2018-05-03 Thu

“The stampless covers of Mexico” denotes an early phase of the Postal History of Mexico.

The postal system of Mexico is said to have begun with the Aztecs, who operated a system of messengers. The messengers were used even after the Spanish Conquest of Mexico. However, in mid 18th century, the administrator of posts in Madrid was ordered to improve the Mexican system.

Hence, a weekly post between Mexico City and Oaxaca and a monthly service to Guatemala were established in next 10 years. Before the introduction of adhesive stamps, the postage was to be paid by the recipient upon arrival.

This was the “Stampless Covers” phase in Mexico post.

The covers, or envelopes in which the letters were sent, were stamped by hand with the name of the originating town, and typically with a number representing the charge for postage. Some of these hand-stamped cover date to the 1700s. The earliest known stamped postmark on a dated cover is a Veracruz mark of 1736.

This particular cover is mailed in 1852 from Parral, the State of Chihuahua to the City of Chihuahua and stamped with its rate 3 Reales.

These covers are the popular item among the philatelist.

Image Curtsey: https://upload.wikimedia.org