6
513TC-7
513TC-8
513TC-9
513TC-10
513TC-ll
513TC-12
513TC-l3
513TC-14
513TC-15
514-TC-1
514-TC-2
514-TC-3
514-TC-4
514-TC-5
514TC-6
514TC-7
514TC-8
514-TC-9
514-TC-10
514-TC- ll
Description
40
40
40
40
40
40
lp
lp
lp
lp
lp
lp
lp
lp
lp
lp
lp
lp
lp
lp
lp
5p
5p
5p
5p
5p
5p
5p
5p
5p
5p
5P
Dark turqoise
Dark Turqoise on thin card
Dark bluish gray
Grayish violet
Claret
Black brown
Black - frame only
Rose red & Black
Light green & Black
Blue & Black
Violet & Black
Vennilion & Brown
Greenish blue & Brown
Blue & Brown
Orange & Green
Reddish orange & Deep bluish green
Brownish orange & Deep bluish green
Green & Light orange brown
Deep claret & Light red
Black & Light red
Yell ow ochre & Light green
Black-center only
Orange & Black
Red & Black
Orange brown & Black
Deep brown & Black
Green & Black
Blue & Black
Deep claret & Black
Light olive green & Blue
Reddish brown & Blue
Deep claret & Pale blue
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
512TC- l has been seen perforated: price $25.00.

Specilnens
The following bear an overprint "MUESTRA" in black, measuring l2 1h x ! 1/ 2 mm.

512S
513S
514S
40
lp
5p
Bluish gray
Light brown & Black
Claret & Blue
25 .00
25.00
25 .00
Usage
I peso single franking (October - November 1916):
1 peso x 3 registered (October - November 1916):
1 peso x 4 registered with AR (return receipt request):
from
from
from
15.00
40.00
50.00
169
5 pesos Single franking, 2 December 1916, letter rate

philatelic:
non-philatelic usage:
Other non-philatelic frankings with the 5p:
from
50.00
RR
RR
The 40 and l peso values are found in various multiple and mixed issue frankings usually on registered covers. Most
are scarce, most common are from $20.00.
Forgeries
Center inverts exist with forged perforations (on imperforate printer's waste).
THE G. P. DE M. "CORDATA" OVERPRINT

(G. P de M
= Gobierno Provisional de Mexico. "Corbata" translates bow tie. The nickname rifers to the shape qf the overprint)
This issue was the subject of much speculation and of manipulation by the Director General of Posts,
Cosme Hinojosa. Initially, the sale of most values was highly restricted. Some were issued in minute
quantities, then offerred to collectors by Hinojosa through the dealers Javier J avela and Eduardo
Aguirre or at one of the windows at the main post office at large premiums. On June 1, 1916 they
became available for 2nd class or Parcel Post mailings only, and were not obtainable over the
counter. Mter September 1st, they were available for silver only, at which point many varieties whose
availability previously had been extremely limited, were now generally available. Special printings
(designated in the listings with the suffix "SP") were never sold regularly but were, in some instances,
used philatelically.
Date:
March 20, 1916 (authorized - initially only the 5 1910 issue with
overprint reading down, and the 10 Dollar Sign issue with corbata,
were in general use).
Printing: Engraved overprint applied to issues that had been demonetized and
recalled in September 1915.
The color given in parenthesis is the color of the overprint.
No.
515-SP
516-SP
170
Description
5
15
Orange (blue)
Lavender gray & Claret (blue)
*
75.00
500.00
0
lOO.OOR
RR
On Issue of 1910 Overprint Reading Up

No.
3.50
.50
.75
6.00
.25
1.50
2.00
2.00
5.00
.35
.40
6.50
.15
1.00
1.50
1.50
10.00
15.00
150.00
7.50
8.50
100.00
Description
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
517
518
519
520-SP
521
522
523
524
Violet (red)
Green (red)
Orange brown (blue)
Carmine (blue)
Orange (blue)
Blue & Orange (red)
Blue gray & Claret (black)
Red & Blue (black)
Overprint Reading Horizontally
50
525
526
527-SP
lp
5p
Red brown & Black (red)

Blue & Black (red)
Carmine & Black (red)
Errors IVarieties
Inverted Overprint on 1903 Issue, reading down
RR
5151-SP
On 1910 Issue, reading down

5181
5191
5201
5211
5221-SP
5231-SP
5241-SP
750.00R
3.50
5.00
1.00
7.50
7.50
10.00
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
5.00
7.50
.25
Overprint Horizontal, Inverted

5251-SP
5261-SP
5271-SP
50
1p
5p
50.00
50.00
250.00
RR
Double Overprint
519DD
521DD
(519a)
(521a)
3
5
500.00
100.00
The overprints on 52IDD read dowTL
171
A pair is known with overprints reading down where the righl hand stamp has the overprint shifted downward and to the leji. compared to the
overprint on the adjacent stamp. RR
"Trial Color Proofs"

There is no evidence to indicate that these were made for any purpose other than philatelic and can be considered special
printings. Some were used philatelically. Proofs of the overprint only, on gummed paper, imperforate are found in yellow,
red and green. Price: $25.00 each.
On Issue of 1899
Description
No.
516TC
15
Lavender grey & Claret (black)
500.00R
On Issue of 1903
515TC
Orange (black)
RR
On Issue of 19 10
517TC
51 8TC
519TC
520TC-l
520TC-2
521TC- l
521TC-2
522TC-l
522TC-2
522TC-I
523TC-l
523TC-ll
1
2
3
4
5
5
10
10
10
15
15
523TC-2I
15
524TC-l
524TC-2
524TC-3
524TC-4I
525TC
526TC
527TC
20
20
20
20
50
lp
5p
Dull violet (blue)

Green (blue)
Orange brown (black)
Carmine (black)
Carmine (red)
Orange (black)
Orange (red)
Blue & Orange (black)
Blue & Orange (blue)
Blue & Orange (black-reading down)
Blue gray & Claret (red)
Blue gray & Claret
(red-reading down)
Blue gray & Claret
(green-reading down)
Red & Blue (blue)
Red & Blue (red)
Red & Blue (green)
Red & Blue (brown-reading down)
Red brown & Black (blue)
Blue & Black (blue)
Carmine & Black (blue)
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25 .00
25 .00
25 .00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
50.00
50.00
50.00

527A-TC
527B-TC
527C-TC
527D-TC
527E-TC
172
1
2
4
5
10
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
(black
(black
(black
(black
(black
& light blue)

& light blue)
& light blue)

& light blue)
& light blue)
50.00
50.00
50.00
50.00
50.00
The 15, 50 and 5p in issued form have been seen with "SPECIMEN'' overprints.
Usage
Usages of these and all other issues with the "Corbata" overprint are treated together on page 188.
"CORBATA" ON DOLLAR SIGN OVERPRINT ISSUE

(nos. 423 - 33)
Basic stamp is the 1910 issue
Overprint Reading Up
A
$ Inverted
Description
No.
528-SP
529
530
531-SP
532
533
534
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
535
20
Violet
2.50
Green
.75
Orange brown
.75
Carmine
.75
Orange
1.00
Blue & Orange .75
Blue-gray & Claret
.85
Red & Blue
.85
GONST ITUCIONALISTA
c
D
$Normal
$Normal $Inverted
B
5.00
.75
.85
1.50
.25
.60
3.50
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.25
1.00
7.00
1.00
1.20
2.00
.30
.85
7.50 15.00
2.00 2.00 20.00 R
2.00 2.50 20.00
R
2.00 4.00
2.50
.60 20.00 7.50
2.00 1.75 20.00 17.50
.70
.70
1.10
1.10
.90
.90
2.25
2.25
2.00
2.00 25 .00

D escription
No.
536
537
538
50
1p
5p
Red brown & Black

Blue & Black
Carmine & Black
7.50
12.50
150.00
4.50
10.00
150.00
173
Iavated "Corbata"
(overprint reading down)
GONSTITUCIONALISTA
A
$Inverted
Deseriptioa
No.
5291
5301
53 li-SP
5321
5331-SP
534-1-SP
4
5
10
15
5351-SP
20
350.00R
Green
Orange brown
5.00
Carmine
5.00
Orange
5.00
Blue & Orange
7.50
Blue-gray & Claret
IOOJXJR
Red & Blue
20.00
$ Nonnal
$NOFJDal
$Inverted
300.00R
10.00
500.00RR 500.00RR
6.00
12.50
6.00
12.50
6.00
12.50
9.00
17.50
10.00
15.00
IOO.OORR
25.00
50.00
(Overprint horizontal}
No.
Description
5361-SP
5371-SP
5381-SP
An example
50
lp
5p
of the
Red brown & Black

Blue & Black
Carmine & Black
50.00
50.00
300.00
I peso has been seen with a second partial impression
of the
"Corbata."
Double "Corbata" Overprint

531DD-SP
534DD
4
15
Carmine
Blue gray & Claret
750.00RR
500.00R
Pair, Right Stan1p Without Overprint

533v
10
Blue & Orange ($ inverted)
RR
This is also known with the GONSTITUCIONAllSTA variety ($ normal) on the right stamp. The sheet on which this occurred was from
the I st printing of the Dollar Sign overprint
(See note before 516 TC)
Description
No.
530TC
534TC-l
534TC-2
534TC-21
3
15
15
15
534TC-31
15
174
Orange brown (red)

Blue-gray & Claret (blue)
Blue-gray & Claret (red)
Blue-gray & Claret
(red reading down)
Blue-gray & Claret
(green reading down)
A
$Inverted
$ Nonnal
"GONS .. "
30.00
30.00
30.00
40.00
40.00
40.00
75.00R
75.00R
75 .00R
30.00
40.00
75.00R
30.00
40.00
75.00R
No.
Description
534-TC-41
15
535TC-l
535TC-2
535TC-3
20
20
20
$ Nonnal
"GONS .. "
30.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
40.00
40.00
40.00
40.00
75.00R
75.00R
75.00R
75.00R
Blue gray & Claret

(brown reading down)
Red & Blue (blue)
Red & Blue (red)
Red & Blue (green)
Description
No.
536TC-l
536TC-2
537TC
538TC
A
$Inverted
50
50
lp
5p
Red brown & Black (black)

Blue & Black (blue)
Carmine & Black (blue)
150.00R
75.00
150.00R
250.00R
The 10, 20 and lp as issued but with "SPECIMEN" overprint are known.
"CORBATA" ON "CARRANZA" MONOGRAM ISSUE

(482, 484 - 94)
Basic Stamps are 1903 Issue
No.
539
Description
Orange (blue)
75.00
0
100.00RR
Error
5391
Monogram inverted
500.00RR

540
541
542
543-SP
544
545
546
547
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Blue gray & Claret
Red & Blue
3.50
.50
.50
4.00
.85
1. 75
1.25
1.25
5.00
.50
.50
5.00
.25
2.00
.50
1.10
175
Overprint Horizontal
Description
No.
548
549-SP
549A-SP
50
1p
5p
R eported!J ten examples
Red brown & Black

Blue & Black
Carmine & Black
of 549 A -SP were produced
*
8.00
12.00
300.00
0
5.00
12.00
)or tlu Post Office collection."
Overprint Reading Down

541I
5421
5431-SP
5441
5 451-SP
5 4 61-SP
5471-SP
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
O range
Blue & O range
Blue gray & Claret
Red & Blue
300.00
10.00
10.00
7 .50
10.00
20.00
Inverted Overprint
50
lp
5481-SP
5491-SP
Red brown & Black

Blue & Black
100.00
100.00
Other Errors
54 11
544DD
546DD- l
546DD-2
5481
5491
549DD
(54la)
(546b)
((546a)
(548a)
(549b)
(549a)
2
5
15
15
50
lp
lp
Green monogram inverted

Monogram double
Monogram double
Corbata double
Monogram inverted
Monogram inverted
Corbata double
50.00
600.00RR
75.00
75.00
150.00
75.00R
500.00RR
500.00RR
500.00RR
OJ 546 DD-1, both of the known examples are on cover. The second impression is partiaL 546 DD-1 and 546 DD-2 were regular!J issued.
It is not certain wluther tlu others are special printings, or were regular!J issued.

(see note before 516 TC)
540TC
541TC
543TC
546TC- l
546TC-2
176
1
2
4
15
15
Dull violet (blue)

Green (blue)
Carmine (black)
Blue-gray & Claret (red)
Blue-gray & Claret (green)
30.00
35.00
20.00
30.00
30.00
No.
Description
547TC
548TC
549TC
20
50
lp
30.00
75.00
R
Red & Blue (red)

Blue & Black (blue)
"CORDATA" ON ''VILLA" MONOGRAM ISSUE

(452, 455 - 65)
No.
Description
550SP
Orange
75.00
100.00R
20.00
2.00
20.00
20.00
10.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
30.00
1.00
30.00
30.00
15.00
30.00
30.00
30.00

1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
551-SP
552
553-SP
554-SP
555
556-SP
557-SP
558-SP
Dull violet
Green
Orange brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue & Orange
Blue-gray & Claret
Red & Blue

558A-SP (556a)
558B-SP (557a)
558C-SP (558a)
50
1p
5p
Red brown & Black

Blue & Black
Carmine & Black
75.00
75.00
300.00R
552 was the on!Y stamp in this group tlwt was in wide use. A few rif 555 were iregular!Y issued but the mqjoriry were sold philatelicallY.
558A- C were produced jor the Post Office collection" in quantities (reportedlY) qf 50, 50 and 10 respectivelY.
Inverted Monogrant
5561-SP
5571-SP
5581-SP
(556a)
(557a)
(558a)
10
15
20
150.00R
150.00R
150.00R
It is believed that these were producedfrom a plate in which three cliches were turned to make the inverts. !f so, these mqy exist tete-heche. The
existence qfgenuine 5561-SP and 5571-SP needs corifirmation.
177
"CORDATA" ON TRANSITORIO ISSUE

(354-6, 358-61)
No.
559-SP
560-SP
561
562
563
564
565
1
2
4
10
20
50
1p
Description
Blue
Yellow green
Blue violet
Red
Yell ow brown
Claret
Violet
25.00
10.00
250.00
2.50
3.50
15.00
20.00
30.00
15.00
225.00
5.00
7.50
20.00
20.00
Overprint Reading Down
562a
10
50.00
Red
20% if the stamps are rouletted 90 on one side.

I!J favor). Sale if mint stamps was controlled by
Cancelled stamps were either used on second class mailing receipts (or occasional!J cancelled
Cosme Hinqjosa.
Error
The 1 peso in a horizontal pair, imperforate between, is included in the Scott catalogue listings but has not been seen
or otherwise reported to us.
"CORDATA" ON "DENVER" ISSUE

(386 - 393)
566-SP
567-SP
568
569
178
1
2
3
5
Pale blue
Light green
Orange
Deep rose
7.50
7.50
.75
.75
2.00
2.00
Description
No.
10
15
50
570
571
572
573
lp
Rose
Rose lilac
Yellow
Violet
.75
.75
2.00
15.00
0
2.00
2.00
5.00
20.00
I 000 each of 566 - 7 were produced.

Some valuts have been seen imperforate with convincinglY ample margins. The 3, 10, 15, and 50 are known used and the 10 and 15
exist unused. However, we will await the discovery ofpairs bifore formal!Y listing tht.Se.
Reported~

(See note before 516 TC)
566TC
567TC
571TC
572TC
573TC
1
2
15
50
lp
Pale blue (red)

Light green (red)
Rose lilac (red)
Yellow (red)
Violet (red)
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
Usage
In evaluating covers with Corbata issues the period of usage is an important consideration.
Between March 20 and May 31, 1916 few of these issues were obtainable. These could be purchased with paper
currency. The rate for a common first class letter was 10 centavos. The most frequently seen Corbata usage were:
Two 5 with overprint reading down:
10 with Dollar sign overprint:
10 with Carranza monogram:
30 Registered covers using any of the above:
from
from
from
from
10.00
12.00
25.00
25.00
The local delivery 4 rate was occasionally paid using the 3 with dollar sign overprint (530) or with Carranza monogram
(542) together with a 1 issue (500, 506 or usually 576):
From $25.00.
The 10 reading up (522) is also known (R), and the following are also known to have been used during this period but
have not yet been seen on cover: 15 with dollar sign overprint (534), 20 with dollar sign overprint (535) and 50 1910
(525). Other Corbatas used on philatelic covers exist.
BetweenJune 1 and August 31 while the letter rate was 20 centavos, Corbatas are relatively scarce on cover. Most were
available for 2nd class only. At first only the 5 reading down was available for letters: From $20.00. Then on June 7
the 10 and 20 1910 (522, 524) became available on cover: R. In early July all Corbatas were withdrawn though they
could still be purchased by collectors willing to pay a large premium. Some philatelic covers exist from this period.
After September 1 when the letter rate went to 25, until December 2, 1916, Corbatas were to be available for silver
only, but the 5 reading down is sometimes found in combinations making the 25 (paper currency) rate: From $20.00.
Higher paper currency rates: R. Other values used in combinations for 25 rate are R. Corbatas used to pay the silver
currency rate of 5 are R before December 1916.
179
Starting December 2, 1916 all postage had to be paid in silver so that the old 5 centavos letter rate prevailed until it was
doubled on February 15, 1917. Most Corbata covers are from December 1916 and throughout 1917.
5 (521 ' 5211, 532, 544):
2 + 3 (518, 529, 541, 552, 519, 530, 542):
Registered 15 (523, 534, 546):
Local delivery 2 (518, 529, 541, 552):
Registered using three 5 (521 , 521 I, 532, 544):
After 15 February 1917
10 rate using two 5 (521, 521 I, 532, 544):
10 rate using five 2 (518, 529, 541 , 552):
10 rate using 3 stamps (530, 542) in combinations:
30 registry rate using pair of 15 (534, 546):
30 registry rate using other values
in various combinations:
4 local rate using 2 pair or 3 + 1 engraved (608):
from
from
from
from
from
3.00
5.00
12.00
5.00
12.00
from
from
from
from
3.00
4.00
5.00
15.00
from
from
20.00
10.00
Other frankings, while scarcer than the above, are not necessarily rare.
THE MERIDA PROVISIONAL

The 5 1910 issue with "Corbata" reading down (5211) surcharged "25."
Date:
Earliest known use- October 17, 1916.

All known are used during October 1916.
Printing: The "25" appears to be handstamped in violet.
Merida
No.
1
Description
25 on 5
0
300.00
Orange
Usage
Eleven covers have been recorded: eight with single stamp, one with two stamps, a registered cover with a pair and single
and a registered cover with a strip of three plus a single. All originated from Merida, Yucatan .
Single franking:
180
from
700.00
CARRANZA COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE

Prepared to mark the triumphant entry of Carranza into Mexico City on April 14, 1916, completing
the transfer of the Constitutionalist government from its previous location at Veracruz.
Date:
June 1, 1916
Printing:
Engraved, issued in sheets of 50 (10 x 5)
Paper:
Thin, pre-gummed wove.
Separation: Line perforated 12, no straight edges.

Quantities: Blue 190,000, Sepia 10,000 (reportedly 2000 were sold over
the counter for various prices and the rest were marketed by
Hinojosa and his associates.
Description
No.
574
10
10
575
Blue
Sepia
1.25
15.00
0
1.25
15.00
IDlperforate
5741-SP
5751-SP
(574a)
(575a)
10
10
Blue (pair)
Sepia (pair)
25.00
50.00
Both imperforates exist printed on the gummed side of the paper. These imperforates could be considered proofs. Not
regularly issued. Price $25.00 each.
Essays
Similar to the issued design but with the background composed of horizontal lines only, and with less shading on the
portrait. Gum and paper the same as the issued stamps.
Perforated
574-E-1
574E-2
574E-3
574E-4
574E-5
574E-6
10
10
10
10
10
10
Blue
Sepia
Carmine
Dark olive green
Pale ultramarine
Gray blue
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
IDlperforate
574E2-l
574E4-1
10
10
Sepia
Dark olive green
25 .00
30.00
574E-21 and 574E-41 are on thicker paper thnn tfu other (perforated) essqys.
181
Die Essay of Stalnp

(Imperforate, margins over 4 mm all around)
574-DE-1
10
Black
RR
Die Proof of Vignette Only

Oval is 19.5 mm high, with cross hatched shading as in the accepted design.
574-EI-4
574-EI-5
10
10
Black (large die)

Black
100.00RR
IOO.OORR
Proofs
Imperforate Gummed
Description
No.
574-TC-1
574-TC-2
574-TC-3
10
10
10
Carmine
Olive green
Black
20.00
20.00
25.00
The lmpaforates, Trial Colors and Essqys wm sold 1!)1 Hinqjosa and might be considaed special prinlings. A few have been seen used
philatelical!J.
Large Die Proofs

574-DP-1
574DP-2
574DP-3
10
10
10
Green
Brown
Black
100.00RR
100.00RR
lOO.OORR
Usage
These stamps were valid for only one day, June I , 1916 although a few covers have been seen that were sent later.
10 Blue (local delivery rate)
$10.00
Commemorative Postcards bearing either a printed statement from Cosme Hinojosa or an engraving of the Mexico City
main post office and franked with either no. 574 or no. 575 were prepared as First Day souvenirs. Price for a set of two:
$50.00.
182
I CENTAVO ENGRAVED DEFlNITIVE

Date:
April? 1916
Printing:
Engraved from a plate numbered "5-A." Sheets of 100.
Separation: Perforated 12.
These stamps were handgummed after printing or before printing.
576
Lilac (shades)
.25
Shades range from reddish lilac to blue-lilac. Examples with double perforations
30
exisL
Imperforate
5761
Lilac (pair)
20.00
This could be considered a proof Not issued.

(see note after 574 P5)
Perforated
No.
576TC-l
576TC-2
576TC-3
576TC-4
Description
Ultramarine
Carmine
Lilac brown
Slate green
15.00
15.00
15.00
15 .00
Imperforate
576TC-ll
576TC-21
Ultramarine
Carmine
15.00
15.00
Usage
This stamp was invariably used in combination with other issues, particularly during September 1916 after the letter rate
went from 20 to 25 and there were shortages of 5 centavos stamps to supplement 20 centavos stamps. Such covers are
worth : From S12.00.
183
THE G. P. DE M. "BARRIL" SURCHARGES

The "Barril" (barrel) nickname is a reference to the shape of the overprint.
Date:
10, 20 and 60 authorized June 7, 1913 and issued to meet

demands created by the raising of the letter rate to 20 centavos
onJune 1. The 5 and 25 were issued in September 1916 after
the letter rate was raised to 25 centavos on September 1.
Previously overprinted stamps (582 - 586) appeared in October
-November 1916.
Printing: The overprint was engraved and normally is horizontal on the

stamp.
On Issue of 1910
Description
No.
577
578
579
580
581
5 on 1
10 on 1
20 on 5
25 on 5
60 on 2
Dull violet (brown)

Dull violet (blue)
Orange (brown shades)
Orange (green)
Green (red)
.25
.25
.25
.30
20.00
.25
.25
.20
.20
20.00
Description
Dull violet (brown)
1.25
1.25
120.00
500.00RR
100.00
500.00RR
These have been seen overprinted ((SPECIMEN'' in black.
Vertical Surcharge
No.
577a
5 on 1
Errors
577DD
578DD
579DD
5 on 1
10 on 1
20 on 5
Double surcharge
Double surcharge
Double surcharge
At least two sheets if 578 DD were prinled but most if the stamps luwe been losL The used examples seen are conspicuously doubled while
the minl examples show two overprints nearly on top rif one another so that the variety is not readily recognized.

These were offered as proofs by Hinojosa but were probably produced for philatelic purposes only and may be considered
Special Printings. 1 to 3 sheets of each were produced. A few have been seen used philatelically.
577TC-1
577TC-2
184
5 on 1
5 on 1
Dull violet (blue)

Dull violet (green)
25.00
25.00
No.
577TC-3
577TC-4
578TC-1
578TC-2
578TC-2v
5
5
10
10
10
on
on
on
on
on
1
1
1
1
578TC-3
578ATC
578BTC-l
578BTC-2
578BTC-3
578BTC-4
578BTC-5
579TC-1
579TC-2
579TC-3
579ATC-l
579ATC-2
579ATC-3
579ATC-4
579ATC-5
579ATC-6
579BTC- l
579BTC-2
580TC
581TC-1
581TC-2
581TC-3
10 on
10 on
10 on
10 on
10 on
10 on
10 on
20 on
20 on
20 on
20 on
20 on
20 on
20 on
20 on
20 on
20 on
20 on
25 on
60 on
60 on
60 on
2
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
5
2
2
2
Description
Dull violet (black)
Dull violet (red)
Dull violet (sepia)
Dull violet (green)
Same with added sideways impression
of 50 Orange revenue stamp
Dull violet (red)
Green (blue)
Orange (blue)
Orange (green)
Orange (black)
Orange (red)
Orange (sepia)
Orange (blue)
Orange (ultramarine)
Orange (red)
Dull violet (blue)
Dull violet (black)
Dull violet (red)
Dull violet (yellow green)
Dull violet (blue green)
Dull violet (olive green)
Green (blue)
Green (yellow green)
Orange (blue)
Green (blue-green)
Green (black)
Green (sepia)
25.00
25.00
25 .00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25 .00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25 .00
25 .00
25 .00
25 .00
25.00
25 .00
25 .00
25.00
25.00
25 .00
25 .00
25.00
25.00
RR
Usage
Usages of these and all other issues with the "Barril" surcharges are treated together on page 182.
185
"BARRIL" ON "DOLLAR SIGN" OVERPRINT ISSUE

(423 - 4, 427)
A
$Inverted
Description
No.
582
583
584
5 on 1
10 on 1
25 on 5
585-SP 60 on 2
Dull violet
(brown)
Dull violet
(blue)
Orange
(green)
Green
(red)
GONSTITUCIONALISTA
B
D
c
$Normal
$Normal $Inverted
.25
.20
.35
.30
.75
.75
1.00
1.00
2.00 2.00
.35
.35
.50
.50
1.00 1.00
*
.75
.65
10.00
0
8.50
10.00 10.00
400 .00
200.00 250.00R 250.00
582 and 584 come from both plates qf the "Dollar Sign" overprint while 585SP is always Plate II. Examples qf 583 that can be attributed
with certainry to Plate I have not yet been seen. Two sheets qf 100 qf 585SP were made.
Errors
Description
No.
582DD-SP
5821
5841
5 on 1
5 on 1
25 on 5
Double surcharge, one vertical

Inverted surcharge
Inverted surcharge
150.00
250.00
250.00
Prices are for "$"Inverted "GONSTITUCIONAllSTA" and "$"Normal varieties are worth premiums.
Proof
584AP
186
25 on 3
Orange brown (blue green)
40.00
300.00R
300.00R
"BARRIL" ON
'~"
MONOGRAM ISSUE
{459)
586
25 on 5
Orange (green)
.20
.15
Proofs
Desaiption
No.
586AP-I
586AP-2
586AP-3
586AP-4
586AP-5
25on
25 on
25 on
25 on
25 on
Orange brown (blue}
Orange
Orange
Orange
Orange
3.
3
3
~~BARRIL"
587-SP
588-SP
589
590-SP
5
10
25
60
on
on
on
on
1
1
5
2
ON
brown
brown
brown
brown
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
(red)
(black)
(green)
(sepia)
'~CARRANZA"
MONOGRAM ISSUE
Dull violet (brown)

Dull violet (blue)
Orange (green)
Green (red)
15.00
5.00
1.00
200.00
25.00
7.50
2.00
250.00R
Errors
587a-SP
58Th
588a
5891
5 on
5 on
10 on
25 on
1
1
1
5
Vertical surcharge
Inverted monogram
Inverted monogram
Inverted surcharge
100.00
150.00R
150.00R
250.00
125.00R

587TC-l
587TC-2
587TC-3
587TC-4
5
5
5
5
on
on
on
on
1
1
1
1
Dull
Dull
Dull
Dull
violet
violet
violet
violet
(red)
(black)
(green)
(dk blue)
35 .00
35.00
35.00
35.00
187
Description
No.
588TC-1
588TC-2
588TC-3
588A-TC-1
588A-TC-2
588B-TC
589TC
590TC
10 on
10 on
10 on
10 on
10 on
20 on
25 on
60 on
1
1
1
5
5
5
5
2
Dull violet (red)

Dull violet (sepia)
Dull violet (green)
Orange (red)
Orange (sepia)
Orange (blue)
Orange (blue)
Green (sepia)
35.00
35 .00
35.00
35.00
35 .00
35.00
35 .00
250.00R
"BARRIL" ON "DENVER" ISSUE

(386 - 7)
591
592
60 on 1
60 on 2
Pale blue (brown)

Light green (brown)
3.00
3.00
4.00
4.00
These were issued for paying 2nd class postage.
Error
5921
60 on 2
Inverted surcharge
This variety occurred whn a strip offou r from th upper right comer of a shet became separated and was reattachd upside down bifOre th
shet was surcharged This item (strip offour) is unique. The shet was among a group original!Y purchased at th Mexico City second class
window 1!)1 H C. Hopkins.

591TC-1
591TC-2
591TC-3
59 1TC-4
59 1TC-5
592TC- 1
592TC-2
592TC-3
188
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
Pale blue (blue)

Pale blue (black)
Pale blue (yellow-green)
Pale blue (dark green)
Pale blue (violet)
Light green (blue)
Light green (red)
Light green (green)
25.00
25 .00
25 .00
25 .00
25 .00
25.00
25.00
25.00
"BARRIL" ON 1908 POSTAGE DUES
593-SP
594-SP
595-SP
596-SP
597-SP
598-SP
599-SP
600-SP
601
602-SP
5 on 1
10 on 2
20 on 4
25 on 5
60 on 10
lp on 1
1p on 2
lp on 4
lp on 5
lp on 10
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
(brown)
(violet)
(brown)
(green)
(red)
(carmine)
(carmine)
(carmine)
(carmine)
(carmine)
2.50
2.50
2.50
2.50
1.50
1.50
1.50
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
2.50
5.00

593TC-l
593TC-2
593TC-3
593TC-4
593TC-5
593TC-6
593TC-7
593TC-8
593TC-9
602TC
5 on 1
5 on 1
5 on 1
5 on 1
5 on 1
5 on 1
5 on 1
5 on 1
5 on 1
lp on 10
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
(blue)
(red)
(black)
(yellow green)
(dark green)
(violet)
(orange)
(yellow)
(indigo)
(violet)
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
Usage
June 7 - August 31 : 20 letter rate.
20 (579):
10 X 2 (578):
Registered 60 (581):
Registered 20 x 3 (579):
Registered +A R . 20 x 4 (579):
Local Delivery 10 (578):
from
from
from
from
from
from
from
5.00
7.00
50.00
15.00
18.00
25.00
15.00
from
from
from
7.00
10.00
10.00
Sept 1 - Oct 31 : 25 letter rate.

25 (580):
20 (579) + 5 (577, 582):
20 (5 79) + 5 earlier issue (51 0, 521 1):
189
20 (579) with combination of low values making 5:

Registered+ A R. 25 x 4 (580):
Local Deli~ 10 (578):
from
from
from
from
12.00
17.50
25.00
15.00
from
from
from
12.00
15.00
25.00
November l-20: l peso letter rate.

lp {600).:
25 X 4 (580, 586):
10 X lO (578):
A wide variety of other combinations making I peso can be fonnd .

Registered + l p x 3 or 25 x 12:
Local DdM7y (40) 10 x 4 (578) or 20 x 2 (579):
from
from
30.00
35.00
from
from
20.00
25.00
from
35.00
from
from
50.00
40.00
N<M:mber 21 - 1 December: 2.50 pesos letter rate.

lp X 2 {600) -t- 25 X 2 (580, 586):
25 X lO (580, 586):
Other combinations using "'Barrils"
with or without other issues:
Registered {J.50p) using "Barrils"
with or without other issues:
Local Delivery lp {600):
The G. P .. de M. $2.50 Surcharge on Postage Dues

Date:
Late November 1916
Printing: Lithographed surcharge
No.
603
604-SP
605-SP
606-SP
607-SP
190
Description
2...50p on l
2.50p on 2
2..5Dp on 4
2.50p on 5
2.50p on 10
Blue
Blue
Blue
B1ue
Blue
1.25
12.50
12.50
12.50
12.50
1.50
20.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
Double Overprints
No.
605-SP 2.50p on 4
Description
Blue
75.00
Usage
2.50p (603) Single franking:

2.50p x 2 (December 2); 5 pesos letter rate:
from
from
25.00
l50.00R
Mter December 2, 1916, these and all previous issues with the exception of those bearing the
Corbata overprint were demonitized. A "permanent" definitive, the engraved Famous Men Series
(608 - 628), was issued shortly afterwards, marking the end of the Civil War Issues.
Note: Usages of the various "G.P. de M." Surcharged Issues, or other demonitized 1ssues, after
December 2, 1916, are occasionally found . These are rare.
'
.;.;
- ~,.~
111:
ti
~~7Jt
Ill
}[: '
,,
__
, 852
GRA~T
,\. V.ft;l"UE
SAN. J~l~ .i\.NCISCO,
P.o. uox ~1;-;n
572~9
C .A. I.... U ..S . ..:\ ..
191
OFFICIALS
In general, the official mail of the revolutionary era was either stampless or franked with regular
postage. When the Constitutionalists finally did prepare some, they were seldom actually used.
"OFICIAL"
on the 1915 Lithographed Famous Men Issue - rouletted
(basic stamps nos. 500-505)
No.
086
087
088
089
090
091
1
2
3
4
5
10
Description
Violet
Green
Brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue
0.50
0.50
0.50
0.50
0.50
0.50
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
Errors
All exist with inverted overprint (0861, etc.) * $2.50 each
lmperf and part-perforated pairs are found with the overprint. They were not issued in this form . $5.00 for a pair.
Usage
No covers have as yet been reported. It may be that all used stamps are favor-canceled.
"OFICIAL"
on the 1915 Lithographed Famous Men Issue - perforated
(basic stamps nos. 506-511 )
092
1
093
2
094
3
094a
095
4
096
5
097
10
Violet
Green
Brown
Olive brown
Carmine
Orange
Blue
0.50
0.50
0.50
0.50
0.50
0.50
0.50
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
The 1 has been seen from both Stones I and II; the 4 and 10 are both from Stone II; the 5 is from Stone 1
193
Error
No.
Description
097
10
Double overprint
250.00RR
Plate Variety
4
C&ATRO
7.50
20.00
Usage
Only a few covers are known - from $250.00RR
"OFICIAL"
on Engraved Series of 1915-15
(basic stamps nos. 512-514)
No.
098
099
40
lp
0100
5p
Description
Bluish gray
Orange brown & Black
Claret & Blue
5.00
5.00
6.00
6.00
30.00
30.00
Errors
098DD 40
098I
098U
099I
lp
099U
01001
5p
Double overprint
Inverted overprint
Imperfpair
Inverted overprint
lmperf pair
Inverted overprint
25.00
15.00
50.00
15.00
50.00
50.00
A similar overprint is found on the engraved 1 #57 6, it is bogus.
1915 ? "OFICIAL"
on the Centenario Issue
The overprint is heavier than that of the previous issues and is found
on the 1-20 Centenario issue. This differs from 075-082 (Scott) in
that the letters are more shaded and have more prominent serifs. Most
specialists of the past have considered these to be bogus but I have a
block of 1 showing every sign if having been cut from a booklet pane
and I also have a single canceled MEXICO, D .F. in the brownish
thinned and oily ink in use duri ng the first haJf of 19 15. Other 2 and
5 examples have top or bottom perfs trimmed short and selvage at
194
left which would suggest these also came from booklets. This all suggests the possibility that they were
produced on small presses at the same time that similar printings were made of the Villa Monograms.
I believe they are genuine, but await further proof before listing. The unused 10-20 are scarce and
any used examples must be considered very scarce or rare. Even with its uncertain status, these have
been faked. The serif on the middle bar of the "F' is thicker and not as long on the forgery.
The G. P. DE M. "Corbata" Overprint

on stamps also overprinted
"OFICIAL"
On 1899 Issue
Description
No.
0101
5p
700.00
On 1910 Issue
1
0102
0103
2
0104 3
0105 4
0106 5
0107 10
0108 15
0109 20
0110 50
0111
1p
0112 5P
Violet (red)
Green (red)
Orange brown (blue)
Carmine (blue)
Orange (blue)
Blue & Orange (red)
Blue gray & Claret (black)
Red & Blue (black)
Red brown & Black (red)
Blue & Black (red)
5.00
1.00
1.00
5.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
150.00
5.00
3,000.00
Trial Color Proof
0102TC
Blue Corbata
25.00
0110 and 0112 lwve been forged. One detail that is o/f.en usifulfor expertizing is tlwt the corbata was applied g/!er the OFICIAL overprint
These stamps were not regular!J issued.
195
APPENDIX A
POSTAL RATES 1913-1917

Reprinted from MEXICANA, October 1986, pp. 186 - 191.
The changing postal rates, particularly during
1916, have caused much confusion for the
postal historians. It is not at all unlikely that
they caused some confusion for the postal
officials at the time, since it is probable that
official notice of rate changes was not
necessarily received in all parts of the Republic
(certainly not at the same time). Since the
pioneering work of Joe Toulouse which
appeared in the January 1958 issue of
MEXICANA, page 115, the subject of postal
rates has been the object of considerable
attention. Yet, there are still mysteries. The
following will set forth what is presently known
about these rates.
There were five classes of mail in Mexico at
this time.
First Class
First class included letters, notes,
advertisements or bills, anything in
manuscript, or printed matter not part of a
mass mailing such as would be included in
third class. It also included postal cards and
letter-cards with or without reply cards.
Official communications were also
considered first class. First class items could
not weigh more than 5 kilograms and the
dimensions could not exceed 20 by 10
centimeters or 5 em. in thickness.
Second Cla ss
Second class included periodical
publications (mailed regularly at intervals of
not more than three months), catalogs,
school books, sections of books (so long as
they were not complete volumes), and so
on. These objects individually could not
weigh more than 5 kilograms. Second class
mailing had to be made from a post office
(never from a postbox). Postage was paid

by affixing stamps to the talon of the
mailing receipt, which was then cancelled.
Third Class
Third class included all printed matter not
included in second class (non-periodical
publications, books, circulars, and so on).
Each piece could not exceed 45 em in any
dimension. Postage was affixed to the
actual item.
Fourth Class
Fourth class included samples without
commercial value. Stamps would be affixed
to the item.
Fifth Class
Fifth class included parcel post (Bultos
Postales). The packages could not be larger
than 120 em. in any dimension or weight
more than 5 kilograms.
At the beginning of the Revolution the rates

were as follows:
First Class
Letter, per 20 grams
Letter unsealed,
per 20 grams
Postal card or
letter card
Interior
Delivery
Local
Delivery
Official correspondence of the state

governments was allowed a discount so that a
domestic letter cost 3 centavos for each 20
grams or fraction. Local delivery was still 2
centavos, the same as the non-official mail
197
APPENDIX A
rate. The registry fee for all first class mail was
10 centavos in addition to the postage so that
a typical registered domestic letter would have
15 centavos postage.
A return receipt (A.R.) cost an extra 5
centavos. These first class rates also applied to
mail sent to the U .S. and its possessions, Cuba
and Canada. Mail to other countries which
were members of the Universal Postal Union
was charged double the interior rates Oetters
were therefore 10 centavos for each 20 grams
or fraction). Mail sent to non-member
countries such as Mghanistan, China, Pitcairn
Islands, Tonga, certain parts of West Mrica,
and others, was charged quadruple the interior
mail rates (a 20 gram letter would therefore
cost 20 centavos). The registry fee remained in
all cases 10 centavos additional. Insufficient
franking resulted in a penalty postage due fee
of double the amount due.
Interior
Second Class
For each 500 grams or fraction
The first issue of a publication
newly registered with the
office was delivered gratis.
Third Class
Fourth Class
Fifth Class
TO THE PUBLIC
GENERAL ADMI.NISTRA 7ION OF POSTS.
Circular.
17ze general administration cif posts, in exercise cif the
duties with which it has been invested, has determined
as follows:
17zat the franking cif correspondence ciffirst, third,
fourth and fifth cwsses, rif the interior, internationa~
urban and suburban services, be increased to
DOUBLE the rates at present in force, inclusive cif the
ojjicial communications of the governors of the states
and private letters of the governors which eryoy special
franking. Equally, the charge for registration, cif the
correspondence above enumerated, is increased to twenry
cents, instead cif ten; and the return receipt to ten cents,
instead offwe.
1
1
12
Parcel rates to foreign countries varied

considerably. To the U .S. the rate was 12
centavos for each 460 grams or fraction. Some
countries, such as Germany, Italy, or France
had a fixed rate of $1.20 while Britain and
Japan had three weight classes with different
rates. For details, a Guia Postal must be
consulted (The MEPSI library has one).
198
By 1915 the two major revolutionary factions,

born out of the rivalry between General Villa
and First Chief Carranza, were engaged in
all-out war with one another. Each side had its
own postal authority. On February 25, 1915,
the Conventionists (the faction dominated by
Villa) doubled the rates for all classes except
2nd. The circular announcing this change
follows:
Simiwrly the rates established for cashments and

reimbursements are increased in equal proportion,
DOUBLED; limited the execution cif these services to
those qffices authorized for the issue and payment of
money orders.
17ze increases will be in force after the 25th cif the
present month and it is to be understood that the
correspondence that is not franked in accordance with
this, will be considered as not franked, or as
insuificiently franked, as the .case may be, and will be
suiject to the treatment prescribed for the treatment
thereof
APPENDIX A
Constitution and Rqorms
Torreon, Coah., February 1915.
El Director Genera~
The following rates were in effect from June

1 through August 1916:
Eusebio Garcia Martinez.
Interior
Delivery
The Constitutionalists Oed by Carranza, with

Cosme Hinojosa as Director of Posts) followed
suit some months later. Although the actual
circular announcing this rate change is not
available to the writer at this time, covers
indicate that the date on which this occurred
fell in mid-August 1915, probably the 15th.
These rates were in force through May 1916.
A summary of these new rates for 1st class
mail follows:
Domestic letter
For each 20 grams
Unsealed letter
For each 20 grams
Local Delivery letter
For each 20 grams
Registry Fee Additional
Postal Card (domestic)
Postal Card local delivery
10
2
4
20
4
2
In an effort to standardize the currency and to

eliminate the fiat money of the various armies,
the Constitutionalists introduced a series of
paper money bills known as the lrifalcifuables. It
was not long afterwards that the value of this
currency began to drop and by June 1, 1916,
its was necessary to raise the postal rates again.
And this was done on all classes except 2nd
(for which postage had to be paid in silver).
First Class
Letter, per 20 grams 20
Letter unsealed domestic,
5
per 20 grams
Postal card or
letter card
10
Registry fee, addit.
40
Local
Delivery
10
5
.J
Foreign mail rates were proportionately

increased so that an average letter to Europe
would cost 40. A couple of ordinary looking
interior mail covers have been seen with 30
postage and a few to the U.S. have had 40
postage. The explanation for either is not
known.
By September 1, 1916, the value of the
paper money had eroded further. Rates for 1st
and 5th class mail were adjusted. Bulk mailing
had to be paid in silver at the old pre-inflation
rates. The following rates were in effect
through October:
Interior
Delivery
First Class
Letter, per 20 grams 25
Letter unsealed domestic,
5
per 20 grams
Postal card or
letter card
10
50
Local
Delivery
10
5
5
Covers with 30 postage have been seen

(interior mail).
A 5 city delivery letter (sealed) has been seen.
199
APPENDIX A
It was possible to pay for 1st class postage in

silver at the old pre-inflation rates. The
Corbata overprint issues which had been
withdrawn from sale inJuly were re-issued for
paying these rates and could be purchased
with sliver only. A few covers with Corbata
issues however have 25 worth of stamps
which is no doubt an error. Covers have been
seen addressed to the U.S. with franking for
both the paper currency rate and silver rate
together. Registered covers from Baja
California are generally found with 40
postage. These also have been seen with dates
after October.
In November, the rates went up to 1 peso for
a regular letter and then to 2.50 pesos.
First Class rates, November 1 to November
20, 1916, were:
Interior
Delivery
Letter, per 20 grams LOOp
Postal card
40
2.00p
Local
Delivery
40
?
Most registered letters bear 3.00 pesos postage

although 4.00 pesos has been seen. Also 4.00
pesos with "AR" (The return receipt cost 1.00
peso at this time) has been seen.
letters. (fhe latter have been seen enough to

suggest that this was some sort of regular rate.)
A $6.00 pesos letter from Tampico to Corpus
Christi, Texas has been seen. Registered covers
with $10.00 and 12.50 pesos postage have
been seen.
Briefly on December 2nd the domestic letter
rates reached $5.00 pesos but then it was
ordered that all letters had to be sent with
stamps purchased in silver. The Barril
surcharges and engraved high values were
declared obsolete. A few odd rate covers have
been seen cancelled during the following few
days. But most covers are franked with
Corbatas at the old pre-inflation rates. This
meant that once again the average letter would
cost 5 or 2 if city or suburban delivery and
the registry fee was 10 additional.
Apparently it was decided that the cost of
handling mail had increased so that an
adjustment of the rates was again necessary.
This may have been the result of a greater
volume of mail being handled once relatively
peaceful conditions had returned. In any case
the new rates became effective on February 15,
191 7. All transactions had to be paid in
metallic money.
First Class
First class rates, November 21 to

December 1, 1916, were:

Interior
Delivery
Local
Delivery
2.50p
5.00p
LOOp
The following have been seen from this later

period which do not seem to fit the pattern:
$3.00, 3.20, 3.50 and 4.00 pesos domestic
200

Official letter
(state gov't)
Postal card
Letter card
Interior
Delivery
Local
Delivery
10
2
4
10
20
4
2
5
Letters to all foreign countries were 10 for

each 20 grams (or fraction) except to countries
not affiliated with the U.P.U., in which case
APPENDIX A
the rate was 20. The same rates applied to
letter cards. Postal cards were 4 except to
non-member countries for which the rate was
Second Class
pet 500 grams or fraction
Second, Fourth Class
20.
per 100 gm or fraction

Bultos Postales, within Mexico
per 500 gm
3
2
15
201
APPENDIX A
rs~j-R.viCIO IJOS'l~I~ l\1EXICANC)

.
Gl:N~;~.::~-Dl:
DIHECCION
COHHE08
SECCION TE<:NICALEOISLACION
1.
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(fSU TAIIFA" AI'IULA LAS
i1== ..::-:- .~: -~~:s.;;~:.::

TODQS LOS PORTES Y PRODUCTOS SON PACADEROS EN METALICO . .
i
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202
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APPENDIX B
COSME HINOJOSA AND HIS STAMPS

By Nicholas Follansbee
Reprinted from MEXICANA, July and October 1982, pp. 103-108, 163-169
terms of Obregon and Calles. From 1928 until
1934 he served as Director of Civil Pensions
and Retirements. He was again postmaster
general in 1934 and also head of the telegraph
service. He resigned in 1935 to become Jefe de
Departmento Central del D. F., and
subsequently served as Presidente del
Patronato del Nacional Monte de Piedad and
was toward the end of his life the Mexican
Consul in San Antonio, Texas.
He also was responsible for the issuing of
stamps during the Revolution intended
primarily or exclusively for sale to collectors,
usually at an enhanced price.
Cosme Hinojosa (1879 - 1965) began his long

career of public service in 1910 as an elected
deputy to the Sonora legislature. Shortly after
the Civil War began in 1913 he became the
chief postmaster of the state of Sonora and
arranged for the production of the 1913
Sonora issues as well as the subsequent
Constitutionalist issues. When Venustiano
Carranza organized his revolutionary cabinet
at Hermosillo, Sonora, Hinojosa was named
Director General of Posts under Secretary of
Communications and Public Works, Ignacio
Bonillas. Mter the Constitutionalists defeated
the Federals, he remained with the Carranza
faction when a split with General Francisco
Villa resulted in a new round of battles. He
skillfully handled the enormous task of maintaining and restoring communications during a
time of war and social chaos, instituting
reforms that greatly improved the postal
service. In 1920, he supported Alvaro Obregon
in his bid for power and continued as
postmaster general through the presidential
To the non-philatelist, Hinojosa's philatelic

manipulations might not be taken very
seriously, and it is possible that the question of
ethics might not even be considered, especially
when these activities are viewed alongside a
distinguished career in the service of his
country. However, for the Mexican philatelist
he left a legacy of confusion and skepticism.
The story of Hinojosa's dealings emerges in the
writings of George Linn and, more critically, in
those of H. C. Hopkins. His "selling trips" to
the U.S., his restricted sales, his special issues
and "errors" (frequently offered in complete
sets) generated enormous controversy in the
philatelic press during 1915 - 1920 and did
much to undermine the reputation and
popularity that Mexican stamps had enjoyed
up to that time. It has only been in recent
years that Mexico's stamps have regained that
popularity.
Hinojosa, from the very start of his career as
"El Administrador General de Correos" had
opportunities to become acquainted with the
203
APPENDIX 8
interests of stamp collectors. By the time that

the Sonora issues began to have the green seal
printed on them as a control, the post office at
Hermosillo began receiving orders for stamps
from collectors and dealers in the United
States. Such sales were to be encouraged, but
it would be some time before stamps with
features specifically calculated to appeal to
collectors were produced.
In a letter of February 1914 toW. H. Roper,
a U.S. citizen and stamp collector living in
Magdalena, Sonora, Hinojosa provided an
inventory of Sonora issues on hand (by then
no longer being produced) and then rather
candidly writes:
"Because I have orders from various parts of
the United States, I have resolved to get for
myself these existing ones to sell them myself
to see if I can not get a better price for myself.
Right here are persons that have offered to
pay me for them three times their value for the
greens and five times for the whites."
The quantities for the seven varieties he
possessed ranged from 36 to 1400 stamps, so
this was not exactly big business. Nevertheless,
Hinojosa had his start in the stamp trade.
The first half of 1914 provided Hinojosa with
some other philatelically educational
experiences. The first came in April when,
following General Francisco Villa's triumph at
the major battle fought at Torreon, it was
ordered (directly by the Secretary of
Communications to the local postmaster at
Cui dad Juarez) that some of the current issues
should be overprinted to mark the event. The
battle was won on April 2nd at which time
there was also an important gathering of
Constitutionalist chiefs in Ciudadjuarez and it
was in that city the next day that the "Victoria
de Torreon" stamps made their appearance
(Scott nos. 362 - 368). The small quantity was
sold at face value and the total receipts from
204
the sales was under 150 pesos which would

lead one to believe that profit was not the
motive for this hastily produced
commemorative. But as it turned out,
practically the entire issue was scooped up by
two collectors from the other side of the
border, and in their hands the issue became
speculative.
Later, beginning in May, the large
handstamped GCM monogram was employed
for overprinting captured Federal stocks of the
UPU issue of 1910. This was absolutely
necessary because as the armies conquered
more territory it became increasingly difficult
to supply these areas with stamps. The
revolutionaries had to differentiate their stamps
from those of the enemy so that they could be
certain the right people had received the
payment for the mail delivery. The GCM
handstamping was done at Hermosillo and at
Ciudadjuarez. At Ciudadjuarez, collectors
from El Paso (mainly) queued up for the new
stamps and persuaded those applying the
handstamps to use different colors of ink and
to make inverts and other varieties. The P. 0.
did a land-office business, apparently, and the
lesson was not lost. Still it would be a while yet
before this method of diversifying stock would
be adopted by the Postmaster General.
By the time the Federal government was
defeated in August 1914, splits had developed
in the ranks of the Constitutionalist movement.
The major antagonists were the First Chief
Venustiano Carranza and General Francisco
Villa, and in time rival factions and generals in
various parts of the country identified
themselves with one or the other. A convention
of military chiefs failed to iron out the
differences, as the convention became
dominated by Villa. Finally the Conventionists
(Villistas) and Constitutionalists (Carrancistas)
went to war with one another.
APPENDIX 8
Hinojosa stayed with Carranza and the

Constitutionalists who, in Veracruz, waited out
the high tide of Conventionism. While the
Conventionists occupied Mexico City, the
monogram known as the "Villa" and
"Carranza" came into use. These had been in
use a little under a month when the
Constitutionalist army led by General Obregon
took over the capital and the Conventionists
retreated northward taking with them a large
stock of stamps. The Conventionist's
monogram issues included the 2, 3, 4 and
5 with the "Villa" (Scott nos. 456 - 459) and
the 2, 3, 5, 15 and 20 "Carranzas" (Scott
nos. 485 - 486, 488, 490 - 491 ). They also
took with them a lot o.f the 10 dollar sign
issue (Scott no. 428). During their first short
occupation of the capital, the Constitutionalists
acquired the master dies of both monograms.
Hinojosa ordered a new set of plates made of
the script monogram (his choice of this one
explains why it has come to be called the
"Carranza" monogram). Mter the
Constitutionalists relinquished the capital to
the Conventionists in order to engage Villa's
main army in the north, Hinojosa returned to
Veracruz and from there issued stamps with
this overprint (Scott nos. 484 -494). Once the
constitutionalists left Mexico City, the
conventionists continued to use the "Villa"
monogram, overprinting the 1 - 1 peso 191 0
issue and six values of the 1899 - 1903 series
for use in Mexico City and its environs. (These
included the handstamped and small press
overprinted stamps which have sometimes
been referred to as the "Zapata printings.")
The capital was finally secured by the

Constitutionalists inJuly 1915 and Hinojosa
was able to move his operations to the
government printing offices. It might be well to
mention that, up until the monogram overprint
issues, the stamps of the Mexican Revolution
were, for the most part, "clean" issues and the

many varieties had valid reasons for coming
into existence.
In Mexico City, Hinojosa reestablished contact
with a man who was able to give him expert
philatelic advice -Javier J. Favela, proprietor
of the Bolsa Filatelica de Mexico. Favela was
to become Hinojosa's retail outlet for certain
limited printing stamps, proofs, and "errors"
which apparently never saw the inside of a
post office but which were printed at the
government printing office. Sold at multiples of
their face value, these stamps were never the
less theoretically valid for postage if one chose
to use them (and Favela did on some of his
correspondence with better customers).
First, it was apparent that demand existed
among collectors for some of the scarce stamps
produced by the recently routed
Conventionists and both Hinojosa and Favela
owned a fair supply of some of the less
available values of the non-overprinted basic
stamps (1899 - 1903 issues, etc.). As for the
1910 UPU issue, Hinojosa had a huge supply
of non-overprinted stock which had been
delivered to Veracruz from Great Britain
where they had been printed. Hinojosa had
the monogram di es so new plates were made
of the "Villa" and the following varieties were
made:
The "Villa" monogram on all values of the
1899 and 1903 issues (Scott nos. 439 - 454)
plus inverts of the 3 and 5 (orange). Most
of these had not previously existed.
The same on the Complimentario issue

(Scott nos. 466 - 4 70) plus inverts of the
same. There is no evidence that any of these
had been previously issued.
The same on the 1910 issue, all values
205
APPENDIX B
including the 5 pesos on which this overprint
had not previously appeared (Scott no. 465).
Also all values received inverted overprints.
The "Villa" on all values of the Transitorio
and Denver issues of 1914, plus on all values
of the "Dollar Sign" overprint set of late
1914 (varieties not listed by Scott). Hinojosa
later repudiated the Transitorio and Denver
"Villas," probably realizing he had gone a
bit overboard in making these.
The majority of this stuff was entirely novel
and many varieties were made in very small
quantities. Colonel Hamilton noted some of
the printing quantities in his collection and
these include between 10 and 100 each of the
1899 series, 20 of the 50 1903, 50 of the 5
pesos with Dollar Sign overprint, etc., and an
educated guess would be that only one or two
sheets were printed of the Denvers, Transitorios, dollar sign overprint issues and inverts.
A word about the plates used for the "Villas"
is in order. It is this writer's belief that the
originals of these stamps were overprinted
from plates or pieces of plates which had been
electrotyped and that rather than being
composed of separate dies, each plate was a
solid sheet of steel. However, it is most likely
that the plate which Hinojosa made was
composed of individual dies; either that or, less
likely, the plate was electrotyped as for the
originals and then subsequent to its use for the
1- 20 values, Denvers, etc., it was cut up to
make individual dies in order to be able to
overprint the Transitorios which are narrower
stamps which would require a different setting
of the overprints. That the same reliefs were
used for overprinting the Transitorios and the
others has been proved by the fact that a very
distinctive flaw found at position 53 of the
Denver-sized plate has been found on the
Transitorio issues. The fact that separate di es
were used for making up plates also made
206
possible what was probably the ultimate of the

contrived varieties - pairs with the monograms
tete-beche. These come from a specially
composed plate with an inverted die at
positions 18 and 22. The 10 is known as well
as reportedly the 1, 2, 3 and 5 all being of
the 1910 issue.
The "Villas" unlike the "Carranza" stamps
had never been issued by the
Constitutionalists. However, at the time the
Constitutionalists adopted the "Carranza"
monogram they issued a document authorizing
both monograms (circular number 4 issued
from Veracruz on February 25, 1915). The
Constitutionalists may have used the "Villa"
for overprinting some postal stationery which
was regularly issued which may be why they
authorized it. At any rate, circular number 4
became Hinojosa's excuse for several months
later using the "Villa" monogram for
producing all these unusual stamps which
either initiated or expanded upon the output of
the Conventionist government, a completely
different stamp issuing authority.
Hinojosa may not have made a double
overprint "Villa," though many forgers have
since tried to rectify this oversight as well as
have tried to duplicate his output. Fakes far
outnumber all of the "genuine" Hinojosa
stamps.
What does one call something like these
stamps of Hinojosa's? Reprint is not correct
since many of the varieties did not previously
exist. They are not postage stamps in the
strictest sense, as they were not really intended
for postal use and were not sold over the
counter. Yet they could be used. They bear
some circumstantial resemblance to the U .S.
Special Printings and for myself I have chosen
to call them Hinojosa's "Special Printings."
APPENDIX B
Hinojosa did much the same sort of thing with

the "Carranza" that he did with the "Villa"
monogram only he did not have to make new
plates since those he had made earlier in the
year were still useable. Varieties made include:
The 5 1903 (Scott no. 482) and the same with
monogram inverted.
All values of the 1910 issue inverted and all
but the 5 pesos doubled. A 10 doubled with
one inverted is also found (Scott no. 489a).
The Dues (Scott nos. 495 - 499) are also
entirely philatelic. They also exist with
monogram inverted.
He also made two little-known sets of the
utmost rarity by overprinting all values of the
1899 and 1903 issues (besides the listed 5
1903 and 15 1899) and also the Dollar Sign
overprint series with the "Carranza"
monogram.
The forgers have also had a field day with all
of these.
About the same time, the series known as the
Lithographed Famous Men as well as the 40
map, 1 peso Lighthouse and 5 pesos Post
Office. building were being printed. The
Famous Men job was farmed out to two
printing companies so Hinojosa was not
directly responsible for the printers' waste and
unfinished sheets that appeared. He merely
took possession of them so that it might be
distributed to those who would appreciate
these items most. The engraved high values,
though, were "in-house" work and varieties
abound. Perforated and imperforate stamps in
a wide range of color combinations were
represented to philately as being "trial color
proofs" though they were in no way of a
different nature than the monogram varieties just more stuff for collectors. They make a
very pretty presentation. The 1 peso and 5

pesos center inverts (Scott nos. 513a and 514a)
were also special printings.
The basic stamps also came with the
OFICIAL overprint, another Hinojosa
gimmick. These were probably not regularly
used, though cancelled stamps are found.
Inverts were sold by the set as were the
imperforates. The 10 perforated with double
overprint is a mystery. The known example as
discovered by Col. Hamilton in 1925 could be
a most unusual item: a non-contrived error
within a contrived issue.
Another handsome array of color proofs were
produced in the case of the engraved issues
that appeared in 1916. The 1 eagle (Scott no.
5 76) comes in several colors and the
"Carranza" Commemorative (Scott nos. 57 4 57 5) is found in colors other than those listed
as well as being printed in both listed colors on
the gummed side, and imperforate. Only the
blue stamp was regularly issued while the
10,000 brown stamps were speculative. Official
FDCs of these issues (really First Day Cards)
were an innovation. Stamps with the
background of the medallion composed of
horizontal lines only are generally referred to
as essays. A couple of collectors chose to send
their "Carranza" proofs and essays through the
mail. Reportedly one sheet of 50 of each was
produced.
Through most of 1915 and the first two
months of 1916, the state of Oaxaca was in
rebellion against the Constitutionalists
(Carranza) government while remaining
unallied to the Conventionists, and issued its
own stamps (Scott nos. 414 - 419). Following
the collapse of the Oaxaca rebellion, some of
the printing cliches used for producing the
stamps plus a quantity of remainders (some
accounts indicate approximately 150,000
stamps) were recovered and delivered to
207
APPENDIX 8
Hinojosa in Mexico City. These remainders

were sold by Hinojosa personally and the
majority were bought by August Roterberg, a
dealer in the U.S. (most were subsequently sold
by Roterberg to a dealer in Hamburg and
were lost during World War II). So, Hinojosa
did not necessarily have to produce everything
he sold.
This brings us to the "Corbaba" (cravat)
overprint issues and to one of the more
convoluted scandals in Mexican philately.
As before, Hinojosa produced a line of "strictly
limited issues," trial color proofs and even
some special stamps allegedly produced for the
Post Office collection, but it is in the way that
the other stamps were put on sale at the post
offices that we find a new refinement in
Hinojosa's marketing techniques .
The Corbata began simply as a control
overprint used on stocks of stamps which had
been issued prior to the lithographed Famous
Men set of late 1915 (which had been recalled
from post offices all over the Republic), as well
as on previously non-overprinted stocks of the
1910 issue received from England. Reports on
the total quantity of stamps gathered for
overprinting range from five to forty million.
Some of these stamps, once overprinted, were
placed on general sale throughout the country.
But others were released in relatively isolated
localities and quickly withdrawn, thus whetting
the appetites of collectors. Hinojosa would then
"find" a few of these varieties which he would
sell at multiples of face value. The 1 and 4
stamps generally were philatelic issues. Other
values, at least during the first few months,
were only somewhat less restricted.
Sale of the Corbatas began in March 1916. In
June, a new paper currency was introduced
and the Corbatas could then only be
purchased with this currency - then early in
208
July they were withdrawn completely. Hinojosa

took quantities of these withdrawn stamps with
him to the United States where he sold them
to dealers and collectors for premiums.
By September 1916 inflation had drastically
reduced the value of all paper money. It was
decided to re-release the Corbata issues for
sale for silver only, and now many of the
values that had previously been sold in a
restricted manner were available generally.
In the case of the 4 through 1 peso
Transitorio and 3 through 1 peso Denver
issues with Corbata overprint (Scott nos. 561 565 and 568 - 573) Hinojosa restricted their
use to second class postage which meant that
cancelled examples would be retained by the
post offices (stamps paying 2nd class postage
were pasted in receipt books rather than on
the matter actually delivered). The 1 and 2
values of both sets (Scott nos. 559 - 560 and
566 - 567) were not placed in use and the rare
4 Transitorio was not sold over the counter
though some were actually used, but these
values could be bought for large premiums
from Hinojosa or Favela.
The "Special Printings" of the Corbatas
include the 5 and 15 Eagle issues (Scott nos.
515 - 516). Reportedly only one sheet of the
15 was made (100 stamps). The 5 1903
issues with "Carranza" and "Villa"
monograms with additional Corbata overprint
(Scott nos. 539 and 550) are also Hinojosa
creations; of the latter 300 are said to have
been printed. The 1 through 20 values of the
1910 issue were supposed to have the corbata
reading up, though the 3 and 5 are very
common with the overprint reading down and
were regularly issued, but the 4 and the 10,
15 and 20 reading down were sold by
Hinojosa which is also true of the higher
values with the Corbata inverted. Stamps with
the Dollar Sign and "Carranza" monogram
APPENDIX B
overprints also having the Corbata reading

down (or inverted on the Dollar Sign high
values) were also speculative with the exception
of the 2 Dollar Sign of which a few were sold
over the counter at Guadalajara and are only
known cancelled, and the 3 Dollar Sign issue.
Of the Series with the "Villa" monogram plus
Corbata (Scott nos. 551 - 558), only the 2 is
known to have been regularly issued, although
H. C. Hopkins speculated that a few of the 3
and 5 may have gotten distributed. The 1,
4, 10, 15 and 20 stamps have "Villa"
monograms printed from the plates Hinojosa
made for the special printings of late 1915 and
the latter three values were made from the
setting with the inverted monograms in two
positions. Many clear proofs were made of
various Corbata issues - reportedly one sheet
of each variety. The 5 pesos "Carranza" as
well as the 50, 1 peso and 5 pesos "Villas"
exist with the Corbata, allegedly made for the
Post Office Collection although Favela sold
some. Only 10 each of the 5 pesos varieties
were made according to Colonel C. S.
Hamilton. The Officials with Corbata (Scott
nos. 0 102 - 0 112) were also not placed in use
and include the most expensive of Hinojosa's
products. The 5 pesos 1899 with OFICIAL
and Corbata (Scotts no. 01 02) has a printing
quantity of 50 while only 20 were produced of
the 5 pesos 1910 with both overprints (Scott
no. 112).
Larger overprints with the G. P. de M. plus
denominations were created to surcharge
stocks to adapt them to the higher rates
imposed by the worsening inflation. These are
commonly referred to as "Barril" surcharges. A
number of the varieties listed in Scott were
never placed in use but were sold by Hinojosa
and Favela. These include the 60 on 2 issues
with Dollar Sign and "Carranza" overprints
(Scott nos. 585 and 590) of which 200 were
printed of each. The 5 on 1 "Carranza"
with the Barril either normal or vertical, and
the 10 on 1 of the same issue (Scott nos.

587, 587a, 588) were restricted sale issues.
Those never placed in regular use include the
Barril on Dues Series (Scott nos. 593 - 602)
except for the 1 peso on 4. The 1 and 3
Denvers surcharged 60 (Scott nos. 591 - 592)
were used for second class mailing receipts. Of
the many proofs of the Barril issues, reportedly
one sheet of each was made.
Although it is a digression from the subject of
Hinojosa, a cautionary note concerning these
stamps may be in order. The Corbata and
Barril overprints themselves have not been
successfully forged, but where there is a second
overprint ("Villa," "Carranza," Dollar Sign, or
"OFICIAL") it pays to be cautious. It is useful
to bear in mind that in every case the Corbata
or Barril was the last printing added to the
stamp so that where there is an overlap of
overprints, the Corbata or Barril must be on
top. However, as sound as this principal is, in
practice it is difficult to apply because the blue
and especially the red inks used for the G. P.
de M. control are rather translucent and do
not cover the black very clearly. Also, there
may be small areas where the glossy ink of the
first overprint may repel some of the second
ink and such areas might cause one to jump to
a false conclusion. The expensive varieties
really should be expertised.
No worthy account of Hinojosa's
merchandising techniques can fail to discuss
the two famous, or rather infamous, selling
trips he made to the United States.
The first was made during May 1915 while the
Carranza government was still headquartered
at Veracruz and before Hinojosa met up with
Favela and instituted his own "Mexico for
Mexicans" program by giving Favela preferred
status over the gringo dealers. Besides some
Sonora Green Seal issues with black roulettes,
Ejercitos, Transitorios, Denvers, "Dollar Sign"
209
APPENDIX 8
overprint issues and GCM handstamped issues
he brought "Carranza" monogram material
including inverts, doubles and sets of the Dues
with the overprints. It is also possible that the
"fancy" Villa material was available at this
time. Hinojosa sold to several dealers assuring
more than one that he was selling to him his
entire holdings!
Hinojosa did not return to the U.S. until over
a year later and during the interval most of the
Hinojosa Special Printings reaching collectors
in the U.S. (or anywhere, for that matter)
passed through the premises of Favela's Bolsa
Filatelica.
In late July 1916, Hinojosa journeyed to
Chicago taking with him what was described
in the philatelic press as "a large and varied"
stock with "something for every taste"
(Albemarle Stamp Collector, Vol. 2, no. 8).
This included plenty of "strictly limited issues"
including color proofs, officials with inverted
overprints and nearly every variety that had
appeared since the latter part of 1915.
Probably the most novel items in this offering
were the recent "Carranza" commemoratives
of June 1, 1916, including the trial color
"proofs."
In 1917 Hinojosa had published a small book
entitled A Brief History cif the Mexican Postage
Stamps During the Revolutionary Period, 1913 1917. It is interesting in large part because in
it are reproduced the circulars authorizing the
various issues. Nowhere in it does he mention
sales trips to the U. S., Special Printings,
reprints, errors, proofs or anything else that
could be the least bit controversial.
What one calls Hinojosa's stamps is very much
a matter of opinion. H. C . Hopkins considered
them no better than forgeries and the philatelic
world generally greeted them with derision .
But time and the fact that some of them enjoy
210
the honor of being listed in the standard

catalogs, have done much to make people
forget their originally controversial nature.
Today most countries cater to stamp collectors
to some degree or other anyway, and our
hobby has widely accepted such things as
souvenir sheets and has elevated some of the
more contrived airmail flight overprints to the
status of "airmail classics." Even the fact that
Hinojosa personally profited from his stamps is
not without common parallels. These Special
Printings do make an attractive and interesting
collection and include some very rare items
even if the purist might hesitate to call them
postage stamps. And they are, for better or
worse, a part of Mexican Philately.
Much of the information incorporated in this
article has been drawn from rare or
unpublished manuscript material by H. C.
Hopkins which was made available by the late
Fred Ingham.
The printing quantities mentioned in this
article for some of Hinojosa's Special Printings
were gleaned from the auction catalog for the
sale of the Colonel C. S. Hamilton collection
of 20th century Mexico by H. A. Robinette,
April 4 and 5, 194 7. From my studies and
experience I have never found any grounds for
seriously questioning these figures.
In discussing the monogram overprints I have
mentioned that different plates were used for
printings made by the Conventionists and
Constitutionalists. This has been determined
through the study of repeating flaws found on
some overprints.
The writer is greatful to Hubert Wahlberg, the
late Fred Ingham and the late Bill Saks for
reviewing this article.
APPENDIX B
Hinojosa Gerns
Only between 10 and 100 of these 5-peso varieties are believed to have been produced.
448-SP
4651-SP
483L-SP
4941-SP
480C-SP
499K-SP
5271-SP
527TC
(blue corbata)
5381-SP
538TC
(blue corbata)
558C-SP
549A-SP
0101
0112
211
APPENDIX C
Mexican R evolution and Chronology
THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION -
AN INTRODUCTION AND
CHRONOLOGY
FOR PHilATELISTS
By David Warman and Nicholas Follansbee
For the philatelist or other person dealing with
dated artifacts, a chronology is a most practical
tool, yet such information on the Mexican
Revolution is difficult to collect in detail,
particularly in the case of minor military
events. The literature on the Revolution's
history is excellent, but unfortunately some of
the best detailed information is contained in
books that are scarce, such as state histories
published in Mexico over ten years ago or
such classics asJuan Barragan-Rodriguez' 1946
set, Historia del Ejercito y De La Revolucion
Constitucionalista, the five-volume Historia de
Ia Revolucion Constitucionalista by General
Miguel Sanchez Lamego, and various
biographical works on the lives of participants
in the Revolution. The more general histories,
in both Spanish and English often make
enlightening as well as thoroughly stimulating
reading, but tend to avoid the more obscure
and tedious facts that are sometimes of great
importance in the context of dealing with an
artifact.
The late Ing. Warman prepared a
chronological study called "Efemerides
Postales, Filatelicas, Politicas y Militares de Ia
Revolucion Mexicana 1910-1916." By

including dates of philatelic significance among
the political and military events, he has created
an ideal tool for the postal historian.
The wealth of detail in this chronology is
perhaps rather overwhelming, especially for
anyone without a prior familiarity with the
period. Therefore, it was decided that
introductory and explanatory material should
be added to orient the reader. A good map of
Mexico will also prove an immense help. The
period of chief concern for our purpose is the
Civil War of 1913 to 1915 and the inflation
which followed. While Ing. Warman's study
originally began with the year 1899, it was felt
that the events leading to the outbreak of the
Revolution on November 20, 1910, as well as
most of the period of Madero's Revolution and
Presidency could appropriately be presented
more here in the form of essays which the
editor has provided. A short section describing
the military coup of February 1913, which
ended Madero's presidency, as well as his life,
marks the beginning of the Warm an
chronology which follows, each section having
a brief introduction.
Events Prior to 1913

Mexico Before 1910
In September 1910, Mexico launched a series
of extravagant celebrations marking the
centenary of her declaration of independence

from Spain, as well as the 80th birthday of
President Porfirio Diaz. Diaz, beginning his
eighth term of office, had dominated Mexican
213
APPENDIX C
Mexican Revolution and Chronology
politics since 1876. Diaz originally came to

power through a revolution calling for
"effective sufferage and no re-election." He
stepped do2wn in 1880 but ran, again, in 1884
- the last free and honest election Mexico was
to have until 1912. The stability that Diaz
brought to Mexico was a sharp contrast to the
strife and financial insolvency that had plagued
the entire previous period since 1810, and was
to enable the country to experience a long
period of rapid economic expansion. Mexico
became an ideal country for investment and,
with a massive influx of foreign capital,
railroads, factories, mines and oil fields were
developed and Mexico City was transformed
into one of the world's most beautiful cities.
The material achievements of the era won for
Diaz enthusiastic praise from other world
leaders and were unquestionably substantial,
but few within Mexico enjoyed any direct
benefit. Diaz did much to develop the country,
but nothing to develop the people.
The Diaz dictatorship was implemented and
maintained through the granting of concessions
and privileges to those who would otherwise be
potential rivals. Most of the privileged few
owed their position and wealth to Diaz
personally, and these people included army
officers, the press, police and judiciary, as well
as the owners of large estates. They were also
granted almost unlimited license for graft and
corruption so long as the victims were not
politically important. Personally, Diaz
maintained the appearance of scrupulous
honesty which contrasted sharply with the
conduct of most of his lieutenants, so that most
preferred Diaz over any of his potential
successors. Finally, by relaxing restrictions
against the church that had been implemented
by President Juarez in the Reform Laws of
1859, he won another powerful ally.
214
Statistics only begin to reveal the appalling

conditions in which most Mexicans lived.
Thirty-five percent of the population was
Indian and basically unassimilated, and
because of their lowly status, Diaz never
considered it necessary to make any special
concessions to them. The Indians were
subjected to racial prejudice and were
frequently massacred. The average life
expectancy of the population in general was 27
years and the infant mortality rate was 25%.
Most of the population survived on a
cripplingly inadequate diet and about 30% of
the deaths were attributed to disorders of the
digestive tract. Only 20% of the population
was literate. The 1910 census showed Mexico
to have a population of a little over fifteen
million persons.
While sickness, poverty and ignorance were the
lot of the majority of Mexicans, their condition
was perpetuated most of all by a system of
land tenure that can only be described as
feudal. Nearly all of the productive land was
concentrated in the hands of 3,000 families, of
which seventeen owned one-fifth of Mexico's
total land area. The largest of these holdings
was over seven million acres or the size of
some of the smaller states in the U.S. These
haciendas were largely self-sufficient empires
which multiplied in number and grew in size
during the latter half of the 19th Century,
usually at the expense of the Indians.
Since before the Spanish Conquest, Indians
owned land communally, but in 1856 a law
known as "Ley Lerdo" divided these lands into
individual plots. Unused to private ownership,
the Indians fell easy victims to the land
developers. Thus a large, destitute,
economically uprooted population was created
which labored on the feudal estates and was
APPENDIX C
paid in goods from the hacienda store. Almost

inevitably they were tied to the hacienda by
their debts. Often they were treated brutally,
but had no recourse in the law. If they fled
they were hunted down as outlaws.
While some Mexicans were amassing fortunes
under the Diaz regime, foreigners were making
even more money, their enterprises largely
unregulated and exempt from most taxation.
Mexico became the third largest producer of
oil in the world by the turn of the century, but
the oil industry was almost entirely a
monopoly of British and U.S. business.
Americans controlled half of the oil concessions
and three-fourths of the mining. Total
American investment in Mexico topped $1
billion -roughly 40% of the U.S. total
investments abroad and greater than the
capital stock owned by Mexicans themselves.
The last years of the Diaz dictatorship were
marked by stirrings of unrest that
foreshadowed the coming revolution. Inflation
led to labor unrest as the meager fixed wages
of the average worker became increasingly
inadequate. The Cananea Mine strikes of 1906
and Vera Cruz Textile Workers strike of 1907
were fiercely suppressed, but as a result, a
large portion of the working class was
permanently alienated.
Of more immediate political significance
however was the fact that Diaz and most of his
henchmen were old men. As they grew older
the question of succession increased on
everyone's mind. It created dangerous rivalries
within the political establishment. Treasury
Minister Jose Yves Limantour, and General
Bernardo Reyes, Secretary of War were the
two most obvious contenders and Diaz seemed
to delight in playing them off against one
another. Then in 1908, Diaz, in an interview
with a reporter for a U.S. magazine, James

Creelman, announced that he would not run
for re-election in 1910 and would support the
formation of active political parties. Diaz, in
fact, had no intention of relinquishing power
and allowed himself to "be persuaded" to run
again. But by giving the interview, he had
invited opposition and this led to his eventual
undoing.
In May 1909, Diaz formalized his candidacy
and named as his running mate, the unpopular
Ramon Corral. His most feared potential
opponent, General Bernardo Reyes, was sent
on a diplomatic mission to Europe. Diaz never
dreamed that his opponent would turn out to
be neither a general nor a politician.
Madero
The man who proved to be Diaz' undoing was

Francisco I. Madero. Madero came completely
from outside the political establishment. Prior
to 1908 he was totally unknown. Indeed, it
would be difficult to imagine a more unlikely
candidate for the leader of a popular
revolution. He came from a wealthy family
whose home was a very large hacienda in the
northern state of Coahuila. In appearance, he
was unpreposessing - short with a high domed
forehead over bushy eyebrows and a small
beard which covered a weak chin. He had a
high voice and was not a skilled orator, nor
did he impress anyone as being a genius. But
his ideals were more inspiring than his delivery
and Madero had sincerity, enthusiasm and
above all, courage.
In 1908 Madero wrote a book called 77ze
Presidential Succession qf 1910, a book whose
ideas were not extraordinary but which caused
a sensation by daring to be openly critical of
the Diaz regime.
215
APPENDIX C
In May 1909, Madero and a group of about

50 formed the Anti-re-electionist Party with the
slogan "Effective Sufferage and No
Re-Election" as its main platform.
Madero toured the country speaking out
against the regime, he drew such enthusiastic
response that the government began to harass
him. In April 1910, the party named him as its
candidate for the presidency, and Diaz
promised a free and fair election. But on June
21 Madero was arrested on trumped-up
charges and detained until after the June 26
elections which Diaz naturally won.
AI;
Upon release, Madero left Mexico, setting up

his headquarters in San Antonio, Texas and in
November issued the Plan of San Luis Potosi
which called for the overthrow of the Diaz
government by force to be followed by
genuinely free elections. Copies of the Plan
were distributed along with a call for a general
uprising on November 20.
The "Centenario" Issue
In September 1910 Mexico celebrated its

1OOth year of independence with lavish fiestas,
banquets and ceremonies.
The Madero Revolution
The beginnings of the Madero Revolution

were feeble. In Puebla (Nov. 18, 1910) and
anti-re-electionist leader, Aquiles Serdan was
shot resisting arrest and became the
Revolution's martyr. Across the country, other
minor mutinies were put down with ease and
it appeared that Diaz was maintaining stability.
It was in the north near the U.S. border that
the revolt gradually gained a toe hold.
Madero's first forays into Mexico were fiascoes
and he was soon on the verge of giving up.
But many of the people of the north lived in
the harshest poverty and had little to lose by
becoming soldiers. Two men, Pascual Orozco
and Francisco Villa (Pancho Villa) were
brought into the rebellion by Madero's political
ally, Abraham Gonzalez, and they in turn
recruited small armies which began attacking
towns in Chihuahua.
San Andres fell to Villa, and Guerrero was
taken by Orozco, these victories inspiring
others to join the rebellion.
The revolutionaries did not produce any

stamps until May 1913 after the fall of
Madero.
In Sonora, Jose M. Maytorena began a revolt

that quickly spread, and Maclovio Herrera
took the town of Parra!, Chihuahua. By
mid-December, another revolt had broken out
in the state of Morelos led by Emiliano Zapata
whose call for "Land and Liberty" broached
no compromise. He would continue to fight for
his principles until his murder in 1919.
Thousands rallied to his call to arms, "Men of
the south, it is better to die on your feet than
to live on your knees."
The Centenario series is listed in the Scott

catalog as no. 310-320. It was re-issued in
1921.
The revolution was timidly opposed by an

army whose officer corps was largely corrupt
and whose ranks were filled with unwilling
A new set of definitions was issued to mark the

event and these would continue to be the
primary issue of the federal government for the
next four years.
216
APPENDIX C
conscripts whose sympathies often lay with

those they were supposed to fight. The
revolutionaries managed to continue the fight
despite defeats at Casas Grandes and Cerro
Prieto and a bloody battle at Agua Prieta,
the Maderistas as well as the old regime, he

was, in fact, no friend of the reform
movement. Madero had insisted on this
measure to prevent his being criticized for
seizing power by force, but it was to cost him
dearly.
Sonora (March 12, 1911). Agua Prieta was

attacked more successfully on April 13 though
it was shortly re-taken by the Federales.
The military leaders of the revolution became

alarmed when the interim government began
to disband and pay off the rebels leaving the
country in the hands of the regular army, at
the same time refusing to incorporate the
revolutionary generals into the regular army at
the same ranks attained during the revolt.
Orozco and Zapata in particular were
vigorously opposed to submitting before the
revolutionary program was in place and by
August 1911, Zapata was once again at war.
The Federales were unable to oppose the

Maderistas in the countryside or garrison the
smaller towns in the northern states and
instead concentrated on defending the more
important towns. In May, the revolutionaries
laid siege to CiudadJuarez and on May lOth,
the town was taken. This major victory
bolstered the Maderista cause and broke what
morale the Federales had. On May 17, Diaz
agreed to resign and on the 21st, a peace
treaty was signed. Amidst a chaotic situation in
Mexico City, Diaz made his resignation
effective on May 25 and secretly left the
country bound for European exile.
The removal of Diaz had been achieved with
far greater ease than anyone would have
believed possible, but the elements that had
provided the support for the dictatorship were
far from vanquished. The military and business
leadership as well as foreign interests remained
in place, and Madero was not sufficiently
skilled or ruthless as a politician to deal with
them successfully. Madero's followers, on the
other hand, expected a timely enactment of
the reforms for which they had fought.
Madero's first serious blunder was his
confirmation of Francisco de la Barra as
Provisional President. De Ia Barra had been
foreign minister under Diaz and, while he was
politically acceptable to most elements among
Madero blamed the deterioration of the

situation in Morelos on the federal, Victoriano
Huerta, who was in charge of pacifying the
state. Eventually Madero's protests resulted in
Huerta's removal which earned Madero one
more enemy.
Madero was elected President on October I,
1911 and took office on November 6. While
he was still enormously popular with the
masses, many of his key supporters were
turning away from him, dissatisfied with the
progress of reform or with the lack of personal
rewards. Zapata now issued his own
revolutionary program, The Plan of Ayala.
Negotiations failed to bring about a
reconciliation, particularly after Madero
appointed the owner of one of the largest
estates as the Governor of Morelos.
Land redistribution was the single most
important item on the agenda of reform as far
as most of Madero's followers were concerned
and they were bitterly disappointed when he
217
APPENDIX C
Mexican Revolution and Chronology - 1913
failed to give it his immediate attention.

Madero was inhibited by his own concern for
order and due process.
Towards the beginning of March, Pascual
Orozco rebelled against Madero and fielded an
army of some 6000 men, quickly overrunning
most of Chihuahua. He was joined by such
leaders as Emilio Campa andJose Ynes
Salazar, but opposed by Francisco Villa who
raised an army to support Madero.
For three weeks, Villa's inferior force was the
only resistance to Orozco in the state, but
eventually the government readied a large
force under the Minister of War, Jose
Gonzales Salas and Generals Tracy Aubert
and Aureliano Blanquet. Orozco forces under
Emilio Campa met the Federales at Rellano
on March 24, 1912, and dealt them a
smashing defeat. In the wake of this disaster,
Madero reluctantly recalled Victoriano Huerta
to head the campaign against Orozco.
Huerta quickly turned things around with a
victory at Bermejillo (near Torreon), Coahuila
on May 10 and another at Rellano on May
22. He had been joined by Villa, who proved
to be a difficult subordinate and, as a result,
was nearly shot by a firing squad. Saved by
the intervention of Madero, Villa was instead
sent to prison from which he later escaped.

Huerta went on to crush the Orozquista revolt
with a victory at Bachimba, Chihuahua on
July 3, and the re-taking of Chihuahua City on
July 8, followed by the taking of Ciudad Juarez
in mid-August.
Despite the successful campaign against
Orozco, Madero failed to bring about either
order or reform, and the country was in
turmoil. Two more rebellions, led by Generals
Bernardo Reyes and Felix Diaz were easily put
down but the two leaders were simply
imprisoned. They were allowed to
communicate freely with visitors and were
soon plotting the overthrow of the government.
In time the plot included about 20 important
generals including Aureliano Blanquet, Manuel
Mandragon and Victoriano Huerta. A coup
was planned for March 16, 1913, but on
February 4 the President's brother Gustavo
learned of the plans and tried to convince
Madero to act. His hesitation permitted the
generals, who realized they had been
discovered, to set the coup in motion on the
8th. The episode that followed has come to be
known as the Ten Tragic Days.
At this point, we begin David Warman's
chronology.
The Decena Tragica
1913
An insurrection against
Madero
Feb. 9 begins as soldiers under General
Feb. 8 (Night)
218
Manuel Mondragon enter Mexico

City from Tacubaya occupying the
Ciudadela (barracks and arsenal)
and attacking the military prison of
Santiago Tlatelelco, freeing
APPENDIX C
Generals Bernardo Reyes and Felix

Diaz. The National Palace garrison,
loyal to Madero and warned of
impending attack, repels an assault
led by Reyes who was killed in the
action. Mondragon and Diaz retreat
to the Ciudadela (about 11/ miles
SW of the Zocalo). President
Madero arrives finding he must
name a replacement for garrison
commander General Villar who had
been mortally wounded in
defending the palace. He reluctantly
entrusts command to General
Victoriano Huerta. Rather than
bombard the Ciudadela, Huerta, in
collusion with the rebels, terrorizes
the capital with random artillery
shelling.
Feb. 10
Madero leaves for Cuernavaca to

bring back General Felipe Angeles
and his forces on whom he could
rely to reinforce the loyal troops.
Feb. 11
Huerta eliminates a number of

troops loyal to Madero by ordering
a suicidal frontal attack on the
Ciudadela.
Feb. 12
Madero and Angeles return to the

capitol but Huerta orders Angeles
and his troops into the suburbs,
ostensibly to defend against a
possible attack from Zapatistas.
Feb. 13
Bombardment continues through

the 18th. Foreign diplomats
including US Ambassador Henry
Lane Wilson lend support to the
revolt and urge Madero to resign.

Huerta assures Wilson privately that
Madero will be removed.
Feb. 18
Madero, suspecting Huerta, orders

General Aureliano Blanquet to take
over defense of the National Palace,
but Blanquet is part of the
conspiracy also. He and Colonel
Riveroll enter Madero's office to
arrest him. In the ensuing gunfight,
Riveroll and others are killed, but
Madero and his guard are
overpowered and imprisoned.
Madero's cabinet, his brother
Gustavo and General Angeles are
arrested. Generals Huerta and Diaz
met with Ambassador Wilson and it
was agreed that Huerta would
become provisional president.
Huerta publicly proclaims the
restoration of peace.
Feb. 19
Huerta names his cabinet, obtains

the resignations of Madero and
Vice President Pino Suarez.
Huerta's assumption of the office of
provisional president is upheld by
the Chamber of Deputies.
In the face of the coup and
Huerta's announcement of
assumption of the provisional
presidency, the Governors react.
Some resigned or remained silent,
but the Governor of Coahuila,
Venustiano Carranza called an
emergency session of the State
Congress which passed a resolution
denying recognition to Huerta.
219
APPENDIX C
Madero's brother, Gustavo is
murdered by rebel (Huerta) troops.
Meanwhile, Madero together with
Vice-President Pino Suarez and
General Angeles are held prisoner
in the National Palace.
Feb. 22
Huerta, having received but a few

acknowledgements from state
governors orders immediate replies
from all.
The governors of Sonora and
Chihuahua, Jose Maytorena and
Abraham Gonzales, both of whom
were close to Madero, remained

silent. Carranza of Coahuila,
according to many accounts,
wavered during the days following
the 19th, and on the 22nd notified
Huerta that he was sending
representatives to discuss the
situation.
At 11: 15 that night Madero and
Pino Suarez were removed from the
National Palace and en route to the
Penitenciaria were murdered.
The Rise of Constitutionalism
The downfall of Madero was an unacceptably

abrupt end to the liberal reform movement
which, though largely ineffectual in addressing
the grievances of the general population in any
practical way, nevertheless represented ideals
which were widely regarded as sacrosanct.
General Victoriano Huerta, who assumed the
martyred president's office by force, was a
general rather than a politician with a personal
constituency. More critically, he was widely
perceived as being directly responsible for the
murder of Madero. Some, both in Mexico and
abroad welcomed the return of a "strong man"
to the National Palace, but though the coup
was carried out in the name of law and order
with the intention of restoring "stability and
prosperity" (from the standpoint of the upper
classes and foreign investors), this tragic event
in fact plunged the nation into a bitter civil
war in which nearly one million people were
to perish.
220
The chronology which follows traces in some

detail the first critical days after Madero's
death showing where and how the resistance to
Huerta developed. Many small movements
arose in many states, and in Morelos, Zapata
continued to fight the Federales regardless of
the change of regime. But the key states in the
first few months were in the north along the
U.S. border. Venustiano Carranza of Coahuila
was the first to officially and publicly rebel
against Huerta, but in that state there were
strong federal garrisons which forced the much
weaker rebel forces to retreat. The principal
rebel military leaders in Coahuila were
General Pablo Gonzalez and the Governor's
brother, Gen. Jesus Carranza. Following the
issuance of the Plan of Guadalupe on March
26, 1913 (the political program of the
revolution) Venustiano Carranza became the
recognized leader of the revolution in the
north and had the title of First Chief of the
APPENDIX C
Constitutionalist Revolution.
Sonora made its public break with the Huerta
Regime in the absence of her governor, Jose
Maria Maytorena, who had taken a leave of
absence which was a source of later
controversy. The most important military
leader in Sonora was Gen. Alvaro Obregon.
He quickly brought the state, except for the
port of Guaymas, under revolutionary control,
and later defeated two federal attempts to
regain control. Sonora became a secure base
for the Constitutionalists, and when the
situation in Coahuila became precarious,
Carranza decided to move the government
headquarters to Hermosillo, Sonora.
From Sonora, Obregon's army moved south
into the State of Sinaloa and by the end of
1913, the success attained in Sonora was
repeated there with only the port of Mazatlan
remaining under federal control.
In Chihuahua and Durango the situation
developed differently. The Maderista Governor
of Chihuahua, Abraham Gonzalez, was
assassinated by the Huertistas shortly after the
coup and the Governor of Durango declared
in favor of Huerta so that in these states there
was initially no political base for the
Revolution. However, many armed groups led
by such men as Maclovio Herrera, Tomas
Urbina, Manuel Chao, the Arrieta Brothers,
and others actively fought the Federales almost
as soon as news of the February coup arrived.
In the middle of March, Francisco Villa
slipped into Chihuahua from El Paso, Texas
and it was he who united the various rebel
forces in that state into the Constitutionalists'
most powerful military force.
Villa's actions of November 1913 were the

most spectacular of this period. After taking
Torreon earlier, he developed an attack on
Chihuahua City. At this time, Chihuahua and
Ciudad Juarez were the only cities in the state
that were still under federal control, both
heavily garrisoned. When the five-day attack
on Chihuahua failed to break the federal
defenses, Villa feigned a retreat but actually
circled north of the city, taking by surprise a
supply train sent from Ciudad Juarez. After
loading troops into the train, he telegraphed
Ciudad Juarez saying that the train could not
get through and was returning. Arriving in
Ciudad Juarez at night, the Villa troops
poured out of the train and took the city
completely by surprise.
The Federals in Chihuahua, now having their
supplies cut-off and realizing their desperate
situation, marched north. They were met
eighteen miles south of CiudadJuarez at
Tierra Blanca by Villa who won a tremendous
victory. Mter this disaster, the Federals
evacuated Chihuahua leaving the whole state
virtually under Constitutionalist control.
By the end of 1913, Durango was also
controlled by the Constitutionalists.
It is important to have a clear picture of the
true situation. In most parts of the north, as
well as in some of the other states where the
resistance was less strong, the Constitutionalists
moved with great fluidity. The Federals usually
abandoned the countryside and smaller towns
in order to concentrate their forces in the
defense of larger towns situated along the
railways. This meant that the smaller places
221
APPENDIX C
could generally be occupied by the rebels at
will and were usually closed to federal
communications. Sometimes the rebel
visitations to these small towns were brief, but
their leaving did not necessarily mean that
federals would fill the void. To list all of these
minor occupations would be impossible, but
the chronology which follows lists some in
order to either show a directional progress in
Constitutionalist movements or to indicate a
Constitutionalist presence in a general area
with which they had not been previously
identified.
important for an understanding of them.

During 1914, though, history and philately will
become intertwined to a much greater extent.
1913
Feb. 23
By the end of the first phase, the general

pattern of the war against Huerta had become
very clear: the revolutionaries controlled the
north and had well equipped armies complete
with 75 mm cannons, railroad cannons, and
machine guns. Much of this armament having
been captured from the Federals. Furthermore,
they had access to supplies from the U.S. The
movement of these larger forces depended on
the existence of railroads because movement
and supply support in these vast, rugged and
inhospitable parts of the country otherwise
were unfeasible. The federals by now had
settled into a defensive posture and
concentrated forces to build "impregnable"
defenses in cities along the major railroads, in
order to block the southward advance of these
Constitutionalist armies.
Philatelically, this period is relatively simple
with the Sonora White stamps and Green Seal
issues, and the "Ejercitos" being the only
revolutionary stamps issued. However, there
occasionally can be found some covers such as
the "Devuelta Clausurada" Rezago types,
where the historical circumstances are
222
In Chihuahua, Governor Abraham

Gonzales is arrested on orders from
Huerta. In Sonora and Coahuila,
Maytorena and Carranza continue
to disguise or make contradictory
their positions, at least publicly. (It
must be pointed out that, for both,
the circumstances were very
dangerous. While such men as
Alvaro Obregon, Plutarco Elias
Calles, Manuel Dieguez, Benjamin
Hill, Juan Cabral, Salvador
Alvarado, and others in Sonora,
and Pablo Gonzalez, Jesus
Carranza, Francisco Coss, Eulalio
Guiterrez and Jacinto Trevino in
Coahuila were, on a local level,
organizing for a revolt, the
dominant military presences were
federal garrisons supporting
Huerta.)
It was particularly necessary in
Coahuila thatJesus Carranza and
Pablo Gonzalez had time to
maneuver their forces beyond the
immediate threat of superior federal
forces. At Frontera, Sonora, Aniceto
Campos disarms the federal
garnson.
Feb. 24
Maytorena and the Sonora

legislature agree to revolt against
Huerta and order military
APPENDIX C
preparations (though these decisions

were not publicized).
Feb. 25
in Arteaga, Coahuila. During this

period, Carranza moves about a
great deal to keep the federals off
guard. The military situation in
Coahuila was such that between the
strong federal garrisons at Torreon
and Monterrey, there is no
significant federal force, yet it is
only a matter of time before they
would directly threaten Saltillo.
About this time the weak federal
garrison at Piedras Negras
abandons the city to General Jesus
Carranza; at Muzquiz, Coahuila,
the federal garrison declares its
allegiance to Carranza.
Governor Maytorena of Sonora

takes a leave of absence ostensibly
for health reasons. His true motives
have been a matter of debate, and
his political opponents would later
make much of it. Ignacio Pesqueira
is named interim governor.
Maytorena leaves Hermosillo for
Tucson, Arizona.
Carranza of Coahuila proposes a
telegraphic conference with Huerta
to "bring about a solution in the
delicate situation," but around the
same time negotiates bank and
business loans to supplement the
state treasury to be used to finance
various military persons planning to
revolt. The same day, Maytorena's
secretary, Ismail Padilla, meets with
Carranza in Saltillo. No records of
the meeting were kept and there are
two accounts - one that Padilla,
speaking for Maytorena, persuaded
Carranza not to accept Huerta, and
another that Padilla urged Carranza
to recognize Huerta. Padilla later
disappeared. This is significant
because the controversy surrounding
the attitude of Maytorena would
later contribute to the split that
developed in the Constitutionalist
movement.
About this time, Carranza briefly
establishes his general headquarters
Feb. 28
At Agua Prieta, Sonora, men, led

by Plutarco Elias Calles and
Arnulfo Gomez, take up arms
against the Federals, and at about
the same time, Manuel Dieguez in
Cananea and Juan Cabral and
Salvador Alvarado at Magdalena
declare against Huerta.
Meanwhile, Zapatistas, opposing
Huerta as they had Madero, attack
Atlixco, Puebla. (At this time,
however, they control no towns.)
Mar. 2-3 Namiguipa, Chihuahua, is taken by

rebels led by Maclovio Herrera.
Mar. 3
Carranza completes financial

negotiations, pleading state credit
for a loan of 75,000 pesos. Huerta,
informed of these transactions,
sends a message to Carranza
223
APPENDIX C
Revolution.)
demanding an explanation. (The

money was subsequently used to
finance Carranza's military.)
Mar. 4
Carranza makes his rebellion

against the government of Huerta
official and public, publishing a
manifesto inviting the Mexican
people to restore the Constitutional
order and to deny Huerta. He
leaves for Monclova which is
considered a safer headquarters.
Ambassador Henry Lane Wilson
resigns as Woodrow Wilson is
inaugurated President. President
Wilson's hostile attitude toward
Huerta was to be a passive aid to
the revolutionaries.
Governor Maytorena and Francisco
Villa meet in Tuczon, Arizona,
where Maytorena gives him money
to finance his entry into the
revolution.
Mar. 5
224
Interim Governor Pesqueira of

Sonora declares his state in
rebellion against Huerta. Alvaro
Obregon is designated Chief of
Military Operations in Sonora and
he names Benjamin Hill, Salvador
Alvarado, and Juan Cabral chiefs of
operations in the North, Center,
and South. About 1,500 rebels led
by Manuel Chao in Chihuahua,
attempt an attack on Parral which
fails. (However, Federal losses were
heavy and the attack was an early
indication of the strength of the
Roberto Rivas, in a surprise action

takes San Pedro, Coahuila (he
leaves March 7 after raising money
and recruiting men).
Mar. 6-7 At Anhelo, Coahuila, Carranza
troops clash with Federal forces
under General Fernando Trucy
Aubert. The casualties are few, but
this is the first action involving
Carranza's forces. In Sonora,
revolutionary forces isolate
Guaymas (which would remain a
federal stronghold long after the rest
of the state was controlled by
Constitutionalists).
Governor Abraham Gonzalez of
Chihuahua is murdered by
Federals.
Mar. l 0
By this date the following rebel

leaders are active in addition to
those already mentioned:
In Michoacan - Guertrudis
Sanchez, Martin Castrejon, Joaquin
Amaro and Luviano Renteria.
In Durango - The Arrieta Brothers,
Orestes Pereyra, and Calixto
Contreras.
In Nayarit - Juan DosaJ and Martin
Espinosa.
In Guerrero - the Figueroa
Brothers.
APPENDIX C
Mar. 11
Nacozari falls to the rebels led by

Pedro Bracamontes.
Mar. 11
Federals are forced to evacuate

Agua Prieta and they retreat to
Nogales. Francisco Villa crosses into
Chihuahua near El Paso
accompanied by eight men. (Over
the next several months, Villa
would build the most powerful of
the Revolutionary armies.)
Mar. 13
In Sonora, a decree is issued

putting all branches of Federal
administration under state authority,
including the postal system. This
date appears on the Sonora stamps
of 1913-14.
Mar. 15
General Pascual Orozco from

Chihuahua and General Gaudencio
de Ia Uave from Orizaba go over
to the Federal side.
Mar. 14
Nogales, Sonora, is occupied by

troops of Alvaro Obregon.
Mar. 20
General Eulalia Gutierrez and

General Francisco Coss take
Concepcion del Oro, Zacatecas
(temporary occupation).
Mar. 22
Carranza loses a battle at Saltillo,

Coahuila.
Mar. 25
Naco and La Cananea, Sonora, are

taken by the Revolutionaries led by
Alvaro Obregon and Manuel
Dieguez, so that the port of
Guaymas is the only city in the
state that remains in Federal hands.

(Fortified by 3,000 troops and three
warships, Guaymas would remain in
Federal hands until nearly the end
of the Huerta regime.)
Mar. 26
Don V enustiano Carranza

proclaims the Plan of Guadalupe
which becomes the political
program of the revolution and is
endorsed by revolutionary leaders in
most parts of the country,
particularly in the North. By its
provisions, Carranza assumes the
leadership of the Revolution and he
is named First Chief in Charge of
Executive Power. The
Revolutionary movement becomes
known as the Constitutionalist
Revolution.
Mar. 28
Jesus Carranza leads a successful

attack on Lampazos, Nuevo Leon.
Mar. 30
The Rural Corps from Mina,

Guerrero under Gertrudis G.
Sanchez, supported by the State
Governor, Jose Inocente Fuego,
rebels against the federals. The
Brothers Ambrosio and Romulo
Figueroa, Hector Lopez, Joaquin
Amaro, and Joaquin Espinoza go
with them to the State of
Michoacan.
Mar. 31
The Rural Corps from Tlalnepantla

(a few miles from Mexico City)
under Jesus Agustin Castro revolts
against Huerta and begins a
three-week journey north to the
relative safety of Tamaulipas.
225
APPENDIX C
Apr. 3
Apr. 5
General Martin Triana joins the

rebellion in Durango where most of
the countryside is controlled by
rebels and the capital is isolated.
Martin Espinoza joins the
revolution of Nayarit.
Apr. 7
Iguala, Guerrero is briefly occupied

by revolutionary forces.
Apr. 12
The Cedillo Brothers in San Luis

Potosi join the Constitutionalists
after having initially supported
Huerta.
Apr. 15
-18
In Morelos, Zapata storms

J onacatepec, holding the town for a
short period.
Apr. 16
Tacambaro, Michoacan is taken

over by revolutionists led by
Gertrudis Sanchez and Luviano
Renteria.
226
Apr. 19
The Federalist LieutenantJuan

Ramirez Pacheco defeats Pedro
Colorado at Chicoacan, Tabasco
near Huimanguillo.
Apr. 20
Venustiano Carranza establishes his

headquarters at Piedras Negras.
Apr. 20
-25
Heavy fighting occurs at Ciudad

Durango, the only city in Durango
State that remains under Federal
control. Calixto Contreras, Orestes
Pereyra and the Arrieta Brothers
with 3,000 to 4, 000 men are held
off by a well-fortified Federal
garrison of 700, but the city
remains surrounded.
Caracuaro, Michoacan rebels with
Cenobio Moreno who fights at
Apatzingan and Buena Vista.
General Pedro Colorado and

Colonel Aurea Calles rebel against
Huerta in the State of Tabasco.
The towns of Cardenas and
Huimanguillo in Tabasco are
occupied by Aureliano and Ramon
Sosa Torres, Carlos Greene,
Aureliano and Pedro Aguirre
Colorado and Aurea Calles, against
Huerta.
Apr. 18
Chihuahua meet for the purpose of

unifying the revolutionists by
recognizing Carranza as First Chief
and the Plan of Guadalupe as the
program of the revolution.
In Monclova Coahuila, delegates

Adolfo de la Huerta and Don
Roberto Pesqueira from Sonora,
and Don Samuel Navarro from
Apr. 21
Apr. 21
Tijimaroa (Ciudad Hidalgo),

Michoacan surrenders to the
revolutionary troops of Renteria
Luviano.
Apr. 22
Alamos, Sonora is captured by

revolutionists under Col. Benjamin
Hill.
Apr. 23
An unsuccessful attack on Ciudad

Victoria by Jesus Castro's rurales is
the first major action in
Tamaulipas.
APPENDIX C
In Morelos, Zapata lays siege to

Cuautla.
of their force and retreat back to

Guaymas.
Apr. 24
The Zapatistas capture General

Higinio Aguilar and imprison him.
General Pascual Orozco, after going

over to Huerta, travels north to
Chihuahua in order to fight Villa.
Apr. 25
Revolutionists capture Jimenez,

Chihuahua.
Apr. 26
Carranza orders the printing of five

million pesos worth of paper
currency in order to finance the
military campaign.
An attempt by General Buelna to

take Acaponenta, Nayarit is
repulsed.
Apr. 28
May 1
May 9
Lucio Blanco captures Reynosa,

Tamaulipas.
May 10
Carranza recognizes the rights of

citizens and foreigners to be
compensated for damages caused by
the Revolution.
May 11
A rebel group commanded by

Julian Medina attacks
Hostotipaquillo, Jalisco. Coamalco,
Tabasco and Zitacuaro, Michoacan
are also temporarily occupied by
rebels at about this time.
May 15
Parra!, Chihuahua, is captured by

revolutionaries.
May 16
Tepic, Nayarit, is temporarily

occupied by rebels.
May 19
The Constitutionalists begin using

paper currency. General Perez
Castro captures Chicontepec,
Veracruz.
May 21
Alvaro Obregon is promoted to

general.
May 23
The use of the typeset stamps of

Sonora known as the "Sonora
Blancos" (Scott no. 321-9) begins.
The 5 (Scott no. 326, listed as S5
Matehuala, San Luis Potosi, is

temporarily occupied by the
revolutionary chiefs, Davila Sanchez
and Santos Coy.
Federal General Luis Medina
Barron, together with
reinforcements, arrive at Guaymas,
Sonora, via the gun boats Guerrero
and Tampico. The ships' cannons
force the revolutionaries
surrounding the town to retreat out
of range to the railroad station town
of Empalme.
Federals under General Medina
Barron leave Guaymas in order to
drive back the rebel troops of
Alvaro Obregon. Near Santa Rosa,
Obregon engages them in a
three-day battle which Obregon
wins. The Federals lose nearly half
227
APPENDIX C
theoretically dominated. Natera

holds the city untilJuly 17. Federal
General Jose Delgado then
recaptures the city.
Jun. 10
in this catalog) is the first value

issued.
May 27
Mter being forced to abandon

several places, the Constitutionalists
Chiefs, Pablo Gonzalez, Jesus
Carranza, Antonio Villarreal, and
Cesareo Castro suffer a further
defeat by Federals near the
hacienda Hermanas, Coahuila.
May 28
The Constitutionalist Government

starts to use the paper currency in
Monclova, Coahuila.
May 29
Villa captures El Saucillo,

Chihuahua.
May 30
Delegates sent by Huerta to

negotiate with Zapata in Morelos
are executed.
Jun. 3-4
Matamoros, Tamaulipas is occupied

by Constitutionalist forces
commanded by Lucio Blanco - an
important surprise victory.
Jun. 7
Zacatecas is captured by
revolutionary General Panfilo
Natera. This was a major upset for
the Federals since this key city was
deep in territory which they
228
Manual Castillo Brito, Governor of

Campeche, defects from Huerta and
joins the rebellion. Although he
does not establish real control over
the state, this spreading of the
Revolution to the south is a major
psychological blow to the Federals.
Eduardo and Domingo Arrieta. The
State of Durango (except for a few
towns near the Coahuila border) is
under Constitutionalist control and
would remain so.
Jun. 11
-18
The 1, 2, 3, 5, (gothic numeral),

l 0 and the 5 with black roulette
issues make their appearance. The
5 black roulette (Scott no. 329)
comes on a paper that sometimes
shows the "Yukon Aurora"
watermark.
Jun. 19
Villa defeats Federal forces at

Bustillos and Casas Grandes,
Chihuahua after which the Federals
retain control of only two cities in
the state - Chihuahua and Ciudad
Juarez.
APPENDIX C
Mexican R evolution and Chronology - 1913
Jun. 25
-26
Jun. 27
A second advance from Guaymas

by federal forces this time
commanded by General Ojeda, is
met by General Obregon's forces
and they are thoroughly defeated in
the battles fought at Estacion Ortiz
and Santa Maria, Sonora. This was
the first time that an airplane was
used to study enemy positions. The
Constitutionalists inflict heavy losses
and capture much artillery and
ammunition as well as troop trains.
Jul. 8
Yautepec, Morelos, is captured by

Zapata and held for a short while.
Jul. 9
Earliest known date of usage of the

famous rarity; the 5 White issue
perforated (Scott no. 321 ). These
were used at Cananea and
substations Naco, La Mesa,
Chivatera and Agua Prieta
(reportedly also at Bacoachi).
Jul. 10
Monclova, Coahuila, is recaptured

by Federals; after this, Piedras
Negras is the only major town still
under control of the Coahuila
Constitutionalists.
Jul. 13
Don Venustiano Carranza, finding

the situation in Coahuila untenable,
marches to Durango via the
Torreon area (where heavy fighting
was taking place) to little avail for
the Constitutionalists. From
Durango he would proceed to
Sonora in a journey that would take
several weeks.
Jul. 17
The Federals, under General Flavio

Paliza succeed in pushing the
Constitutionalists led by Luviano
Renteria and Gertrudis Sanchez out
of Patzcuaro, Michoacan.
Obregon lays siege to Guaymas.

From this time until the Federal
regime is eliminated, the rest of
Sonora is completely controlled by
Jul. 1
The first of the Sonora issues with

the Green Seals makes its
appearance-the 5 (Linn no. 9).
Jul. 6
Jesus Carranza wins battles at

Lampozos and Candela, Coahuila.
Jul. 7
Federal General Jose Maria Mier is

defeated and killed in a battle
fought at El Castillo, Jalisco.
229
APPENDIX C
Mexican Revolution and Chronology- 1913
Jul. 28
In a meeting at Nogales, Sonora,

political opponents of Maytorena
try to impose conditions on his
return to the governorship, but
Maytorena stands firm .
Aug. 4
Jose Marfa Maytorena officially

resumes his office as Governor of
Sonora.
Aug. 6
The first land distribution takes

place in Tamaulipas by authority of
General Lucio Blanco.
Aug. 16
Federal General Joaquin Mass

defeats Constitutional troops around
the haciendas H ermanas, Abasolo
and San Buenaventura in Coahuila
where Jesus Carranza and Pablo
Gonzalez have concentrated forces.
Aug. 18
Zapatistas suffer reverses at Cuautla

and Villa Ayala, Morelos.
Aug. 26
Francisco Villa defeats General

Felix Terrazas at San Andres,
Chihuahua, capturing eleven
military trains.
Aug. 28
Generals Maclovio Herrera and

Manuel Chao capture Parra!,
Chihuahua.
Sept. 8
Revolutionary troops of Juan

Carrasco capture Quila, Sinaloa.
However, in Coahuila,
Constitutionalists continue to suffer
setbacks: Francisco Marguia at El
Carmen and Pablo Gonzalez at
Sabinas.
230
Sept. 18
General Pablo Gonzalez (or 28?)

concentrates his troops in Allende,
Coahuila.
Sept. 20
Venustiano Carranza arrives safely

at Hermosillo, capital of Sonora,
after a long arduous and dangerous
journey (begun on July 29th from
Coahuila. He names General
Alvaro Obregon Chief of the
Division of the Northwest.
Sept. 28
The very rare stamps with the

Green Seal plus embossed word
"Constitucional" appear on this
date at Hermosillo and are quickly
exhausted (Scott Nos. 322a/327a).
Sept. 29
Villa advances towards Torreon,

Coahuila. He is named Chief of the
Division of the North. (Pablo
Gonzalez is designated Chief of the
Division of the Northeast.)
Oct. 1
Villa defeats Huertistas around

Lerdo and Gomez Palacio near
Torreon. General Murguia
evacuates the city which is then
occupied by Villa on October 2.
Torreon would remain in
Constitutionalist hands until early
December during which time the
APPENDIX C
Federal garrisons would be cut off

from reinforcements.
Oct. 3
General Benjamin Hill defeats

Federals at Los Mochis, Sinaloa.
General Ramon Iturbe captures
Topolobampo, Sinaloa.
Oct. 4
Pascual Orozco, after the Federal

failure to defend Torreon, makes
his way to Chihuahua City.
Oct. 5
Sinaloa (Ci~) in the State of

Sinaloa falls to the
Revoluntionaries.
Oct. 6
Federals reoccupy Uraupam,

Michoacan.
Oct. 7
Federals under Joaquin Mass retake

Pierdras Negras, Coahuila.
Oct. 16
Rafael Buelna captures Rosario,

Sinaloa. Huertistas retreat to
Acaponeta, Nayarit.
Oct. 17
Carranza announces the formation

of a cabinet of eight secretaries for
the Federal Administration of
Mexico. This cabinet included
Ignacio Bonillas as Secretary of
Communications and also General
Felipe Angeles who had returned
from exile in France, as
Sub-Secretary of War.
Oct. 24
Pablo Gonzalez attacks Monterrey

and Cadereyta, Nuevo Leon.
Oct. 29
Colonel Cesareo Castro captures

Teran, and Montemorelos is also
captured by Constitutionalists.
Nov. 3
Santiago Ixcuintla, Nayarit, is taken

by the Constitutionalist General,
Rafael Buelna.
Nov. 5
Francisco Villa attacks Chihuahua

City beginning one of the most
brilliantly improvised campaigns of
the war . Fighting continues through
November 7 at which time he
breaks off and retreats south.
CHEE KuNG
Wo.
H E RJo4 0Sl L LO, SON.. MEX
Nov. 7
The series of stamps known as the

Ejercito Issue, originally prepared
for use as fiscal stamps only, is put
into postal use until the general
issue of postage stamps (the
"Transitorio" issue) arrives. These
were lithographed by the MaverickClarke Co. of San Antonio,
rouletted and with talons which
were to be removed before use.
Although the set included
denominations up to 100 pesos,
only the 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20
were authorized for postal use while
the 50 and 1 peso were also
reportedly sold for postal use.
231
APPENDIX C
Nov. 12
Rafael Buelna occupies Acaponeta,

Nayarit.
Nov. 14
Culiacan, Sinaloa, is taken by

Obregon's forces. In the State of
Sinaloa, Mazadan is the only city
remaining in Federal control.
In Chihuahua, the Federals lose
contact with Villa after his retreat
from the battle. He circles north
and intercepts a Federal supply
train sent to Chihuahua from
Ciudadjuarez. Loading his troops
on the train, he telegraphs a false
report to Ciudad Juarez that the
train could not get through and
must return.
Nov. 15
Lucio Blanco, after joining

Obregon's forces in the West,
captures the port of Altata, Sinaloa.
Nov. 18
Constitutionalists led by Generals

Pablo Gonzalez, Cesareo Castro,
Villarreal, Agustin Castro, and
Francisco Munguia, defeat Generals
Aguilar and Rabago in Ciudad
Victoria, Tamaulipas. The cities,
Mina and Hidalgo in Nuevo Leon,
are captured also.
232
Nov.23
-25
With Torreon to the south and

CiudadJuarez in the north both in
rebel hands, the Federal command
Villa meets the Federals eighteen

kilometers .south of CiudadJuarez
at Tierra Blanca where he wins a
resounding victory, capturing many
cannons and military trains.
Nov. 27
-30
The remaining Federal army at

Chihuahua now realizes it is cut off
from all supplies and cannot hold
the city. They decide to evacuate
across the desert to Oj inaga.
Nov. 30
The Federals suffer a defeat in

Hidalgo by Vicente Segura. General
Jesus Carranza captures Ciudad del
Maiz, S.L.P.
Dec. 9
Federal General Jose Refugio

Velasco begins a frontal attack on
Torreon recapturing the city the
next day.
Villa takes by surprise, Ciudad

Juarez, Chihuahua.
Nov. 16
Nov. 22
at Chihuahua, in panic, dispatches

a powerful force north to attack
Villa.
The Constitutionalists escape taking

with them most of their supplies
and arms. The retaking of Torreon
would be the last successful
offensive action of any consequence
undertaken by the Federals.
Dec. 31
Federal General Mercado fortifies

Ojinaga and withstands the first
attacks by Villa forces.
APPENDIX C
Ii
~- WINo ctiEONfi l\Ui if:i:

I
fjf
IJ,;, Connaugllt Nd. P'J

~&~ HONGKO~G CHINf\.
.~r,~
1i.
Afler the rebels quickly gained control of Sonora (save for the port of Gucrymas), mail from
Federal controlled territory could not enter. Sent from Hong Kong April 26, 1913, to Carbo,
Sonora, this bears the Federal applied hands tamp indicating "closure" of the office of destination
as the reason for its retum
233
APPENDIX C
The Era of the Big Battles

January Through August 1914
By the beginning of 1914, the fate of the
Huerta dictatorship was sealed and, in fact,
from now on, the Federals hardly ever won a
battle. They still nominally controlled the
majority of the country, but the Constitutionalists had secured the all-important ports of
entry along the U.S. border and had easy
access to military supplies. The Constitutionalist armies had one other extremely
important advantage. Their ranks were filled
with volunteers committed to the cause for
which they fought, while the Federal armies
were largely composed of unwilling conscripts
who frequently defected.
The Federals were entirely on the defensive
and could only wait for the now-powerful rebel
armies to close in on their positions one by
one. This is not to say that victory came easily
for the Constitutionalists in 1914. The great
battles of Torreon, San Pedro-Viezca,
Paredon, Monterrey, Tampico, Zacatecas and
Orendain were among the bloodiest ever
fought in the Western Hemisphere, with
casualties in the many thousands on both sides.
In many ways these battles foreshadowed what
was to happen soon in Europe. In fact, many
of the tactics and equipment which played an
important role in the First World War saw
their first application in Mexico under the
watchful eyes of foreign military observers.
The most conspicuously successful soldier of
this period was undoubtedly Francisco Villa,
whose Division of the North smashed through
the most formidable Federal defenses. Villa's
well-equipped army included a large artillery
234
(which even boasted two railroad cannons),

many trains, including one fitted out as a
mobile hospital, and the combined forces of
such chiefs as, Tomas Urbina, Calixto
Contreras, Toibio Ortega, Maclovio Herrera,
Rudolfo Fierro and others. In February of
1914, they were joined by General Felipe
Angeles who left his position in Carranza's
cabinet as Secretary of War to organize Villa's
artillery and give expert advice on tactics. The
sophisticated and soldierly Angeles and the
rough, impulsive, untrained, but highly
talented Villa were an unusual, but brilliant
pairing and as long as they worked together
they won every battle. But as Villa scored
success after success, the First chief, Carranza,
became increasingly alarmed, fearing, perhaps
with some cause, that he might be losing
control of the Revolution.
Villa and Carranza, in terms of both
personality and background, had nothing in
common and it is virtually inevitable that they
would regard one another with suspicion and,
finally, hostility. Villa, from the age of 16 until
the Madero revolution, an outlaw, was both a
passionate idealist and a man of unpredictable
and violent temper. He was intensely loyal to
the martyred president Madero and was an
advocate of land reform and justice for the
poor. At times he would step out of his
military role to carry out political and social
reforms. The fact that Hermosillo was far from
Chihuahua added to the impossibility of
Carranza exercising any real control over
Villa's activities in non-military affairs, which
were generally conducted with pragmatic
APPENDIX C
intentions, but which often conflicted with

overall Constitutionalist policy or were
diplomatically irresponsible. For Carranza,
Villa was everything from a nuisance and
offender of order, to a genuine political threat.
Carranza was a man of conventional ideas and
upper-class background who had commanding
patriarchal presence captured in countless
photographs. He was a stubborn man, perhaps
even more so than his contemporary, President
Woodrow Wilson, with whom he was to have
numerous disputes. His nationalism and his
devotion to the principles commanded respect
even from many who were frustrated by his
stubbornness. While Villa was an emotional
man, Carranza was reserved and, to many,
seemed aloof. He had little understanding of
the forces and popular passions that the civil
war had unleashed, but thoroughly understood
the politicians that flocked to his circle.
Nevertheless, his great achievement, the
Constitution of 191 7, was a remarkable
blueprint for radical social change. To this
day, Carranza remains a controversial figure.
However sincere he may have been in his
liberal beliefs and honest in his conduct of
financial matters, he was also by most accounts
an ambitious man, jealous of his prerogatives.
Villa believed that Carranza, unless opposed,
would become a dictator.
Following the Torreon-Laguna campaign, Villa
wanted to push on to Zacatecas, after which
the way to Mexico City would be wide open.
Carranza, however, much preferred that either
Obregon in the West or Gonzalez in the East,
both of whom he considered far more reliable
politically, should be the first to reach the
capital. He therefore diverted Villa to take
Saltillo and afterwards ordered General Panfilo

Natera to attack Zacatecas without Villa's
support. When Natera failed, Villa defied
Carranza and with his entire army attacked
and overwhelmed the Federal armies at
Zacatecas. Carranza retaliated by cutting off
the supply of coal necessary for Villa's troop
trains. This split between the two leaders
proved to be irreconcilable.
The events of 1914 were further complicated
by the occupation of Veracruz by the U.S.
Army for several months. While the
occupation was carried out in part to harass
the Huerta regime, it outraged Mexicans on
both sides of the conflict. However it did have
a beneficial effect for Zapata in Morelos, as
Huerta withdrew forces from that state to face
the U.S. "threat." With some of the pressure
removed, Zapata, who had just carried out an
effective campaign in Guerrero, was able to
secure all towns in Morelos except
Cuernavaca, and posed a menace to Mexico
City itself.
Up until April 1914, the Division of the
Northeast had had more failures than successes
and its leader, General Pablo Gonzalez had
gained the title of "The General Who Never
Won A Battle." But about that time, Villa
began his Laguna Campaign, Gonzalez began
a winning streak which included major
victories at Monterrey and Tampico, and
secured the States of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon,
and Tamaulipas for Constitutionalism.
While Villa and Gonzalez wiped out the
federal defenders of the North and Northeast,
Obregon continued his methodical advance
down the West Coast and crossed the
235
APPENDIX C
mountains to threaten Guadalajara which he

took following the Battle of Orendain.
Throughout the rest of July, he secured his
flanks by sweeping the Federals out of Colima
and consolidating his gains inJalisco. Obregon
came to be called "El Invicto," for during
1914 and thereafter, he never lost a battle. His
campaigns were carried out with an amazing
degree of military sophistication, especially
considering that, like Villa, he lacked formal
training.
Mter neutralizing a Federal buildup at
Manzanillo, Obregon began an eastward
advance along the rail line leading through La
Piedad, Irapuato, Celaya, and Queretaro
which was virtually unopposed. At the same
time, the Division of the Northeast was closing
in from the North. Their victory at San Luis
Potosi on July 18 was really the last major
battle of the war.
On July 15, Huerta resigned turning over the
presidency to the Minister of Foreign
Relations, Francisco Carbajal. Carbajal
immediately began negotiating with Carranza
through U.S. representatives to try to obtain
terms of surrender that would protect those
connected with the regime from reprisals.
Failing to win any concessions from Carranza,
Carbajal fled Mexico on August 12 and the
following day a surrender of the city was
signed, articles of capitulation were drafted,
and Obregon entered Mexico on August 15.
Philatelically, this period sees two
Constitutional general issues (the
"Transitorios" and "Denvers") supplemented
by 1910 UPU issues with handstamped control
overprints- the large script GCM plus a large
236
variety of local overprints, and further

supplemented with the 5 Transitorios printed
by Linn and the "Denver" Revenues. The
profusion of issues were basically the result of
trying to adequately supply with stamps a
postal administration constantly expanded by
the new conquests.
1914
Jan. 2
Federals, under General Teodoro

Quintana, drive the
Constitutionalists out of Laredo,
Tamaulipas.
Jan. 5
Tepecoacuilco, near Iguala in

Guerrero, is taken over by
Zapatistas. During the next couple
of months other small places in
Northern Guerrero would fall under
Zapata control as he prepares a
major offensive in that state.
Jan. 8
The director General of Posts, Don

Cosme Hinojosa, announces in
Circular no. 2 that the
Constitutionalist Government has
placed in circulation a new issue of
postage stamps with the inscription
"CORREOS-MEXICOTRANSITORIO." They were
litho-graphed by the Maverick
Clark Co. of San Antonio, Texas,
APPENDI X C
Jan. 10
Jan. 20
Feb. 3
Feb. 12
Feb. 14
Feb. 15
Feb. 24
rouletted, with denominations of 1,

2, 4, 5, 10, 20, 50 centavos and 1
peso.
Mar. 5
Francisco Villa and Maclovio

Herrera defeat the Federals in a
second battle at Ojinaga forcing
them to evacuate to the U.S. side of
the border where they were
interned. With this action, the
Constitutionalists controlled all of
the State of Chihuahua.
General Eulalio Gutierrez threatens
the city of Matehuala, S.L.P.
Mar. 9-14 Zapata closes off Chilpancingo,

Guerrero. He occupies the town on
March 14.
President Woodrow Wilson officially

removes the U.S. embargo on
weapons deliveries to the
Constitutionalists, a move favoring
the revolutionary movement.
In Queretaro State, the Federals
force Pablo de Ia Garza to retreat
from Cadereyta, and T eodoro
Elizondo from Arroyo.
Zacatlan, Puebla is captured by
Constitutionalist General Jimenez
Castro who defeated General
Maximo Rojas.
The Constitutionalists suffer

setbacks at Ciudad Mier and
Ciudad Guerrero, Nuevo Leon.
Mar. 20
The Division of the North under

General Villa occupies Bermejillo,
Durango on their advance towards
Torreon. Villa forces under General
Urbina drive the Federals out of
Mapimi, Durango. The Federals set
up their next line of defense
between Gomez Palacio,
Sacramento, and San Pedro.
Mar. 22
Villa's Division of the North pushes

the federals out of San Pedro,
Coahuila.
Mar 23.
Sacramento, Durango is taken by

Villa forces leaving Gomez Palacio
as the next obstacle to his taking
Torreon.
Mar. 26
Mter four days of heavy fighting,

Gomez Palacio falls . The hills
around Torreon become the scene
of intense fighting.
Tixtla, Guerrero is taken by Zapata.

The Commander of the Federal
gunboat Tampico goes over to the
Constitutionalists' side and makes
for Topolobampo, pursued by the
Guerrero. Upon its arrival, the
"Tampico" becomes part of the
command of General Obregon.
In Tamaulipas, a portion of
General Pablo Gonzalez's forces
begin a siege of Tampico.
Apr. 2
The Federals evacuate Torreon, the

chief railroad center of Northern
Mexico. General Villa makes a
237
APPENDIX C
Communications, Ignacio Bonilla

ordered a small quantity of the
Transitorio series to be overprinted
"Victoria de Torreon- April 2
1914." These were sold only on
April 3-4 at CiudadJuarez
coinciding with a gathering there of
Constitutionalist political leaders.
spectacular entrance and General

Rudolfo Fierro personally executes
300 of the prisoners.
Apr. 2
Apr. 3
238
In Hermosillo, Director General Of

Posts, Cosme Hinojosa, receives
from the George W. Linn Co. of
Columbus, Ohio, 75,000 5 centavos
stamps of a design similar to the
earlier Transitorio issue, but
perforated (Scott No. 369). (These
were sent as a sample- Linn
anticipated a large order which,
however, was never placed. Despite
the shortage of lower value
Transitorios, these samples were not
put into use until the critical
shortages of June 1914.)
To commemorate the capture of

Torreon, the Secretary of
Apr. 4-5
Villa engages the retreating Federal

army of General Velasco at Viezca
inflicting heavy casualties and
sending the remnants of the army
retreating to San Pedro where they
join temporarily with reinforcements
under General Mass.
Apr. 8
Jesus Salgado, one of Zapata's

generals, takes Iguala, Gro.
General Pablo Gonzalez begins his
campaign to take Monterrey, N.L.
Apr. 10
Taxco, Guerrrero is taken by

Zapatistas.
Apr. 11
Federals evacuate Alcapulco which

is occupied by Zapata forces.
Apr. 12
Carranza names Chihuahua City

the "Capital de la Republica de Ia
Revolucion."
April 14
Villa, after a few days of skirmishes,

opens a major attack on Federals
under General Mass at San Pedro
(Velasco, following an argument
with Mass over the supreme
command, continued his retreat
eastward to Saltillo). Mass' troops
APPENDIX C
are thoroughly routed and Villa

takes the city.
Capitan Gustavo Salinas Carranza,
flying the biplane Sonora, makes a
bombing run on the gunboat
Guerrero off the coast near
Mazatlan. This is the earliest
recorded offensive use of an
airplane in warfare.
Apr. 18
Apr. 21
Apr. 22
war are strongly hostile to the U.S.

occupation. Piedras Negras,
Coahila, is taken by Constitutionalists.
Apr. 24
Monterrey, N.L. is captured by

General Pablo Gonzalez. Antonio I.
Villerreal is appointed Governor of
Nuevo Leon.
Apr. 25
Because of the U .S. landing at

(ca.)Veracruz, Huerta orders the
withdrawal of troops for emergency
reinforcements from the southern
states including the garrisons at
Cuautla, J onacatepec, in Morelos.
These towns are immediately taken
by Zapata (as is Tetela on April 27),
leaving only two towns in Morelos
still in Federal hands- Jojutla and
Cuernavaca.
General Gonzalez begins a frontal

assault on Monterrey which lasts six
days.
American Intervention- The U.S.

Marines land at Veracruz as a
punitive action directed at Huerta
(an incident involving the arrest of
U .S. sailors in uniform at Tampico
was considered an affront to U .S.
honor and the intervention at
Veracruz was in part a reaction).
Mter some skirmishes and the
retreat of the Federal garrison, the
Marines controlled the port and
would retain control for seven
months.
Diplomatic relations between the
U.S. and Mexico are suspended.
Mexicans on both sides of the civil
Federals abandon Nuevo Laredo,

dynamiting public buildings, and
head for Saltillo.
May 1
Zapata takes Jojutla, Morelos.
May 5
May 11
-13
Constitutionalists occupy
Acaponeta.
Battle of Tampico ends with
Gonzalez capturing the city.
May 13
The Federals evacuate Monclova.
May 16
Tepic is captured by Obregon's

vanguard under Lucio Blanco and
Rafael Buelna.
May 17
Villa advances on Saltillo (Carranza

had ordered him to attack Saltillo
239
APPENDIX C
instead of advancing on
Zacatecas) and meets the
enemy at Paredon,
Coahuila. A major
cavalry battle results in a
federal defeat.
May 20
May 27
240
The remaining Federals at Saltillo

abandon the city to Villa retreating
to San Luis Potosi. A few days later
General Pablo Gonzalez joins Villa
at Saltillo for talks.
As the Transitorio issue became

exhausted and addition of newly
won territory to Constitutionalist
administration vastly increased the
demand for stamps, it became
necessary to improvise. Don Cosme
Hinojosa in Circular no. 14 ordered
the captured stocks of the 191 0
"Centenario" issue be overprinted
with the GCM cursive monogram
handstamp as a control to
differentiate them from stamps sold
by the federals. The handstamping
was done at Hermosillo and at
CuidadJuarez.
Shortly after this, local postmasters

in towns not supplied with stamps
from the main centers of
distribution, began to fashion
handstamps to be applied to
Centenario stocks in their cities.
This resulted in a great variety of
overprints of different designs
usually incorporating the words or
initials of "Gobierno Constitucionalista." Some of these also did
service as provisional cancels. There
are even some cases where the
control was in manuscript.
Jun. 2
The use of revenue stamps, printed

in Denver, Colorado, for postage is
authorized by the postal
administrator at Saltillo. They were
used throughout most of the
territory controlled by the Division
APPENDIX C
of the Northeast as late as early

November, although they were
mainly used during June, July, and
early August.
Jun. 11
Constitutionalist forces under

General Panfilo Natera attack
Zacatecas. Carranza had ordered
Natera to take Zacatecas instead of
Villa's Division of the North
because, by this time, Carranza no
longer trusted Villa and did not
want him to be the firstto reach
the capital.
When Natera fails to take Zacatecas
and requests reinforcements,
Carranza orders Villa to dispatch
3,000 troops. Villa proposes that the
entire division move on Zacatecas,
but Carranza opposes this.
Jun. 13
Mter a stormy telegraphic

conference with Carranza, Villa
resigns his command. Carranza
orders Villa's generals to select an
interim chief. The generals
unanimously refuse and request that
Carranza's acceptance of Villa's
resignation be reconsidered. When
Carranza refuses and reiterates his
orders, the generals declare their
support of Villa and prepare to
march on Zacatecas. This marks
the break in relations between Villa
and Carranza.
At Hermosillo, Sonora, a move by
Col. Plutarco Elias Calles to take
over the Governor's palace and
remove Governor Maytorena from
office is thwarted by the arrival of

troops loyal to Maytorena. For
several months Constitutionalist
military leaders in Sonora, with the
support of Carranza, had worked to
limit the authority of Maytorena
and to undermine his political
support. Maytorena, for his part,
had allied himself with Villa and
Angeles anticipating a possible split
in the revolutionary movement.
Jun. 16
The gunboat Tampico in route to

Mazatlan to coordinate with a land
attack by General Ramon F. Iturbe
(one of Obregon's generals), is
engaged in battle by the Federal's
gunboat General Guerrero and
sunk.
Jun. 18
Huetamo, Mich. is captured by the

Revolutionaries.
Jun. 19
Villa arrives at Zacatecas and takes

over the attack.
Jun. 23
Villa begins his successful frontal

attack on Zacatecas. The Federal
army is virtually annihilated and the
next day the Division of the North
occupies the city. No significant
federal force stands between
Zacatecas and the capital, but
Carranza has meanwhile cut off the
shipments of coal necessary for
Villa's troop trains .
Jun. 25
Villa leaves Zacatecas in Natera's

hands, to journey to Torreon
together with delegates from his
generals in order to meet with
241
APPENDIX C
in an important Constitutionalist
victory.
representatives of Carranza and of

the Northeast Division.
Jul. 3
The Conference of Torreon begins

where representatives of the North
and Northeast Divisions meet to
resolve the differences between Villa
and Carranza, as well as to discuss
the nature of the interim
government Carranza would head
following the victory over the
Federals. The conference lasts five
days ending July 8. Carranza's
authority is reaffirmed, but it is also
decided that his interim government
would be regulated by a convention
of military chiefs, with all
revolutionary forces represented in
proportion to their number of
troops. Villa is reinstated in his
command. Also, Carranza is urged
to resolve a conflict which had
developed in Sonora between
Governor Maytorena and various
military persons, most notably
Plutarco Elias Calles. Carranza,
however, continues to deny Villa
access to supplies.
Jul. 4
Troops of the Division of the

Northeast under General Jesus
Carranza, enter Cerritos, S.L.P.
General Pablo Gonzalez occupies
Charcas, S.L.P.
Jul. 6-7
Mter crossing the mountains from

Tepic to approach Guadalajara,
Obregon is met by federal forces
and the Battle of Orendain results
242
Jul. 7-8
Mter the Federal's defeat at

Orendain, they withdraw from
Guadalajara southwest by rail only
to discover their retreat blocked at
El Castillo by General Lucio Blanco
who wins another big victory.
Between Orendain and El Castillo,
the Federals lost 2,000 dead,
5,000-6,000 prisoners, 16 cannons,
8 trains, 40 locomotives, and a vast
stock of rifles and ammunition.
Jul. 9
Obregon enters Guadalajara.
Jul. 15
Victoriano Huerta resigns the

presidency and is succeeded by
Minister of Foreign Relations,
Francisco Carbajal. Carbajal seeks
to negotiate with Carranza through
U.S. representatives.
u-u.. M
SING LEE
ABAAROTES EN GENERAL
MERCADO No.9
CAI'U.H I:A, SONORA, MX .
. if .
e7fiM
'.
Jul. 16
In several locations in Sonora and

Sinaloa, the 10 centavos Transitorio
was bisected diagonally to satisfy the
5 centavos letter rate since the
supply of stamps of lower
APPENDIX C
denominations had been exhausted.
Genuine covers with the bisect are
known used as late asJuly 26.
Jul. 17
Jul. 18
Jul. 19
Jul. 21
Aguascalientes is captured by
Constitutionalists. The port of
Guaymas is evacuated by the
Federal garrison commanded by
General Tellez. Obregon learns that
Tellez is sailing to Manzanillo,
Colima, and prepares to neutralize
this Federal buildup which could
threaten his flank.
San Luis Potosi is captured by
General Jesus Carranza in the last
major battle of the campaign
against the Federals. Tulancingo is
also occupied by Constitutionalists.
Jul. 27
Aguascalientes is captured by
Constitutionalists. Advance troops
under General Murguia occupy
Queretaro.
Jul. 28
Guanajuato is occupied by Obregon

forces.
Jul. 30
Obregon establishes his

headquarters at Queretaro.
Jul. 31
Irapuato and Leon, Gto. are

occupied. Zapatistas reach
Contreras, D.F.
Aug. 2
Generals Pablo Gonzalez and

Alvaro Obregon meet in Queretaro.
Aug. 4
Toluca, Tlaxcala and Pachuca are

all occupied by Constitutionalists.
Aug. 8
Sonora's Governor, Maytorena,

reestablishes the sovereignty of the
state.
Aug. 9
Maytorena begins a rebellion aimed

at neutralizing his political
enemies- chief of whom is Colonel
Plutarco Elias Calles. General
Alvarado (Carrancista) and his staff
are captured.
Colima is captured by Obregon

forces.
Celaya is occupied by elements of

the Division of the North west
(Obregon) while other Obregon
forces close in on Manzanillo. The
Federal Commander, General
Tellez decides that it is pointless to
remain there and withdraws by sea
bound for Salina Cruz.
Jul. 23
La Paz, Baja California, is occupied

by Constitutionalists. Acambaro and
Manzanillo are occupied by the
Division of the Northwest
(Obregon).
Jul. 26
Obregon troops occupy La Piedad,

Mich.
Mazatlan, Sinaloa is taken by

General Ramon F. Iturbe after five
days of fighting.
243
APPENDIX C
surrender of the Federal regime and

the dissolving of the Federal army.
Aug. 13
Zapatistas overrun Cuernavaca,

Morelos.
Tulancingo, Hidalgo; and Villa
Hermanos, Tabasco; are occupied.
Aug. 10
Aug. 10
-13
244
Postmaster Cosme Hinjosa issues

Circular no. 17 authorizing the use
of stamps received the previous
month from Denver, Colorado.
These stamps, bearing the legend
"Correos Gobierno
Constitucionalista" with the eagle as
its central design, were lithographed
and perforated 12, with
denominations 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 50
centavos, and 1 peso. A few were
sold prior to this date.
Obregon and the Federal
government enter negotiations
leading to the Treaties of
Teoloyucan for the unconditional
Aug. 14
General Velasco, Carbajal and

other high ranking Federals
evacuate the capital.
Aug. 15
General Alvaro Obregon, with

6,000 troops, enters Mexico City in
triumph. He is designated Military
Commander of the city.
Aug. 17
Carranza and Lucio Blanco

separately negotiate through
intermediaries with Zapata, but no
agreements are reached.
Aug. 20
The first Chief, Don Venustiano

Carranza arrives at the capital.
APPENDIX C
Sent from Mazatlan March 23, 1914, to a musician in the regimental band of the 12th Infantry at Gomez Palacio,
part of the command of General Jose Rlifugio Velasco, the Federal commander-in-chief at Torreon. Gomez Palacio
figured prominently in the Battle rif Torreon which was well under wqy when this was posted Villa won on April
2nd The handstamp, "Clausurada La Ojicina de Destino" (closure rif the qffice rif destination) explains the nondelivery. From the deal letter archive rif the Ojicina de Rezagos, Mexico Ci9'.
The Convention
The Constitutionalist movement held together

just long enough to win the crucial victories
against the Federal armies, but its unity no
longer existed by the time Carranza entered
Mexico City. The Pact of Torreon had been a
first attempt to smooth over the differences
between Villa and Carranza by calling for a
convention of military chiefs to decide
Mexico's political future. It succeeded in
delaying the outbreak of hostilities but in the
interval, Villa purchased huge stocks of war
materials while Carranza tried to consolidate
the political advantages that came with being

the first to enter the capital.
The distrust that the two men had for one
another was fundamental to the next round of
civil war, but the polarization of the
revolutionists was social as well. Zapata,
philosophically, was from a different world
than Carranza, but was ideologically more
comfortable with Villa's position on land
reform. Zapata's eventual alliance with Villa
was an important development. But by-and245
APPENDIX C
large, the choices made by the generals to side

either with Villa or Carranza were political
rather than ideological. That Obregon chose
to support Carranza was a political strategy
and probably the single most consequential
development of this period.
Events in Sonora would once again play an
important role in the course of the revolution.
The Constitutionalist military leaders in
Sonora did not trust Governor Maytorena and
had been working to wrest political control
from him from the time he returned from his
leave of absence in mid-1913. Maytorena was
identified with Villa, having financed his entry
into the Revolution and Villa, in turn, looked
upon Maytorena as a "good revolutionary"
and a friend of the martyred President
Madero. They developed their distrust of
Carranza about the same time. Open warfare
in Sonora broke out two months before the
Convention convened and all attempts to settle
the dispute failed. While Sonora was not the
central issue in the dispute between Villa and
Carranza, the situation there mirrored and at
times amplified the dissonance that plagued the
revolutionary movement. It, incidentally,
produced some interesting stamps.
The role of General Felipe Angeles became
another uncertain element in this stew of
distrust. Angeles, the artillery expert working
with Villa, European-trained and formerly the
commandant of the Colegio Militar, was the
only professional soldier among the
revolutionary generals. Some suspected
Angeles of belonging to a conspiracy to keep
the military establishment in control of
national politics. Villa is on record has having
declared Angeles his preference for the
246
Presidency. That people high up in the U.S.

Government also openly expressed their
preference for Angeles to become President of
Mexico was additional fuel for anti-Villa
propaganda. There is no real indication that
Angeles was part of a militarist conspiracy
aimed at establishing a new dictatorship or
that an Angeles-Villa dictatorship would be a
tool of the U.S. State Department.
There was in fact an alliance between
Maytorena, Angeles, and Villa to prevent, by
war if necessary, a Carranza presidency. Each
side ascribed the most sinister motivations to
the other. Obregon, after siding with
Carranza, coined a memorable piece of
propaganda calling Maytorena, Villa, and
Angeles, "an unholy trinity of hate." For his
part, Carranza's stubbornness fed suspicions
that he aspired to be dictator. It is true that as
the leader of the revolution he was presented
with many situations which required definite
and authoritative response.
However, he refused, following his entry into
Mexico City, to become Provisional President.
But he retained the less formal and therefore
less restricted power he held as First Chief. His
tactic served his longer-range ambitions. If he
became Provisional President (as he was
supposed to have according to the Plan of
Guadalupe), this would have made him
ineligible to become the legally elected
president because interim officials could not
succeed themselves in permanent office. Villa
and others took this avoidance of the title of
Provisional President, together with numerous
other acts, as evidence of a developing
Carranza dictatorship.
APPENDIX C
The only possible solution to the chief problem

facing the Convention of Military Chiefs which
convened at Aguascalientes on October 10 was
to find a way to remove Villa and Carranza
both from Mexican politics. Villa himself
recognized this and even theatrically suggested
that he and Carranza should enter into a
suicide pact. Carranza was not only
dosed-minded where suicide was concerned,
but was unwilling to sacrifice his claim to the
Presidency. Villa made a good show of
supporting the convention in his efforts
towards peace, but in his own mind believed
that only force would remove Carranza from
power, and Villa apparently was confident that
he had sufficient force at his command to
achieve this and grew impatient to use it.
At Nogales, Sonora, Villa and

Obregon meet with Governor
Maytorena to work out a solution to
the Sonora conflict. There and in
Chihuahua, three different pacts are
agreed to over the next few days,
none resolving the conflict
satisfactorily. A truce is the only
result, leaving Nogales under
Maytorena's control while the
Constitutionalists retain control of
the Cananea-Naco region, under
General Benjamin Hill.
The story of this ill-fated Convention of

Military Chiefs is told in this next section of
the Chronology.
1914
Aug. 21
-24
Obregon travels to Chihuahua

to meet with Villa and discuss a
solution to the Sonora conflict.
Aug. 23
Maytorena with 1,200 troops enters

Nogales, Sonora which Plutarco E.
Calles had evacuated the previous
day, retreating to Cananea.
Aug. 27
Conciliatory meetings in
Cuernavaca between Zapatistas and
Carrancistas fail to reach
satisfactory agreements.
Negotiations are broken off on
August 29.
Aug. 28
The Maytorena government reissues

the Sonora Green Seal issues with
black roulettes and transposed seals.
Sept. 1
Stamps with the overprint

"Gobierno $ Constitucionalista"
start to circulate postally.
247
APPENDIX C
Sept. 3
Villa and Obregon formulate a

nine-point program for the
establishment of a
post-revolutionary government.
Sept. 5
Carranza calls for a convention of

governors and military chiefs to
assemble in Mexico City on
October 1, in order to develop a
program of government.
Sept. 9
Carranza rejects the Villa-Obregon

nine-point plan contending that
such matters should be decided by
the Oct. 1 convention.
Sept. 13
Mter the peace is broken in Sonora

again, Obregon journeys to
Chihuahua (arriving Sept. 16) for
further talks with Villa. He also
bears an invitation to attend the
October 1 convention.
Sept. 17
Villa receives word that in Sonora,

General Hill was attacking
Maytorena and accuses Obregon of
ordering the attacks. Mter being
threatened with execution, Obregon
telegraphs orders to Hill to halt the
attacks. Villa and Obregon continue
talks, with Villa finally agreeing to
send representatives to the
convention.
Sept. 21
Shortly after Obregon leaves by

train, Villa learns that Carranza,
anticipating a conflict, has ordered
communication and transportation
with the North suspended. Enraged,
Villa refuses to be represented at
248
the convention, formally disavows

Carranza as First Chief, and orders
Obregon's train intercepted and
Obregon returned to Chihuahua
where his fate would be decided.
Sept. 23
Obregon is released, but Villa

nearly has him assassinated en route
to Zacatecas. In Parral, Chihuahua,
General Maclovio and General Luis
Herrera of the Northern Division,
disavow Villa's authority and
support Carranza. General Panfilo
Natera disobeys Carranza's order to
tear up the railroad tracks south of
Zacatecas, and supports Villa.
Villa's forces (numbering around
40,000 troops) begin a rapid
advance southward.
Sept. 29
After many communications aimed

at preventing an all-out war, various
Carrancistas generals headed by
Obregon meet with Villa and other
generals at Zacatecas. There they
agree to suspend troop movements
and instead of the meeting in
Mexico City, decide to convene on
neutral ground at Aguascalientes, a
convention limited to military men
with proportionate representation of
the various commands, beginning
on October 10.
Sept. 30
The Chiefs of the Division of the

North publish a manifesto setting
forth their grievances against
Carranza and calling for his
removal from authority.
APPENDIX C
Oct. 1
Oct. 2
Obregon and the other

Constitutionalists generals returned
to Mexico City in time for the first
session of the convention called by
Carranza. Villa's generals did not
attend and representatives of Zapata
were not invited. Despite the fact
that Carrancistas comprise the
majority, the convention shows its
independence by agreeing to
re-convene in Aguascalientes, by
voting to limit the delegations to
military men representing all
commands (over Carranza's
objections), and by rejecting
Carranza's resignation . It did this in
such a manner as to suggest a
prolongation of temporary power
rather than an absolute
confirmation. That is, it was refused
"until the convention should meet
in Aguascalientes." The convention
recessed on October 5.
In Sonora, the Maytorena

Government issues a new typographed series of stamps known as
the "Sonora Coach" issue, so called
because the circular background
seal shows a stagecoach.
Oct. 7
Director General del Correos, Don

Cosme Hinojosa, issues Circular no.
1653 authorizing the "Gobierno $
Constitucionalista" overprint issues,
ordering that all available stocks of
the "Centenario" issue be so
overprinted.
Oct. 10
The convention reconvenes in

Aguascalientes with 150 delegates
representing various factions with
the exception of the Zapatistas.
Antonio Villarreal is named
president of the convention. A
suspension of all hostilities is
ordered and they conclude that
Zapata should be represented.
Oct. 15
The convention is declared

sovereign. Carranza refuses to
accept the convention's sovereignity.
Further major business is postponed
until the arrival of the Zapata
delegation .
Carranza, over the next days,
continues preparations for a possible
war, recruiting, deploying troops
and importing munitions, all in
defiance of convention prohibitions.
Villa makes similar moves though
unlike Carranza, he had a personal
249
APPENDIX C
representative at the convention and
on occasion, attended personally.
independence of the convention.

Nov. 3
Oct. 15
-16
Oct. 31
Naco, Sonora, occupied by General

Hill, is attacked by Maytorena.
Even after the convention orders
the suspension of hostilities
throughout the republic, there are
skirmishes between Hill and
Maytorena.
The convention votes to accept the
"resignations" of Villa and
Carranza. Carranza leaves the
capital for Tlaxcala, and then
Puebla, where he is joined by his
cabinet (November 4); then on to
Cordoba to await the U.S.
evacuation of Veracruz.
At Torreon, Eusebio Martinez
establishes the Postal Administration
of the Conventionists Government.
Nov. 1
Nov. 2
250
The convention elects General

Eulalio Gutierrez temporary
president for a period of twenty
days at the expiration of which his
tenure would either be ratified or
he would be replaced. A plan is put
forward to dissolve all army corps
and division commands, placing all
forces under the central command
of a war department.
Leaving his headquarters in
Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Villa arrives
in Aguas-calientes with 6,000 troops
and five trains of artillery. Some
consider this a threat to the
Several generals in Puebla (notably

Francisco Coss publish a manifesto
declaring that the Aguascalientes
Convention was usurping the
sovereignty and thus in rebellion.
They were loyal to the First Chief
Venustiano Carranza.
Nov. 5
The convention votes that unless

Carranza delivers the executive
power to Gutierrez by 6:00 p.m. on
November 10, he would be
considered to be in rebellion against
the convention.
Guiterrez names a Minister of War,
Jose Isabel Robles, one of Villa's
generals.
Nov. 6
From Cordoba, Carranza publishes

his answer to the convention's
ultimatum reiterating his position
that the convention is not sovereign
and ordering all members under his
command to withdraw before the
evening of November 10.
Nov. 9
Obregon arrives at Cordoba to

confer with Carranza. Ostensibly,
Obregon came to Cordoba as a
representative of the convention,
but by this time both are convinced
that the peace cannot be saved
since neither Villa nor Carranza
would give up their authority.
Villa's troops advance towards
Queretaro.
APPENDIX C
Mexican R evolution and Chronology - 1914
Nov. 10
Several important Constitutionalist

Generals including Obregon, Lucio
Blanco, Antonio Villarreal and
Pablo Gonzalez meet in Silao. In
communication with Guiterrez they
name as a condition for their
support of the convention, the
removal of Villa. Gutierrez responds
that only if Carranza resigns will he
retire Villa. The next day they
appeal to Carranza to resign and to
Gutierrez to relieve Villa. Gutierrez
meets with Gonzalez in Lagos
saying as soon as Carranza resigns,
Villa would leave his post.
Nov. 14
Constitutionalist forces occupy

Oaxaca City. The State of Oaxaca
had maintained neutrality since the
fall of Huerta.
Nov. 15
Carranza proposes that both he and

Villa go into exile saying that he
would remain abroad if the
convention could secure the election
of a president within thirty days.
However, by this time the
opportunities for negotiations had
passed.
Villa's forces advance beyond Silao
and Lagos.
Nov. 16
Obregon takes over military

command of Mexico City
denouncing the convention and
supporting Carranza.
Guanajuato is in Villa's control.
Nov. 18
At Nogales, Sonora, the "ES"
(Estado Sonora) overprint issues are
authorized. This handstamp was
applied to stocks of unoverprinted
issues in the state by the Maytorena
government, including not only
federal issues of 1899, 1903, 1910
and the Dues of 1908, but also
Transitorio and Denver issues.
Villa's forces reach Irapuato,

Celaya, and Queretaro. Obregon
begins evacuating the capital,
moving towards Puebla.
In Oaxaca, the Constitutionalists
are driven out of the city by local
forces under Guillermo Meixuero.
Nov. 19
Obregon in Mexico City formally

declares war on Villa.
251
APPENDIX C
1 centavo Fifth Class printed circular from Mexico Ci9' addressed to General Emiliano :(apata at
Cuernavaca> 9 October 1914> returned because the office of destination was closed to deliveries.
This was sent short!J after the Convention of Military Chiifs> called to work out the differences between th
Carranza and the Villa factions> had atijourned at Mexico Ci9' to reconvene at Aguascalientes October
1Oth. It is high!J like!J that this contained the announcement of the change of venue. Many of the
participants at the Mexico Ci9' sessions were anxious to include the southern chiif. A few dqys later> the
Convention sent General Felipe Angeles to meet direct!J with :(apata to persuade him to send representatives>
which he did.
Villa vs. Carranza
The war which the Convention failed to avert

was to be, if anything, even more bitter than
the one the revolutionaries had won against
the Federals. Before resuming the chronology
it is important to know who comprised the
Conventionists and Constitutionalists factions
and where they were positioned in
mid-November 19 14.
252
While Obregon chose to remain with

Carranza, many elements of his former
division defected to the Convention, including
Generals Juan Cabral and Rafael Buelna, as
well as, after November 24, Lucio Blanco. In
J alisco, Manuel Dieguez remained loyal to
Carranza as did General Murguia in Toluca
with 10,000 troops (who soon joined up with
APPENDIX C
Dieguez in J alisco). However, even together

they lacked sufficient forces to go on the
offensive. Most of the West Coast from Sinaloa
south to Manzanillo also remained
Constitutionalist, but was lightly garrisoned
(Ramon Iturbe was the most notable of the
Generals in this region) Of the Northern
commanders who stayed with Carranza, the
most important were Generals Luis Gutierrez
(Saltillo), Luis Caballero (Ciudad Victoria), and
Antonio Vallarreal (Monterrey). They were
soon to face a major and highly effective
Villista offensive. Obregon's forces joined with
those of Francisco Coss in Puebla and Jesus
Carranza in Cordoba and were able to
maintain contact with General Pablo
Gonzalez. Gonzalez took over the defense of
Tampico around the end of the year.
Altogether, Carranza's forces consisted of
between 50,000 and 70,000 widely scattered
men.
Villa and Zapata had approximately 40,000
and 25,000 men, respectively. Villa forces
controlled most of the central part of the
country with the line defined by the cities of
CiudadJuarez, Chihuahua, Torreon,
Zacatecas, Aguascalientes and Queretaro
representing the center of his power. Of the
generals of the Division of the North, only
Maclovio Herrera with a small force sided with
Carranza. General Calixto Contreras held
Durango after having chased the Arrieta
Brothers into the mountains. San Luis Potosi
would soon be in Villa's hands and Saltillo was
within easy striking distance. Other generals
such as Panfilo Natera and the Provisional
President, Eulalio Gutierrez, found it expedient
to be Villistas (Conventionists). In Sonora,
Maytorena controlled nearly all of the state
while Hill and Elias Calles were holed up in

Naco and Agua Prieta. Zapata controlled
much of the area south of Mexico City, east to
Puebla. Oaxaca and Michoacan (controlled by
General Gertrudis Sanchez) remained neutral.
Villa and Zapata may have had a numerical
advantage. They certainly had better access to
resources, better communications and lines of
supply and their forces were more
concentrated. And during November and
December they had the main force of
Constitutionalists under Obregon, who had
evacuated the capital, on the run. But instead
of pursuing and annihilating Obregon (which
might well have been accomplished), Villa
chose to protect and extend his flanks and line
of supply by attacking Constitutionalists in
Jalisco and in the north, giving Obregon time
to regroup.
Carranza was given a base of operation and a
capital for his government when the U.S.
Marines evacuated Veracruz on November 23.
Veracruz was also a critical asset since it gave
the Constitutionalists access to munitions.
The Constitutionalists were further aided by
dissention in the Conventionists ranks,
particularly between President Gutierrez and
Villa. Villa and Zapata carried out a number
of executions in Mexico City and extracted
some forced "loans" from wealthy individuals
and otherwise caused embarrassment for the
Conventionists government. Despite
protestations to the contrary, Villa was only
inclined to heed the orders of the president if
they were expedient to the conduct of his
campaigns. Obregon, in some not-so-secret
communications with Gutierrez, played upon
253
APPENDIX C
Gutierrez' discomfort with the Villa alliance,
causing Villa to begin to suspect that Gutierrez
would defect. Some confrontations between
Villa and Gutierrez only strengthened the
latter's resolve to escape.
But there can be little doubt that the single
most important asset that the Constitutionalists
had was Obregon himself. Obregon had
developed into a soldier of considerable
sophistication and resourcefulness and was
perhaps the one man in Mexico with the skill
to defeat Villa.
arrives at the suburbs of Mexico

City.
Nov. 28
Villa's advance troops under

General Angeles arrive at Tacuba.
Nov. 30-Dec. 1
Villa arrives at Tacuba and establishes his headquarters there to
await a meeting with Zapata so that
their entry into the capital would be
coordinated.
Dec. 3
President Eulalio Gutierrez enters

Mexico City.
Dec. 4
Zapata and Villa meet at

Zochimilco, planning not only their
joint triumphal entry into the
capital, but also the subsequent
campaigns against the
Constitutionalists. It is agreed that
Zapata would take Puebla while
Villa would go against Veracruz.
1914
Nov. 22
Lucio Blanco assumes military

control of the federal district.
Nov. 23
U.S. Marines evacuate Veracruz.

General Candido Aguilar receives
the port. Venustiano Carranza
arrives to establish the capital of the
Constitutionalist Republic. The
convention occupies San Luis
Potosi.
Nov. 24
Obregon completes his evacuation

of Mexico City. Lucio Blanco
defects to the convention. Obregon
thwarts an assassination attempt by
some of Blanco's men. Zapata
forces occupy Xochimilco and San
Angel near the capital. Blanco
withdraws from the capital towards
Acambaro.
Nov. 26
254
Zapata troops enter Mexico City.

Late in the evening, Zapata himself
General Eulalio Gutierrez, upon

setting up his government in the
capital, orders the overprinting of
stamps with the GCM monograms.
Dec. 5
Gutierrez names his cabinet.
APPENDIX C
Dec. 6
Villa and Zapata and their armies

(numbering around 50,000 men)
make their triumphal entry into
Mexico City.
Dec. 7
Meeting with President Gutierrez,

Villa and Zapata hold their final
conference.
Dec. 8
In Veracruz, Carranza designates

Obregon as Chief of the
Constitutionalist forces. They
prepare to advance on Mexico City.
Dec. 9
Zapata leaves Mexico City to attack

Puebla.
Dec. 10
Perceiving a threat from Generals

Dieguez and Murguia inJalisco,
and Herrera and Villarreal in
Nuevo Leon, Villa turns aside from
his aim to confront Obregon and
takes his army west through
Irapuato, and sends Angeles north
to attack Monterrey. He leaves
Mexico City defended by Zapatistas
plus a token force commanded by
Generals Madinavieta and Agustin
Estrada. Villa thereby granted
Carranza and Obregon time to
recover and reorganize.
Dec. 12
Tlaxacala is taken over by the

Conventionists.
Dec. 15
Constitutionalists under Generals

Coss and Alvarado, abandon Puebla
to the Zapatistas. (fhis was Zapata's
last major victory.)
Dec. 16
Carranza's Postmaster General,

Cosme Hinojosa, authorizes by
Circular no. 3 the overprinting of
stocks of the Centenario issue
(recently arrived from England) with
a GCM handstamp similar to that
used in Sonora.
Dec. 17
General Dieguez, after offering

some resistance at Estacion Corona,
retreats, allowing Villa to take
Guadalajara.
Dec. 21
Villa returns to Mexico City, upset

by reports that President Gutierrez
had been in communication with
Obregon and was possibly intending
to defect.
Dec. 23
Because of deaths and damages

occurring on the U.S. side of the
board during a siege of Naco by
Maytorena, representatives from the
U.S. try to arrange for
neutralization of the town. The
Constitutionalists under General
Hill agree to withdraw from Naco
provided the town remains neutral,
that Agua Prieta remains under
Constitutionalist control and
255
APPENDIX C
Nogales under Conventionists
control. Maytorena agrees to this
Pact of Naco provided that
President Gutierrez agrees. The
pact remains unsigned.
Dec. 26
Villa confronts Gutierrez accusing

him of planning to transfer his
government to San Luis Potosi and
to unite various factions in order to
remove Villa. Gutierrez does not
deny this. Villa is persuaded by
General Robles to reconcile himself
to the President. Their alliance is
preserved temporarily.
About this time the Conventionists

issued stamps of the 191 0
"Centenario" issue with the script
GCM monogram. The values issued
at this time were the 1, 2, 3,
15, 20 and 50.
1915
Jan. 1
The Constitutionalists recapture

Tlaxcala.
Jan. 3
San Jeronimo, not far from the

capital, is captured by
Constitutionalist General Luis Felipe
Dominguez.
Villista General Felipe Angeles
opens a major offensive directed
towards Saltillo and Monterrey,
winning a battle at Marte,
Coahuila. This was followed by the
taking of Parras.
Dec. 28
256
Don Eusebio Martinez, the

Conventionists' Director of Posts,
issues Circular no. 1656 authorizing
the Centenario issue overprinted
with GCM Gothic monogram. The
2, 3, 4, and 5 are issued.
Eventually large quantities would be
distributed throughout Villa's
territory in the north.
Jan. 4
Obregon (Constitutionalist) forces

advance to the outskirts of Puebla.
Jan. 5
Obregon recaptures Puebla.

Another element of Obregon's army
pushes to Guadalupe within 60
miles of the capital. In Yucatan, the
"Paraza" battalion rises in rebellion
against Carranza. Angeles, in a
skillful attack, defeats a
Constitutionalist force at General
Cepeda, Coahilla.
Jan. 6
In Veracruz, Carranza issues a

major agrarian reform.
APPENDIX C
Jan. 7
Angeles occupies Saltillo.
Jan. 8
In a major attack, Angeles shatters

the Constitutionalist forces
commanded by Generals Herrera
and Villarreal at the Battle of
Ramos Arizpe. Angeles occupies
Monterrey the next day. Villarreal
regroups his forces in Nuevo
Laredo.
Jan. 8-9
Jan. 9
Jan. 10
In CiudadJuarez, Villa, who had

taken time out from his activities in
Mexico, D.F., met with U.S.
General Hugh Scott to discuss the
situation at Naco, Sonora. Villa
signs the Pact of Naco whereby the
town became neutralized. The Plan
became official on Jan. 11.
Thereafter, the Constitutionalists
are concentrated in Agua Prieta.
Through papers of Antonio
Villarreal captured during the Battle
of Ramos Arizpe, Angeles and Villa
learn that President Gutierrez and
others were conspiring against Villa.
General Fortunato Maycotte
recaptures Pachuca for the
Constitutionalists. The
Conventionists are forced back
towards the capital.
Jan. 11
Near SanJeronimo, Oaxaca,

General Jesus Carranza, brother of
the First Chief, is captured and
executed.
Jan. 12
President Gutierrez sends a letter to
Obregon proposing an alliance to

eliminate both Villa and Carranza.
Obregon disregards it.
Jan. 15
From Monterrey, Villa orders the

execution of President Gutierrez,
but Jose Isabel Robles, instead of
carrying out the order, joins with
General Lucio Blanco, Eugenio
Aguirre Benevides (in San Luis
Potosi), and others in supporting of
Gutierrez.
Jan. 16
In the early morning, Gutierrez,

together with Blanco, Robles, and
others flees Mexico City heading
northward. The President of the
Convention, Roque Gonzalez-Garza
assumes the duties of the
Provisional President.
Jan. 17
Constitutionalist Generals Murguia

and Dieguez defeat the Villistas
under Generals Contreras and
Fierro and retake Guadalajara.
Villa, instead of returning to
Mexico City, turns his attention to
the task of trying to recover
Guadalajara.
-18
Jan. 19
Constitutionalists take the important

rail center, Apam, which was lightly
garrisoned.
257
APPENDIX C
The Baja California "Coach Seal"

issue is authorized from Hermosillo
but is not delivered to La Paz and
placed in use until sometime later.
Jan. 20
Constitutionalist forces in
Calpulalpam are less than 40 miles
from Mexico City.
Jan. 23
In Mexico City, Roque

Gonzalez-Garza invalidates all
Carranza currency.
Jan. 25
President Gutierrez' column after

harassment by Villista forces, arrives
at Tequisquiapam.
that no faction had bothered to lay

claim to . He plans a comeback that
never materializes.
Jan. 31
Villa, having formed a government

to rule over his territory with its
headquarters in Chihuahua, names
three cabinet members, among
them Luis de Ia Garza Cardenas as
Minister of Communications.
Leaving Agustin Estradas' troops in
Queretaro to guard his rear against
Obregon's advance, he advances his
main force towards Guadalajara.
Feb. 3
Obregon declares all Villa money

circulating in Mexico City to be
valueless. The capital is plagued
with food shortages as well as
financial chaos. Obregon carries out
a persecution of the Catholic
Church during the month-long
occupation.
Zapata forces continue to operate in
some of the suburbs.
Obregon reaches San Juan

Teotihuacan, only 30 miles from
the capital.
Jan. 26
The Convention decides to adjourn

to Cuernavaca.
Jan. 28
Obregon's Army of Operations,

with 10,000 troops, enters Mexico
City which is undefended.
Communications between the
Gonzalez-Garza government and
Villa are cut off.
Feb. 4
Villista troops commanded by

General Tomas Urbina occupy San
Luis Potosi after General Eugenio
Aguirre Benevides, who supported
Gutierrez, withdrew. Gutierrez'
column, approaching S. L. Potosi is
forced to turn away and settles in
the northeast corner of the state at
Dr. Arroyo, S.L.P.- a remote town
Feb. 6
Villistas are put on the defensive

when General Pablo Gonzalez
attacks Monterrey. These attacks
continue for over a month, but the
Villistas hold their positions.
Feb. 10
Merida, Yuc., is occupied by

Conventionists forces commanded
by General Ortiz Argumedo. The
Jan. 30
258
Conventionists win actions at

Cadereyta, Montemorelos and
Jimenez in Queretaro.
APPENDIX C
City of Pachuca, Hidalgo, is
captured by Constitutionalists who
thus secure communications with
Veracruz.
Feb. 13
Dieguez and Murguia,

outnumbered by Villa's army,
evacuate Guadalajara which Villa
occupies without a contest. They
retreat to Sayula and Ciudad
Guzman, Jal. In Veracruz State,
General Tomas Urbina wins a
battle against the Constitutionalists
at Panuco.
Coahuila.
Feb. 25
Director of Posts of the

Constitutionalist Government, Don
Cosme Hinojosa, legalizes, in
Circular no. 4 issued in Veracruz,
the use of the stamps overprinted
with both the Gothic and cursive
monograms by the Conventionists
government and authorizes their use
by his own government.
Feb. 17
Carranza wins the support of the

Casa Del Obrero Mundial Oabor
organization). Workers composing
the "Red Brigades" join Obregon's
army.
Feb. 18
-19
In the region of Atoyac, Sayula and

La Cresta in J alisco, a major battle
between Villa's army and the forces
of Generals Dieguez and Murguia
ends in a major victory for Villa.
At Torreon, the Conventionists

Postmaster General Eusebio Garcia
Martinez orders the doubling of all
postal rates except for second class
postage. The new rates are effective
throughout Villa's territory.
Feb. 20
Villa enters Zapotlan, Jal., and

continues on to Tuxpan. Deciding
that Dieguez and Murguia no
longer pose a major problem, he
decides to entrust the security of
Guadalajara, Zapotlan and Tuxpan
to Generals Fierro, Contreras,
Seanez and Medina while he takes
his main force north to join General
Angeles in an attack on
Constitutionalist forces in
Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon and
Feb. Oate) In Michoacan, Villistas begin a

campaign to eliminate Gertrudis
Sanchez who had been neutral, but
was believed to be leaning towards
Carranza. (Sanchez was captured
and shot April 25.)
May
(early)
In the north, Villista General

Rosalia Hernandez attacks from
Jimenez, Chihuahua, via Sierra
Mojada towards Cuatro Cienegas
and Monclova, Coahuila.
259
APPENDIX C
Monclova is occupied by the

Villistas. Villista Generals Tomas
Urbina and Manuel Chao advance
from San Luis Potosi towards
Tampico winning actions at Las
Tablas, San Mateo and Banitos (all
in eastern S.L.P. state).
Mar. 5
Mar. 8
Mar. 10
-11
Mar. 11
260
The Villista advance on Tampico is

halted at El Ebano, Tamaulipas,
where heavy fighting takes place.
(fhe Constitutionalists' stand at El
Ebano lasted 72 days.)
applied to whatever stock is

available- mostly scrap or booklet
panes. Some full sheets are
overprinted but most are
overprinted in blocks on small
presses or are individually
handstamped. Included are six
values of the 1899-1903 eagle series
as well as the 1-1 peso
Centenarios.
Mar. 13
Rasalio Hernandez occupies Piedras

Negras, Coahuila, without contest.
Mter taking over the coal mining

districts of Coahuila, the Villista
General Rosalio Hernandez takes
Sabinas, Coahuila.
Mar. 19
-23
In Jalisco, Dieguez mounts a

successful four-day campaign
against Fierro at Zapotlan and
Sayula, causing heavy casualties.
Having arrived at Monterrey, Villa

initiates a massive attack towards
Cuidad Victoria, Matamoros,
Piedras Negras, and Laredo.
Mar. 20
The Constitutionalist General,

Salvador Alvarado, recaptures
Merida, Yucatan. Pablo Gonzalez is
pushed back from Cadereyta to San
Juan, N.L.
Mar. 21
Obregon arrives at Casadero with

his main force.
Mar. 23
Another major attack by Villista

Generals Manuel Chao and Tomas
Urbina is defeated at El Ebano by
the Constitutionalist forces under
General Jacinto Trevino who hold
their ground. In J alisco, the Villistas
(Fierro, Contreras, et a!.) are driven
back to Guadalajara by Di eguez
and Murgui a.
Obregon evacuates Mexico City

considering it a liability in his
campaign. The Conventionists
return to the capital.
Shortly after their return to Mexico

City, the Conventionists make a
second printing of the Gothic
monogram overprint. This time it is
APPENDIX C
Mar. 24
Obregon's advance guard arrives at

SanJuan del Rio, 30 miles from
Queretaro.
Mar. 27
The Villistas attack Matamoros, but

are driven back.
Mar. 30- Obregon arrives at Queretaro.

Thirty miles beyond lies Celaya, the
April 1
last link between the Convention in
Mexico City and Villa in the North.
Villa begins shifting his main army
south to meet him, against General
Angeles' advice.
Apr. 4
Apr. 5
Apr. 6-7
Apr. 13
-15
Obregon occupies Celaya and

prepares his defenses to meet the
major attack that he expects Villa to
mount.
Dolores Hidalgo and Acambaro,
Gto., are occupied by
Constitutionalist troops.
Villa attacks Obregon at Celaya in
a bloody battle and suffers a major
defeat. He retreats to Irapuato
having lost nearly 15% of his
strength and expended much
ammunition.
Having received reinforcements,
Villa again attacks Obregon at
Celaya. Committing all of his
30,000-man army to the attack,
Villa suffers losses and nearly
exhausts his ammunition while
Obregon holds his ground. On the
15th, Obregon's cavalry, held in
reserve until now, begins an
enveloping counter-attack. The

second Battle of Celaya ends in
disaster for Villa. In his retreat from
Celaya to Leon and Aguascalientes,
Villa lost much of his artillery.
Meanwhile, the Villistas begin to
evacuate Jalisco to join forces with
the survivors of Celaya.
Apr. 16
-17
General Orestes Pereyra attacks the

Constitutionalists at Nuevo Leon
and General Maclovio Herrera is
killed in action. Ciudad Victoria is
taken by Villistas.
Apr. 19
The Villistas who remained in

Guadalajara evacuate the city.
Apr. 22
-23
Villa withdraws his forces from

Silao, Irapuato, and Guanajuato
which Obregon then occupies.
Apr. 26
Obregon suffers some setbacks

when attacked near Napoles.
Fighting intensifies at El Ebano
near Tampico.
May 4-7
Zapata meets Conventionists

President Gonzalez Garza and
succeeds in keeping Zapatista
Manuel Palafox minister of
Agriculture. Conventionists situation
deteriorated hereafter with political
quarrels and military losses.
May 22
General Dieguez and Murguia

arrive in lrapuato and are united
with the forces of General Obregon.
261
APPENDIX C
Jun. 26
The State of Oaxaca issues

typographed provisional stamps
printed on the backs of post office
forms . The 1 and 5 values appear
on this date, whereas the 2, 3,
and 10 appeared later.
The Villistas are forced to evacuate

Monterrey.
Jul. 2
Eulalia Gutierrez, having become a

president in name only, renounces
his title and surrenders to Carranza.
Former dictator of Mexico,

President Porfirio Diaz, dies in
Paris.
Jul. 5
Villa's General Rudolfo Fierro

begins a raid through
Constitutionalist territory beginning
with an attack against troops of
Obregon and Dieguez in Lagos de
General Pablo Gonzalez goes to

Puebla.
Ciudad Victoria is recaptured by
May 23
Jun. 2
The Villistas are finally forced to

retreat from El Ebano, Tamaulipas.
Jun. 3
Jun. 6
Jun. 9
Villa begins another massive attack

against Obregon around Leon and
Trinidad. Obregon loses his right
arm, but General Benjamin Hill,
who takes over command, manages
to win a major victory on June 5.
Villa retreats to Aguascalientes.
General Maclovio Herrera wins a
hard fight at Candela, Coahuila???
see Apr. 16-17.
Roque Gonzalez-Garza resigns as
President of the Convention.
Francisco Lagos Chazaro is elected
Provisional President.
262
Mareno, Jalisco. Continuing his raid

southward, he briefly occupies the
cities of Leon and Celaya in
Guanajuato and the capital of
Queretaro.
Jul. 8-10
After a fierce battle, Obregon takes

Aguascalientes.
Jul. 11
General Pablo Gonzalez occupies

Mexico City for the
Consti tu ti onal ists.
Jul. 15
Obregon takes San Luis Potosi.
Jul. 17
General Fierro, continuing his

audacious expedition against the
Constitutionalists, occupies Tula
and Pachuca in the State of
Hidalgo.
APPENDIX C
Jul. 18
General Pablo Gonzalez leaves

Mexico City which the
Conventionists reoccupy.
Jul. 19
Pachuca is occupied by the

Constitutionalists under Gonzalez.
Aug. 2
The Constitutionalists, under

General Pablo Gonzalez, reoccupy
Mexico City which from this date
on remains in Constitutionalists
hands. The Conventionists either
withdraw south to Zapata's territory
(Morelos) or north to join with
Fierro's raiding force which makes
its way through Salvatierra, Valle
de Santiago and Penjamo in
Guanajuato. They eventually rejoin
with Villa in the north.
Aug. 13
General Domingo Arrieta takes

Durango for the Constitutionalists.
Aug. 15
Postal Rates are doubled

throughout Constitutionalists
territory so that the normal rate for
a first class letter is 10.
Sept. 1
Constitutionalists in their campaign

to re-establish control over the State
of Oaxaca, take the town of Pluma
Hidalgo.
Sept. 4
Saltillo is taken by the

Constitutionalists.
Sept. 14
Monclova, Coahuila, is taken by the

Constitutionalists.
CF.RTIFHJDl.
First Day Cover: this may he Mexico's first philatelic!J

prepared FDC. So far, on!Y two or three are known.
263
APPENDIX C
Sept. 16
The 2 through 10 values of a new

series called the Lithographed
Famous Men are issued. They are
lithographed and rouletted by the
American Book & Paper Co. in
Mexico City. (The 1 would appear
on October 2.) These were
authorized by Circular no. 11
which actually appeared on
September 10. All previous issues
are declared invalid.
Sept. 26
Viezca, Coahuila, is taken by the

Constitutionalists.
Sept. 27
In Oaxaca, the Constitutionalists

take Putla.
Sept. 29
General Murguia attacks and takes

Torreon, driving the Villistas into
urango. Gomez Palacio, Durango, is
taken the same day. Villa decides to
cross over into the State of Sonora,
the last remaining stronghold of
Conventionism.
Oct. 11
-19?
The United States recognizes Don

Venustiano Carranza's government.
Oct. 12
General and Governor of the State

of Sonora, Jose Marla Maytorena,
leaves the revolution, crossing into
the United States.
Oct. 14
264
Oct. 18
Nine nations of America recognize

Carranza as "de facto" president.
Oct. 30
Villa launches his first attack against

Agua Prieta which is defended
successfully by General Plutarco
Elias Calles.
Nov. 1
With Circular no. 22, Don Cosme

Hinojosa authorizes a 40 centavos
stamp representing a map of the
Republic and a 1 peso stamp with
the lighthouse building of Veracruz.
Both engraved and perforated 12.
Nov. 1-4 Villa in a prolonged assault on

Agua Prieta, suffers terrible losses.
Nov. 6
General Dieguez captures

Hermosillo, Sonora's capital.
Generals Dieguez and Estrada take

Guaymas for the Constitutionalists.
Nov. 21
Villa attacks Hermosillo but is

repulsed.
Pablo Gonzalez clears the

Zapatistas out of Toluca.
Nov. 26
Colonel Lazaro Cardenas takes

Nogales for the Constitutionalists.
APPENDIX C
Nov. 28
What is left of the Conventionists

government is dispersed when
President Lagos Chazaro and his
troop escort commanded by
General Benjamin Argumedo are
beaten at La Grunidora, Zacatecas.
Dec. 2
Calles wins an action against Villa

at Fronteras, Sonora.
Dec. 24
The cities of CuidadJuarez and

Chihuahua are surrendered to the
Consti tu ti onalists.
Very little maille.ft Mexico City during the ,Zapatista occupation. To reach El Paso, this letter
from the oil compa'!Y Nueva BonaTL?;a'' de Panuco was carried out via U S. Diplomatic Pouch
with both Mexican and US. postage canceled Washington, D.C. Mqy 25, 1915.
1916
In 1915, Villa undoubtedly had been the most
powerful man in Mexico. But by the end of
the year he had been reduced to leading a few
hundred guerrillas in northern Mexico. Zapata,
who had led perhaps as many as 30,000 men
was once again a local rebel whose activities
were mostly confined to his native Morelos.

Both continued to make trouble for the
Constitutionalists, and Villa created the most
serious border incident since the U.S.- Mexican
War when his forces attacked Columbus, New
265
APPENDIX C
Mexico. Also during 1916, the Oaxaca

rebellion was crushed. But, by and large, the
military events of 1916 were of less importance
than those of the previous three years,
particularly from the philatelic point of view.
The chronology therefore treats the military
aspects in less detail and focuses on a problem
that accounts for most of the variety of stamps
produced during 1916 - inflation.
Postal Rate from August 1915 through

May 31, 1916:
First Class Letters - Interior

First Class Letters - Local Delivery
Unsealed Letters
Postal Cards - Interior
Postal Cards - Local Delivery
Registry 20 plus postage
Jan. 5
The Constitutionalist government of

Don Venustiano Carranza declares
the City of Queretaro as the
provisional capital of the republic.
Jan. 10
Villistas' chiefs Pablo Lopez and

Rafael Castro assault a train at
Santa Isabel, Chihuahua and order
15 U.S. citizens who are passengers,
shot.
Jan. 13
Victoriano Huerta dies in El Paso,

Texas.
Jan. 31
In Oaxaca, Miahuatlan is occupied

by Constitutionalist forces.
Feb. 2
Ejutla, Oaxaca is taken by the

Constitutionalists.
Mar. 2
Ocotlan, Oaxaca is taken.
Mar. 5
The Constitutionalists under

General Jesus Agust Castro, enter
Oaxaca City, ending the Oaxaca
rebellion.
Mar. 9
Villa attacks Columbus, New

Mexico, creating an international
problem.
The year begins with the letter rate for

internal mail at 10 centavos as set the previous
August. Before the end of the year the letter
rate would peak at 5 pesos!
1916
Jan. 1
A series of engraved postage stamps

was to be placed in use, but was not
ready so that a new supply was
lithographed and perforated by the
La Carpeta Printing Co.
Exchange Rate: 2 pesos (infalsifiable
currency) = 1 dollar.
266
10
4
2
4
2
APPENDIX C
Mar. 13
Mar. 20
General John Pershing's Punitive

Expedition crosses the Mexican
boarder to pursue Villa. (The
Pershing Expedition continued to
operate in Mexico until February 5,
191 7. It failed to catch Villa and
strained relations between the U.S.
and Mexico.)
May 2
Constitutionalist General Pablo

Gonzalez occupies Cuernavaca,
Morelos after routing the Zapatistas.
May 10
Tensions between Mexico and the

U.S. arising as a result of the
presence of the Pershing Expedition
on Mexican soil, reach a height
when President Carranza orders the
army on alert in order to repel any
possible invasion by the U.S.
Jun. 1
Exchange Rate 12.5 pesos

dollar.
=1
With the supply of the current issue

of "Famous Men" stamps running
short, the Director of Posts, Don
Cosme Hinojosa, orders that the
large stocks of obsolete issues
recovered from all parts of the
country after Villa's defeat be
revalidated. In Circular no. 49 he
orders the circulation of these issues
with a new overprint "G.P. de M"
(Gobierno Provisional de Mexico).
This design was made
"unfalsifiable," being produced from
an engraved plate. It is known as
the "Corbata" overprint.
Postal rate june 1 through August 30,

1916:
The exchange rate has dropped to

10 pesos to the U.S. Dollar.
Jun. 1
Apr. 12
U.S. troops are obligated to fall

back to Parra!, Coahuila.
Apr. 14
Don Venustiano Carranza arrives at

Mexico City which is once more
designated the capital.

First Class Letters - Local Delivery
Registry - 40 plus postage
(usually 60 total)
20
10
10 centavos issued depicting Don

Venustiano Carranza and
commemorating the entrance of the
Constitutional Army into Mexico
City are placed on sale. 190,000 are
blue while 10,000 are sepia,
engraved and perforated 12. They
seldom are found cancelled on any
other date.
267
APPENDIX C
Jun. 7
Jun. 21
Sept. 1
A large supply of higher denomination stamps was necessary

because of the new postal rates put
into effect on June 1. Don Cosme
Hinojosa ordered that a surcharge
be overprinted on obsolete issues to
render them valid and to raise their
face value. Circular no. 66 issued
on this date authorized these issues.
The surcharge was printed from
engraved plates and contains the
inscription, "G.P. de M." and the
new value of 10, 20, or 60 centavos
Oater 1 peso was added to the
group). It was known as the "Barril"
surcharge.
Sept. 14
President Carranza convenes a

Representative Congress.
Sept. 15
Francisco Villa, pursued by both

government and U.S. troops,
occupies the city of Chihuahua for
one day.
Oct. 13
Villa wins a fight at Santa Rosalia,

Chihuahua.
Oct. 20
Villa recaptures and temporarily

occupies the city of Chihuahua.
A fight between Mexican and U.S.

forces of the Pershing Punitive
Expedition at Carrizal, Coahila,
causes a serious diplomatic crisis.
Exchange Rate: Variable from 13
to 18 pesos to the dollar.
Postal rates from September 1 to

mid-October, 1916:
25
First Class Letters - Local Delivery 10
Registered Mail $ 0. 75, 1.00, and 1.25p
(postage included)
268
The Barril Surcharges of the 5 and

25 denominations appeared at this
time.
Exchange rate: Variable from 18 to

25 pesos to the dollar.
Postal rates valid until November 20,

1916:
1p
First Class Letters - Local Delivery 40
Registered Mail 2p plus postage
Nov. 21
Exchange Rate: Variable from 25

to 67 pesos to the dollar.
APPENDIX C
Postal rates from November 21 through

December 1, 1916:
Registered First Class Letters $7.50, 10.00, 12.50 pesos
Dec. 1
The Congreso Constituyente is

installed at the Teatro de Ia
Republica in the City of Queretaro
in order to draft a new constitution.
Dec. 2
Exchange Rate: 400 pesos to the

dollar.
2.50p
Postal rates valid for part of December
2, 1916
5 pesos
Later the same day:

Postal rates drop back to the old 5
centavos rate for a first class letter (interior
mail) because the government orders that
all postal fees are to be paid in silver
currency only. All stamps are withdrawn
from circulation except for those bearing
the "G.P. de M ." (Corbata) overprint.
A surcharge of 2.50 pesos plus a

monogram "G.P.M." was applied to
the 1908 "Complementario" issue
to provide stamps for the common
letter-rate.
Epilogue
Philatelically, the Revolution might have ended

in 1917. Except for .the 1924 Yucatan and
1929 Sinaloa provisionals, no new issues were
to come forth as a result of conflict. But in
fact, the Revolution was far from over. The
next few years saw events of great consequence
- some which brought a resolution or
termination of processes and careers described
in the preceding pages, as well as the initiation
of constructive changes for which the civil war
had cleared the way. It is not possible to say in
which year the Revolution ended. However,
the Obregon Presidency of 1920-1924 marked
a new phase in the Revolution in which the
processes of reform were finally underway. The

following will briefly summarize the period
from 1917 to 1920 in which the dominant
figure is Carranza.
Although the period of the great battles was
past, Mexico remained chaotic and unstable.
Villa continued to make trouble in the North
and Zapata continued to frustrate Pablo
Gonzalez in Morelos. But the real source of
instability was not external to the
Constitutionalist regime . The Carranza
government, in reality, shared power with
nearly 500 generals, many of whom exercised
269
APPENDIX C
near total control over large areas. Mexico

probably never knew more widespread
corruption. The anarchy of the late teens
rivaled that of the civil war at its height. Many
of the generals resorted to outright looting, and
it was not uncommon for civilians to be
murdered at their orders. In 1918, two-thirds
of the national budget of about $18 million
was assigned to the army.
Although Villa survived Carranza, Zapata was

finally assassinated in April, 1919, betrayed by
an officer who had convinced Zapata that he
was coming over to his side. General Felipe
Angeles also died in 1919. Having returned to
Mexico from years in the United States, he
was captured in the mountains of Chihuahua
while attempting to join up with Villa, and was
executed by firing squad.
By far, the general with the most power and

prestige, and therefore potentially the greatest
threat to Carranza, was his old ally, Obregon.
Their alliance continued, probably less out of
loyalty on Obregon's part than out of his
patience and confidence that he would be that
much more powerful coming to office via the
1920 election.
Nearing the end of his term of office, Carranza

grew reluctant to relinquish power to Obregon,
instead sponsoring the candidacy of Ignacio
Bonillas, through whom he expected to
maintain some control. It was assumed that
Carranza could "fix" the election, but the
Obregonistas found their excuse for rebelling
when Carranza ordered federal troops to put
down a strike in Sonora, and the state
rebelled. Governor Adolfo de Ia Huerta called
for the removal of Carranza and the
installation of an interim government until
elections could be held. Soon, Carranza found
himself without support, and undertook the
evacuation of his government to Veracruz. His
train was attacked near Puebla and Carranza
was forced to fl ee on horseback. That night
while sleeping, he was shot to death.
No doubt, the most important thing to come

out of the Carranza years was the Constitution
of 1917. It is a document that embodies the
principles of land and labor reform and the
political restraints on individual power for
which so many had rallied to the
Revolutionary cause. Carranza signed it with
some reluctance because it went far beyond his
own vision, while Obregon's support of the
famous "radical" articles, 27 (dealing with
property ownership, particularly by foreigners)
and 123 (dealing with labor rights), was strong
and public.
Carranza did little to implement the reforms
called for by the Constitution, being
preoccupied with the more essential problems
of pacifying the country and restoring the most
basic functions of government. The campaigns
to annihilate Zapata and Villa commanded
much of Carranza's time and resources.
270
Interim President, Adolfo de Ia Huerta induced

Villa to retire to an hacienda in Durango state,
and forced General Pablo Gonzalez to flee into
exile after a failed coup attempt. Obregon was
elected President and assumed office in
November 1920. For the first time in a decade,
the nation was at peace.
APPENDIX C
Viuid testirrwrry to the unsettled conditions in the country is hom by the handstamp applied to this cova
which reads: "Part of the correspondence uiolated by bandits in the assault on train No . .. .... " This piece's
brush with bandits occurred April18, 1921.
271
APPENDIX C
INDEX FOR APPENDIX C

TOWNS AND CITIES MILITARILY OCCUPIED DURING THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION
1913- 1915
Dates refer to the first day of permanent or temporary occupation
The capital letter refers to the military force which occupied the place:
Letter
Military
Force
Political Group
Carranza
(Constitutionalists)
Huerta
(Federals)
Neutral
Villa
(Conventionists)
Zapata
(Conventionists)
u.s.
City, State
Year
Occupation
Date
Letter
AGUA PRIETA, Sonora

1913
February 28
1913
April 13
1914
October 15
1915
November 1
c
c
c
c
ALAMOS, Sonora
1913
April 17
ALLENDE, Coahuila
1913
September 18
AP AM, Hidalgo
1915
January 19
ALTATA, Sinaloa
1913
April 17
ARROYO, Queretaro
1914
February 12
ARTEAGA, Coahuila
1913
February 29
ATLIXCO, Puebla
1913
February 24
AYOTZINGO, Mexico
1913
January 13
BALANCHAN, Tabasco
1914
August 13
United States
City, State
Year
Occupation
Date
Letter
ABASOLO, Cohuila.
1913
August 16
ACAMBARO, Guanajuato
1914
July 23
1915
April 5
ACAPULCO, Guerrero
1914
July 16
ACAPONETA, Nayarit
1913
April 17
November 12
1913
1914
May 16
C
C
H
C
C
AGU ASCALIENTES, Aguascalientes

1914
July 17
V
1915
April 16
V
1915
July 10
C
273
APPENDIX C
City, State
Year
Occupation
Date
Letter
BARRIENTOS, Mexico
1915
June 19
BERMEJILLO, Durango
1914
March 20
BOLONCHENTICUL, Yucatan
1915
March 8
C
BUSTILLOS, Chihuahua
1913
June 17
CABULLONA, Sonora
1915
October 28
CADEREYETA, Nuevo Le6n
1913
October 20
CADEREYTA, Queretaro
1914
February 12
1915
February 4
CAMPECHE, Campeche
1913
June 10
1913
June 20
CAN ANEA, Sonora
1913
February 28
1913
March 25
CANDELA, Coahuila
1913
July 7
1915
April 3
CARDENAS, Tabasco
1913
April 5
CARMEN, Coahuila
1913
September 8
274
City, State
Year
Occupation
Date
Letter
CASTILLO, J alisco
1913
July 7
CELAYA, Guanajuato
1915
April 4
1915
July 5
1915
July 27
v
c
CERRITOS, San Luis Potosi

1914
July 4
CIUDAD DEL MAIZ, San Luis Potosi

1913
November 30
C
c
c
CIUDAD JUAREZ, Chihuahua

1913
November 15
1915
December 24
CIUDAD GUERRERO, Nuevo Leon

1914
March 5
H
c
c
v
CIUDAD MIER, Nuevo Le6n
1914
March 5
c
c
c
CIUDAD VICTORIA, Tamaulipas

1913
November 18
C
1915
April 16
V
1915
May 22
C
COLIMA, Colima
1914
July 19
CONCEPCION DEL ORO, Zacatecas

1913
March 20
C
COMALCALCO, Veracruz
1913
May 11
CONTRERAS, Distrito Federal

1914
July 31
1915
July 15
Z
C
APPENDIX C
City, State
Year
Occupation
Date
Letter
C ORDOBA, Veracruz
October 30
1914
C O ZALA, Chiapas
February 10
1915
CUAUTLA, Morelos
1913
August 18
CUERACUARO, Michoadn
1913
April 21
CUERNAVACA, Morelos
April 13
1914
CUIJACAN, Sinaloa
November 14
1913
City, State
Year
DURANGO,
1913
1913
1915
Occupation
Date
Durango
April 3
June 18
August 18
c
c
c
EBANO, San Luis Potasf

May 15
1915
ENCARNACION, J alisco
1915
Jun e 20
FUERTE, Sinaloa
1913
September 15
c
z
GOMEZ PALACIO, Durango

1913
July 31
1913
October 1
1914
March 27
c
c
CHARAS, San Luis Potosf

1914
July 4
GRUNIDORA, Zacatecas
1915
November 28
CHICOACAN, Tabasco
1913
April 19
GUADALAJARA, J alisco
1914
July 8 c
191 4
November 19
1915
January 20
1915
February 18
1915
May 18
CHICONTEPEC, Veracruz
1913
May 19
1914
April 27
CHIHUAHUA, Chihuahua
1913
May 15
December 3
1913
1914
August 21
1915
December 24
CHILAPA, Guerrero
1914
July 6
CHILPANZINGO, Guerrero
1914
March 19
1914
April6
Letter
c
H
c
v
c
z
z
z
c
c
v
c
v
GUADALUPE, Coahuila
1913
March 26
GUANAJUATO, Guanajuato
191 4
July 29
1914
November 19
c
v
GUAYMAS, Sonora
May 1 H
1913
1914
July 16
1915
October 12
v
c
275
APPENDIX C
City, State
Year
Occupation
Date
Letter
City, State
Year
Occupation
Date
Letter
HERMANAS, Coahuila
1913
August 16
HERMOSILLO, Sonora
1913
March 5
1914
May 21
August 9
1914
1915
November 24
c
v
v
c
LEON, Guanajuato
1914
July 29
1915
June 25
1915
July 5 v
1915
July 27
LERDO, Durango
1913
July 31
1913
October 1
c
c
MAGDALENA, Sonora
1913
February 28
HIDALGO, Nuevo Le6n

November 18
1913
HUET AMO,
1913
1914
1914
Michoacan
February 24
February 20
June 18
z
c
c
HUIMANGUILLO, Tabasco
1913
AprilS
1913
April 30
IGUALA, Guerrero
1913
April 8
1914
April6
c
z
IRAPUATO, GuanaJuato
1914
May 29
1914
July 29
IXMIQUILPAN, Hidalgo
1914
August 13
c
c
z
IXTLAN, Oaxaca
November 2
1913
JIMENEZ, Chihuahua
1913
April 22
JIMENEZ, Queretaro
February 4
1915
JONATEPEC, Morelos
April 24
1913
276
LAMPAZOS, Nuevo Le6n

1913
March 28
1913
October 20
MAPIMI, Durango
1913
April 15
1914
March 21
c
c
c
c
c
MANZANILLO, Sinaloa
1914
July 25
MATAMOROS, Tamaulipas
1913
June 4 C
1915
March 27
MATEHUALA, San Luis Potosi

April 28
1913
1914
January 20
c
c
MAZATLAN, Sinaloa
1914
May 15
1914
August 9
MERIDA, Yucatan
1915
February 10
March 20
1915
APPENDIX C
City, State
Year
Occupation
Date
Letter
MEXICO, Distrito Federal

1914
August 15
1914
November 24
December 6
1914
1915
January 26
1915
March 10
1915
J uly 10
1915
July 17
1915
August 2
c
z
v
c
v
c
z
City, State
Year
Occupation
Date
Letter
NAMIQUIPIA, Chihuahua
1913
March 3
NAVOJ OA, Sonora

1915
February 4
NAVOLATOS, Sinaloa
1913
November 5
NOGALES, Sonora
1913
March 4
1914
August 23
1915
November 24
c
v
c
MINA, Guerrero
1913
March 13
MINA, Nuevo Leon

1913
November 18
NUEVA CASAS GRANDES, Chihuahua

1913
June 17
C
MOGHIS, Sinaloa
1913
October 3
NUEVA LAREDO, Tamaulipas

1913
January 2
1915
April 16
MONCLOVA, Coahuila
1913
March 27
1913
July 10
1915
January 10
1915
September 15
C
H
C
C
MONTEMORELOS, Nuevo Le6n

1913
October 29
C
1915
February 4
V
MONTERREY, Nuevo Leon
1913
October 24
1914
April 24
1915
January 9
1915
March 18
C
C
V
C
NACO, Sonora
1913
March 25
1913
April 13
1913
December 10
1914
December 23
NACOZARI, Sonora
1913
March 11
c
c
OAXACA, Oaxaca
1913
February?
1913
February?
1914
November 13
1914
November 18
C
N
C
N
OJINAGA, Chihuahua
1913
December 31
1914
January 10
C
C
ORENDAIN,Jalisco
1914
July 8 C
ORIZABA, Veracruz
1913
March 15
OSTOTIPAQUilLO, J alisco
1913
May 11
277
APPENDIX C
City, State
Year
Occupation
Date
Letter
PACHUCA, Hidalgo
1914
August 13
1915
January 10
1915
February 5
1915
July 17
1915
July 27
PANUCO, Veracruz
1915
February 13
PANZACOLA, Tlaxcala
1913
September 28
PAPANTLA, Veracruz
1914
June 21
PAREDON, Chihuahua
1914
May 17
PARRAL, Chihuahua
1913
May 15
1913
August 28
1914
September 23
c
c
v
c
City, State
Year
Occupation
Date
PUEBLA, Puebla
1914
October 30
1914
December 14
1915
January 4
Letter
PURIANDIRO, Michoadn
1913
May 26
PUTLA, Oaxaca
1915
September 27
QUERENDARO, Michoadn
1913
May 22
QUERETARO, Queretaro
1914
July 29
November 19
1914
1915
March 30
1915
July 5 v
1915
July 27
c
v
c
c
c
QUILA, Sinaloa
1913
September 15
PAZ, Baja California

1914
July 19
RAMOS ARIZPE, Coahuila

1915
January 9
PEI\[JAMO, Guanajuato
1915
August 10
REYNOSA, Tamaulipas
1913
May 10
PIEDAD, Michoacan
1914
May 28
1914
July 25
ROSARIO, Sinaloa
1913
October 16
SABIN AS, Coahuila

1913
September 8
SACRAMENTO, Durango
1914
March 26
SALVATIERRA, Guanajuato
1915
August 10
PIEDRAS NEGRAS, Coahuila

1913
April 30
1913
October 6
1915
March 13
1915
September 15
278
c
H
v
c
APPENDIX C
City, State
Year
Occupation
Date
Letter
SALTilLO, Coahuila
1914
May 20
1915
January 5
1915
September 4
SAN ANDRES, Chihuahua
1913
August 26
SAN BLAS, Tepic
1913
July 17
v
v
c
Occupation
Date
SAUCilLO, Chihuahua
1913 May 29
1914 May 20
Letter
c
c
SAYULA, J alisco
1915 March 13
SILAO, Guan<J:iuato
1915 June 1
SINALOA, Sinaloa
1913
October 5
TACAMBARO, Michoadn
1913
April 16
TACUBA, Distrito Federal

1914
November 28
SAN BUENAVENTURA, Coahuila

1913
August 16
H
SAN FEUPE TORRES MOCHAS, Gto.
1915
January 28
V
SAN FRANCISCO DEL RINCON, Gto.
1914
November 11
V
SAN JERONIMO, Distrito Federal
1915
January 2
C
SAN LUIS POTOS, San Luis Potosf
1913
March 11
H
C
1913
April 12
1914
July 17
C
1914
November 29
V
1915
January 30
V
1915
July 17
C
SAN PABLO OSTOTEPEC, D.F.
1913
June 20
H
SANTA ANA DEL CONDE, Guanajuato
1915
June 1
V
SANTA ROSA, Sonora
1913
May 12
City, State
Year
T AMIAHUA,
~ '~ racruz
1914
May 18
TAMPICO, Tamaulipas
1914
May 13
TANTOYUCA, Veracruz
1913
May 11
1914
May 1 C
c
c
TEPECUILCO, Guerrero
1913
January 5
TEPEXPAN, Distrito Federal

1915
July 15
TEPIC, Nayarit
1913
April 3
1913
May 16
1914
May 16
1915
August 18
c
c
c
c
279
APPENDIX C
City, State
Year
Occupation
Date
Letter
TERAN, Nuevo Le6n

1913
October 29
TIERRA BLANCA, Chihuahua

1913
November 25
TIXTIA, Guerrero
February 15
1914
TLALNEPANTLA, Mexico
1913
March 13
1915
June 19
TIAHUAC, Distrito Federal
1914
January 29
TLAXCALA,
191 4
1914
1915
Tlaxcala
August 4
December 14
January 4
z
c
c
z
c
v
City, State
Year
Occupation
Date
Letter
TUXPAN, Veracruz
1914 June 20
URUAPAN, Michoadn
1913 June 19
1913 June 28
1913 July 10
1913 October 6
c
H
H
H
VAILE DE SANTIAGO, Guanajuato

1915 August 10
v
VERACRUZ, Veracruz
1914
April 21
1914
November 23
u.s.
c
VIEZCA, Coahuila
1915
September 26
VIllA ALDAMA, Chihuahua

1914
April 17
TOLUCA, Mexico
1914
August 9
1915
July 14
October 12
1915
z
v
c
VIlLA AYALA, Morelos

1913
August 18
191 3
October 20
TOPOLOBAMPO, Sinaloa
1913
October 3
VIllA HERMOSA, Tabasco

1914
August 13
VIlLA HIDALGO, Michoadn

1913
April 22
1913
May 22
c
c
TORREON, Coahuila
1913
October 2
1913
December 9
1914
April 2
1914
June 24
September 29
1915
c
H
c
v
c
TULA, Hidalgo
1915
July 17
TUIANCINGO, Hidalgo
1914
August 13
280
XOCHIMILCO, Distrito Federal

1914
D ecember 2
1915
July 15
YAUTEPEC, Morelos
May 3
1913
1913
July 8
z
z
APPENDIX C
City, State
Year
Occupation
Date
Letter
ZACATECAS, Zacatecas
1913
June 7
1913
June 16
1914
June 24
1915
July 17
c
H
ZACATEPEC, Morelos
1913
July 30
ZACATLAN, Puebla
1914
February 14
ZINAPECUARO, Michoacan
1913
May 22
ZINANDUARO, Michoacan
1914
April 29
ZITACUARO, Michoacan
1913
May 11
281
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The following list of literature includes, A), books and articles dealing specifically with philately, B)
Publications of the Mexican Government of particular value to the Postal Historian, and C) selected
Auction Catalogs.
I will refrain from evaluating items in the first category and, instead, refer the reader to comments made in
the Introductory notes in the sections following the heading, "Organization of the Handbook." (pages viixii).
A. Philatelic Books and Articles

Aguirre, Eduardo, "Los Timbres de Correos de
1899-1903 Resellados con el Monograma de
Villa," Mexico Postal, vol. 1, no. 2, reprinted in
Filatelia, vol. 1, no. 7, November 1963, p. 6.
Aguirre, Eduardo, Official Catalogue if the
Revolutionary Postage Stamps 1913-17, (1917),
Aguirre, 18 pp.
Barron,John Hall, "Sonora and Some Others,"
Philatelic Journal of Great Britain, no. 318, 191 7.
Benz, Tony, "Mexican Military Cancellation
Found," (Scott no. 358), MEXICANA, vol. 27,
no.1,January 1978, p. 7.
Bulkley, Grant, "A Mexican Bisect Faked,"
American Philatelist, vol. 77, nos. 1 and 5,
October 1963, p. 54, and February 1964, p.
392.
Bulkley, Grant, "Baja California 'Coach Seal' Issue
of 1915," American Philatelist, vol. 78, no. 7,
April 1965, pp. 519-20.
Cabuto,JuanJose, "The Revolutionary Postage
Stamps of the Southern District of Bey a
California," MEXICANA, vol. 35, no. 2, April
1986, pp. 68-76; AMEXFIL, vol. 6. no. 33, pp.
488-490, (in Spanish).
Carter, Dean, "Temporary Cancels of Nogales,
Sonora, August-October 1914," MEXICANA,
vol. 32, no. 3,July 1983, pp. 137-140.
Chavez, Rene, "Those Vergobbi Covers,"
MEXICA.NA, vol. 41, no. 4, October 1992, pp.
132-4.
Chong,Jose Gilberta, "Los Timbres Transitorios
de Oaxaca," AmeJifil, vol. 2, nos. 7, 9, 12, pp.
63, 83, 129.
Cossio Gabucio, Francisco,Jose, " La Ocupaci6n
de Veracruz," Filatelia, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 1-7.
Cossio, Lic.Jose L., "Carranza Small Monogram

Notes," unpublished manuscript in the Mexico
Elmhurst Philatelic Society International
library.
Diaz Ramierez, Fernando, "Un Breve y Filatelica
Revista de Mexico Durante los Aflos de
1913-1915," Mexico Postal, vol. 5, no. 2,
March-April 1960, pp. 8-11.
Edgar, Robert C., "Personal Recollections of the
Transitorios," Linn's WeeJr!y, vol. 39, no. 16.
Edwards, W. Buckland, "The Stamps of Sonora,
Mexico," Gibbon's Month!J Journal, vol. 21, no.
251, November 1913, pp. 334-336.
Enfield, Roderick (H. C. Hopkins), 77ze Stamps if
Oaxaca - Postage and Revenue, (Handbook no. 18),
Severn WylieJewett Co., Boston, ca. 1916.
Ferguson, D. G., "A New Find in Revolutionary
Provisionals? 'The Merida Provisional',"
MEXICANA, vol. 8, no. !,January 1959,
reference page 143.
Ferguson, D. G., "The Merida Provisional - Some
Supporting Evidence," MEXICA.NA, vol. 16,
no. 2, April 1967, reference pages 417-418a.
Follansbee, Nicholas, "The Sabinas, Coahuila
Local Typeset Overprint of 1915,"
MEXICANA, vol. 30, no. 1, January 1981, pp.
11-14.
Follansbee, Nicholas, "The Dollar Sign Overprint
Issue of 1914," MEXICA.NA, vol. 29, no. 4,
October 1980, pp. 102-106.
Follansbee, Nicholas, "An afterthought to 'The
Dollar Sign Overprint of 1914' ," MEXICANA,
vol. 30, no. 2, April 1981, p. 49.
Follansbee, Nicholas, "Two Federal Covers from
1914," MEXICANA, val. 30, no. 4, October
1981, pp. 108-109.
283
Follansbee, Nicholas, "Cosme Hinojosa and His

Stamps," MEXICANA, vol. 32, nos. 3, 4,July,
October 1983, pp. 103-108, 163-169.
Follansbee, Nicholas, "Postal Rates 1913- 1917 ,"
MEXICANA, vol. 35, no. 4, October 1986, pp.
186-191.
Follansbee, Nicholas, "The Ejercito Issue,"
MEXICANA, vol. 36, no. !,January 1987, pp.
8-11.
Follansbee, Nicholas, "The 'ES' Overprint,"
MEXICANA, vol. 36, no. 4, October 1987, pp.
202-204.
Follansbee, Nicholas, "Reimpressiones del
Monograma GCM 'Villa' 1915," Ameiftl, val.
2, no. 12, May:June 1985, pp. 130-31.
Follansbee, Nicholas, "Emision Conocida como
'Transitorios'," GUADAIAXARA, val. 1, no. 3,
January 1992. pp. 7-8.
Follansbee, Nicholas, "A Common Fake Oaxaca
Stamp," MEXICANA, val. 42, no. !,January
1993, pp. 183.
Follansbee, Nicholas, "Fake Oaxaca Cover,"
MEXICANA, val. 42, no. !,January 1993, pp.
213.
Follansbee, Nicholas, "Constitutionalist Local
Overprints of the Mexican Revolution,"
MEXICANA, val. 44, no. 3,July 1995-April
1996, pp. 136-43, no. 4. pp. 191-5, vol. 45, no.
1, pp. 35-40, no. 2, pp 89-102.
Freer, Phillips B., "On the Trail of the Oaxaca
Provisionals," MEXICANA, vol. 24, no. 3,July
1975, pp. 743-744.
Freer, Phillips B., "The Oaxaca Provisionals of
1915-1916," MEXICANA, val. 34, no. 4,
October 1985, pp. 174-185.
Good, Dr. Roger, "The Acambaro Overprint,"
Revolutionary Study Group Newsletter, no. 1.
Good, Dr. Roger, "Rev-Mix" (article deals with
inflation rate covers), MEXICANA, val. 28, no.
2, April 1979, p. 39.
Gordon, Robert S., "Mexico 'Used Abroad' in
Vera Cruz!," American Philatelist, val. 71, no. 3,
December 195 7, pp. 193-4.
Griebert, Hugo, "Sonora Issue," Griehert's Philatelic
Notes and Offers, vol. 3, no. !,January 1914, pp.
1-3.
284
Hamilton, C. S., "Mexico - A Check List of the

Handstamped Provisionals of 1914-1915," The
Southern Philatelist, vols. 3, 4, February 1927 and
subsequent issues, pp. 65-70, 85-90, 105-9,
125-9, 147-52, 169-74, 189-94, 213-18, 237-44.
Hamilton, C. S., "Sonora Check List," American
Philatelist, vol. 37, no. 6,June 1924.
Hamilton, C. S., "White and Green Seals of
Sonora - The Gems of the 20th Century,"
Stamp Collector's Fortnightly, no. 740; Stamp
Collecting, no. 515; Mekeels Weekly, April 16,
1921.
Havemeyer,John T., "Victory at Torreon,"
MEXICANA, val. 12, no. 4, October 1963, pp.
280-1. (Havemeyer formed a small Mexico
Study Group in the late 1940s distributing
mimeographed notes to the membership.
Thesecontain occasional entries of
Revolutionary Issues.
Hinojosa, Cosme, A Brief History of the Mexican
Postage Stamps During the Revolutionary
Period, 1913-1917, Imprenta Franco-Mexicana,
S. A., 1917. (separate Spanish and English
language editions were published.)
Hopkins, H. C., "Denver Revenues Used Postally May 1914," MEXICANA, vol. 12, no. 2, April
1963, p. 264-66.
Hopkins, H. C., "Mexico Notes: The Transitorio
Issue,January, 1914," Stamps, August 6, 1938,
pp. 197-9, 211; reprinted in MEXICANA, vol.
12. no. 3,July 1963, reference pages 271-273.
Hopkins, H. C., "The Lthographed Famous Men
Issue - Rouletted," Stamps, March 12, 1938;
reprinted MEXICANA, vol. 25, no. !,January
1976, pp. 758-759.
Hopkins, H. C., "The Famous Men Issue Perforated," Stamps, June 11, 1938; reprinted
MEXICANA, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 762-763.
Hopkins, H. C., "Notes on the Mexican
Revolutionary Issues," New York Philatelic Society
Bulletin, nos. 10 - 13, December 1918 October 1919.
Hopkins, H. C., "Notes on the Stamps of Mexico
1913-16," MEXICANA, vol. 3, no. !,January
1954, reference pages 16, 17.
Hopkins, H. C., "Some Notes on the Fakes and
Forgeries of Mexico," MEXICANA, vol. 5, no.
2, April 1956, reference pages 76-82.
Hopkins, H. C., Chapters for an unpublished

Handbook on Revolutionary Issues, manuscript
in the author's library.
Hopkins, H. C., "Notes on the Villa Monogram,"
unpublished manuscript in the author's library.
Hopkins, H. C., A manuscript census of provisional
covers from the Rezagos (Dead Letter) archive;
unpublished notes in the author's library.
H. C. Hopkins was the "Mexican Correspondent"
for 7he Stamp Trade in 1916. The most
interesting of his articles relate to the activities
of Director General of Posts, Cosme Hinojosa
and the Bolsa Filatelica de Mexico. These
appear in vol II, no. 3, and vol. III, no. 1. In
between these, look for Javier J. Favela's reply.
Ingham, Frederick G., "The Cinderellas of Mexico,
The 'Madero' Issue,," MEXICA.NA, val. 29 no.
2, April 1980, pp. 30-32.
Irwin, Henry, The White and Green Seals of
Sonora, Mexico Elmhurst Philatelic Society
International, as supplement to MEXICANA,
1971.
Larson, Philip D., "The Do-lt-Yourselfers,"
MEXICA.NA, vol. 17, no. 1, January 1968,
reference pages 454-462.
Larson, Philip D ., "The Large Handstamped GCM
Overprints," MEXICA.NA, val. 9, nos. 1-3,
January, April andJuly 1960, reference pages
168-171 , 178-181 ,190-192.
Larson, Philip D., "The Provisional Overprints,"
MEXICA.NA, vol. 15, no. 2, April 1966, pp.
367-378.
Larson, Philip D., "Sonora Coach Seals
Overprinted G.P.deM.," MEXICA.NA, vol. 15.
no. 1, January 1966.
Larson, Philip D., "The Tale of Two Monograms,"
MEXICA.NA , val. 15, no. 3,July 1966,
Leach, Dr. FloydS., "Mexico- Vera CruzPhilately in the Wars," 12th American Philatelic
Congress, Arranged and edited by W. R.
McCoy, New york, 1946, pp. 103-9.
Lewis, Brenda Ralph, "Stamps of the Mexican
Revolution," Scott's Monthly Stamp Journal, val.
63, no. 1, pp. 12-17.
Linn, George Ward, Mexico, The White and

Green Seal Issues of Sonora, W. M. Linn &
Sons Company, 1916, reprinted in Billig's
Philatelic Handbook, vol. 20, Fritz Billig
Jamaica, New York, 1954, pp. 67-149.
Linn, George Ward, The War Stamps of Mexico,
George W. Linn, Co. 1917
Linn, George Ward, "A Check List of the Postage
Stamps of th e State of Sonora and the
Constitutionalist Government of Mexico,"
Linn's Wtry, val. 4, nos. 1, 3, 4, pp. 1, 1 & 3;
vol. 5 nos. 2-5, pp. 14, 25-31, 36, 48-52.
Linn, George Ward, "The Latest Sonora Dope,"
Linn's Wtry,January 1915.
Linn, George Ward, "Mexican Surcharges," Linn's
Wtry, val. 6, no. !,January 1916; Linn's Stamp
Collector, val. 1, nos. 1, 5, 6, May 1916,
March & April 1917, pp. 1-7, 33-39, 41-47.
Linn, George Ward, "The United States Veracruz
R evenues," Linn's Wtry, vol. 5, no. 2, p. 15.
Linn, George Ward, "Counterfeit Overprints,"
Linn's Stamp Collector, March 1917.
Linn, George Ward, "Everybody's Selling Them
Now," Linn's Wtry, vol. 5, no. 5,June 1915.
Longwell, Langdon H, "Notes on the Villa
Monogram," MEXICA.NA, vol. 15, no. 3, July
1966, pp. 386-389.
Love, Dr. Tracy R., "The M exican Revolution
1913 to 1916," MEXICA.NA, vol. 10, no. 4,
October 196 1, reference pages 224-227.
Love, Dr. Tracy R., "Mexico - A D etailed Study
of Certain Overprints Used During the
Mexican Revolution of 1913 to 1916," SPA
Journal, val. 19, no. 6, February 1957, pp.
239-246.
Love, Dr. Tracy R. and Toulouse,Joseph H.,Jr.,
"The Sinaloa Overprint, 1914-1915,"
MEXICA.NA, val. 10, no. 3,July 1961,
Lynnes, Roy M., "Monterrey Hand Stamped
Surcharges and the Queretaro Confusion,"
MEXICA.NA, vol. 5, no. 3,July 1956, reference
page 88.
Lynnes, Roy M ., "Dollar '$' Sign Overprint
Notes," MEXICA.NA, vol. 6, no. 3,July 1957,
reference pages 11 0-112A.
Lynnes, Roy M., "Revolutionary Issue of Oaxaca,"
Stamps, vol. 77, no. 5, Nov. 3, 1951, p. 167.
285
Mekeel, C. H., "Sonora (Mexico) Postage Stamps,"

Philatelic Journal if America, vol. 24, no. 6, Dec.
1913, pp. 201-209.
Mekeel, C. H., "The Postage Stamps of the
Mexican State of Sonora," Philatelic Journal if
America, vol. 24, no. 7,January 1914, pp.
239-241.
Mills, Lt. Col. W. E., "Stamps in the U. S.
Administration During the 1914 Occupation of
Veracruz," MEXICA.NA, vol. 8, no. 2, April
1959, reference page 151.
Mitchell, William R., Mexico 1914 - The Denver
Eagles, Mitchell, Aurora, Colorado, October
1984, revised February 1986, 206 pp. The first
46 pages comprise the script of a 30 minute
videotaped presentation. The rest is supporting
documentation, inventories, etc.
Monterrubio, Francisco, "Breve Estudio Sobre el
Timbre no. 528B," Filatelia, vol. 1, no. 6,
October 1963, pp. 25-28.
Monterrubio, Francisco, "Notes on Mexico Scott
no. 582B," MEXICA.NA, vo!. 13, no. !,January
1964, p. 282.
Nissen, Edward M., "One Cent Eagle, Scott no.
506 - Comments," MEXICA.NA, vol. 37, no.
!,January 1988, pp. 36-37.
Nissen, Edward M., "One Peso Scott no. 513 Comment," MEXICANA, vo!. 37, no. 1, p.
14.
Parks, Henry Francis, "Revolutionary Stamp
History of Mexico 1913-1917 ," Philatelic West,
July, September, October 1917 and February
1918.
Peaslee, L. D., Ph.D., "A Philatelic History of the
Present Mexican Revolution," American
Philatelist, vol. 29, no. 24, Sept 15, 1916, pp.
291-5.
Phillips, Charles]., "The Civil War Stamps of
Mexico 1913-1916," London Philatelist, 1916
(various Issues), pp. 154-300.
Poole, Bertram W. H., Revolutionary Stamps if
1913-1916, Bertram W. H. Poole, Los Angeles,
1916.
Poole Bertram W. H., "Transitorio Issue," Philatelic
Journal if Great Britain, no. 314, 191 7.
(Originally published in Collector's Champion,
Seattle, 1917 .)
286
Riosa, Marino, "Famous Men Covers,"

MEXICA.NA, vol. 40, no. 1, January 1991, pp.
19-21.
Riosa, Marino, "La lnflacion Post-Revolucionaria o
La lndlacion Postal De 1915-1916," AMEXFIL,
Year 9, vol. 9, no. 52,January-February 1992,
pp. 842-3.
de Rion, Noble, "An Unpublished Manuscript,
The Denver Issue," MEXICA.NA, vol. 32, no. 1,
January 1983, pp. 37-42.
Roterberg, A, "Pertaining to Sonoras," Collector's
Journal if Chicago, vol. V, no. 5, December
1914, pp. 167-170.
Ruiz Perez, Lie. Jose, "Cancelaci6nes
Norteamericanos Usadas en Veracruz Durante
la Ocupaci6n del Afio de 1914," Mexico Postal,
vol. 4, no. 3,July 1957, pp. 4, 5.
Saks, William, "Mexico, The Postal Use of
Revenue Stamps," MEXICA.NA, vol. 32, no. 2,
April 1983, pp. 71-78.
Stevens, Byron F., "What Every general Collector
Should Know About Mexico's Sonora Civil
War Issue," Stamps, vo!. 77, no. 7, Nov 17,
1951, p. 230.
Stevens, Byron F, "The United States Postal
Agency at Vera Cruz," COMPEX Directory
(program), 1958, Chicago, p. 97.
Tittman, A. 0., "Sonora, 20th Century 'Post
Office Mauritius,' "American Philatelist, vol. 64,
no. 4,January 1951, pp. 307-313.
Todsen, Thomas K., "Veracruz Lighthouse Flaw,"
MEXICA.NA, vol. 36, no. 4, October 1987, p.
237.
Toulouse,Joseph H.,Jr. "Changes in Postal Rates
- Mexico 1913-1916," MEXICA.NA, vol. 7, no.
!,January 1958, reference page 115.
Warman, David, "La Ocupaci6n Norteamericana
de Veracruz- 1914," AmeJifil, vol. 4,
no.
19-20, pp. 249-264.
Yag, Otto, "The Coach Seal Issue, Scott Numbers
394 to 400," MEXICA.NA, vol. 23, nos. 3, 4,
July, October 1974, pp. 710-715, 720-723.
The authors for the following articles are not
known:
"The ES Surcharge," Albemarle Stamp Collector, vol.
1, no. 5, p. 3.
"La invasion de Veracruz en I914," Filatelia, vol. 2,

no. I5,July I964, pp. I7-I8.
"Mexican Revolutionary Stamps and Other
Mexican Notes," Albemarle Stamp Collector, vol. 1,
no. 3 through val. 3, no. 5, (items in 23 of 29
issues).
"Maytorena Issue," Stamp Exchange Bulletin, nos.
and 2, 1915.
"New Constitucionalista Government Issue,"
Albemarle Stamp Collector, val. I, no. 3, November
I9I4, p. 4.
"Scott nos. 500 to 505, 506 to 5II and 5I7 and
518," MEXICANA, val. 1, no. 2,July 1952,
reference page 1.
"Scott no. 513 Sellas Con el Centro Invertido,"
Filatelia, vol. I, no. 8, December I963, p. 2.
"The Perforated Transitorio," MEXICANA, val. II,
no. 3,July 1962, reference pages 245-249.
"Falsificaciones del Monograma Chico o
Monograma Carranza," Mexico Filatelia, nos. 1,
2, August, September I938, pp. I8-2I, 29-30
(also in English, "Forgery of the Small
Monogram or Carranzan").
B. Publications of the Mexican Govenunent
Guia Postal de la Republica Mexicana Julio de

1911-]unio 1912, Mexico Topografia
Economica, 19Il.
Lists all post offices in the Republic, explains
the procedures for handling the different classes
of mail and other services and includes all
information on postal rates.
Directorio de Transportes para las Oficinas del Ramo de

Correos de la Republica, Afio Fiscal 19I3-19I4.
Mexico Talleres Grificos de Ia Secretaria de
Comunicaciones y Obras Publicas, I9I3.
Includes all particulars on postal routes
including railroad and maritime routes. Also
includes distances, number of trips a year,
method of conveyance and contract
information.
Cartas Postales de los E. U Mexicanos 1912

Bound group of ten maps showing all of the
post offices, routes, etc.
Practica del Servicio Postal Mexicano 19 0 7

A handbook for postal employees. This
enlarges upon the procedural information in
the Guia Postal. Includes an interesting section
of the various hand stamps used on covers to
indicate special handling, deficiencies or
requirements.
Diccionario Postal Ilustrado, Jose Velarde, Mexico,
Topografia Economica, I905.
Besides explaining every term connected with
the post, this book contains much geographical
and statistical information about the post
offices, reproduces most of the postal forms.
Though dating from 1905, this was still used
during the Revolution.
C. Auction Catalogs with Significant

Offerings of Revolutionary Material
Edwin P. Seebohn Co., 35th Auction, September

28, October 5, 1928: The G. Vernon Morley
collection, featuring Sonora Issues, and
highlighted by outstanding Victoria de Torreon
Issue covers.
H. R. Harmer, Eleventh Sale,June 24-27, I935:

The Arthur Hind collection of Central and
South America, etc., including mcyor rarities of
Sonora.
Mid Atlantic Stamp Sales, H. A. Robinette, Sale
24, April 4, 5, I947: The Col. C. S. Hamilton
collection. This was the most extensive and
important offering of I913-1916 material ever
sold at auction.
Robson Lowe, Inc.,June 5, 1948: The E. M .
Taylor collection, nearly as important as the
Hamilton.
Billig & Rich, Inc., Sales 107, 108, February 8-11,
March 28-30, 1955: The G. Celis Cano
collection, Parts I and II. Includes outstanding
Sonora.
287
Elmhurst Philatelic Society, Sale number 16

(October 4, 1957), number 17 (November 15,
195 7), number 19 (March 21, 1958), and no.
21 (October 17, 1958): The H. C. Hopkins
collection (portions).
Billig & Rich, Inc., 127th Sale, November 22-25,
1957: The Roberto Garcia Larranaga
collection (Part I).
Roy M. Lynnes, February 27, and September 12,
1958: Lynnes offered his own collection in two
personally produced sales.
Irwin Heimen, March 30, 31 and April 1, 1960:
The John M. Taylor Collection. One of the
outstanding collections of Mexico with
Revolution matching his earlier material in
quality.
H. R. Harmer, Sales 1307-9,July 26-28, 1960:
The A. 0. Tittman Collection (not including
his famous Sonora which was donated to the
Smithsonian Institution.)
Irwin Heimen, The Byron F. Stevens Collection,
March 26, 1971.
Irwin Heimen, May 2-6, 1972, Includes Sonora
rarities.
Irwin Heimen, November 2, 3, 1973: Includes
more from Byron Stevens' estate and the Grant
Bulkley collection, with the Phillip D. Larson
collection (ex Stevens) of Local Provisional
Overprints offered as one lot. Also included six
of the 1916 Merida Provisional Covers - the
first appearance of this stamp at auction.
Irwin Heimen, February 21-23, 1974: Important
Sonora covers.
Richard Wolffers, Inc., Sale no. 45, December
11-13, 1975: Guillermo Celis Cano collection.
Richard Wolffers, Inc., Sale no. 59, September
8-10, 1977, Alfonso Tena collection.
Richard Wolffers, Inc., Sale no. 64,January 14,
1978 and Sale no. 68, April 27, 1978: Dr.
Boris Rubio L. collection, Parts 1 and 2.
Gregg Nelson, 21st sale, December 11, 1978:
Features Oaxaca Provisionals, ex E. M. Taylor
and H. Honeyman.
Richard Wolffers, Inc., Sale no. 76,January 11-12,
1979: The Lanz Duret collection.
Peter Kenedi, Inc., Sale no. 200, April 9-10, 1979,
includes the Julius Cindrich collection.
288
S & A Auctions, Inc., Sale no. 10, December 8-9,

1979: The Adolfo Eimbcke collection.
Richard Wolffers, Inc., Sale no. 127, March 6-8,
1985: Includes the Ray Peters collection of
Sonora.
Nicholas Follansbee Philatelic Sales, (lst sale)
March 18, 1989: Includes covers from the
Follansbee collection.
Nicholas Follansbee Philatelic Sales, (2nd sale)
August 11, 1990: Featuring the David Warm an
State and Local Issues International Gold
Medal exhibit.
Nicholas Follansbee Philatelic Sales, (3rd sale), May
4, 1991: Part II of the David Warman
collection.
Nicholas Follansbee Philatelic Sales, (4th sale)
November 9, 1991: Includes the Malcolm
Freshney collection.
January 23, 1993: 148 lots with some rare and
previously unrecorded.
Nicholas Follansbee Philatelic Sales, (6th sale),
February 24, 1994: Includes the Lt. Cmdr.
Louise Cavanaugh collection of Veracruz
occupation and individual rarities.
October 29, 1994: Cavanaugh Sonora covers.
110
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THE STAMPS

THE COLLECTOR S CLUB

This book is printed on Sterling Litho Gloss, an

Library of Congress Card Catalog Number: 96-071374

Sonora Coach Seal Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CONSTITUTIONALIST GENERAL ISSUES

LOCAL PROVISIONAL OVERPRINTS

ISSUES OF THE INFLATIONARY PERIOD

"Corbata" on "Denver" Issue .......... ..... ................. .... .. .. .. .

INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

will begin with the date of issue, or, when that

First, collectors specializing in this compli cated

The main listings include the major varieties

This leads directly to the second major

Two factors have been of great importance in

making this project possible. First, the scarcer

had a profound influence on my own study of

The second factor assisting this study to a

Between these two sources of manuscripts I

Regarding the overall editing of the book I am

and provided copious editorial suggestions and

Finally, I am grateful to the Collector's Club of

ORGANIZATION OF THE HANDBOOK

2. Constitutionalist General Issues

Each of these sections constitutes a

contrasts between them that also justify their

The autonomous character of Sections I, 3

But the primary reason for organizing the

rouletting) are reported by Col. C . S.

The decision to develop a new numbering

CONSTITUTIONALIST GENERAL ISSUES

Constitutionalist General Issues include the

Information on the ten types of the genuine

The listings for the Denver Postal and

The Large GCM Handstamp Issue was the

The section treating the "Dollar Sign"

Most of the information on the Transitorio

LOCAL PROVISIONAL OVERPRINTS

always correct reference collection of which a

While much of the research that has gone into

1. Its occurrence on a stamp whose

THE MONOGRAM OVERPRINTS

The information on the different printings of

THE OAXACA PROVISIONALS

philatelists including John Luff, August

ISSUES OF THE INFLATIONARY PERIOD

Inflationary Period issues appeared from

number of which are Hinojosa Special

This period has been particularly well studi ed

The book has three Appendices. Appendix A is

THE NUMBERING SYSTEM

Some single capital letters are reserved to

= Essay (except in the case of #393E)

A variety of letter or letter-plus-number

The following combinations of capital letters

A, B, C, D, etc., Single capital letters usually

double impression or double

a, b, c, d, etc., Lower case letters from the

In other cases, such as the Denver Revenues

PRICING AND RARITY

recognized that condition, appearance, postal

Prices apply to stamps which are free of defects

The author hopes that these will be regarded