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The Art of Collecting Mexico

Introduction to Mexican Philately
By Bubba Bland

By the time I had started to collect Mexican stamps and postal history, I had already been a collector of other countries for many years. My own connection to the art world may have influenced my love of Mexican stamps. Having parents that decided to retire in Mexico in the early 1980s and my own travels there surely may have had something to do with my decision to collect Mexico. As I sit here writing this, I also think about how interesting I found Mexico’s stamp history — and particularly the unique system of district overprints on the early stamps.

I will start this piece with the first things that tend to spark the collector’s interest in collecting Mexico. Later sections will deal with a wide range of topics for the new collector of Mexico, such the philatelic periods of Mexico, areas of possible focus, where to buy Mexico material, how much to pay, issues related to condition, the importance of learning as much as you can about your area of focus, and where to find useful reference material.

Most people who collect stamps are drawn first to the appearance of the stamps. Mexico is an odd country for this aspect to our appreciation of art. Surveying the wide variety of stamps produced from Mexico we will find the normal colorful, nicely printed, interesting designs and the absolutely beautiful stamps. We may then notice that there are also some of the ho-hum and sometimes plain ugly stamps. For me, Mexico produced some of the most beautiful stamps I have seen from any country. The colors, designs and connection to the collector are all there to please the most discerning critic.

Interestingly, most of the early classics pale when compared with some of the other countries of the world. On the other hand beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. My good friend, Doug Stout, took some offense when I made a remark that the 1868 stamps were second only to the ugliness of the 1872 issues. Before Doug passed away, he had assembled one of the greatest collections of the 1868 issues that has ever been formed. He loved those Full Face Hidalgos just as much as an art patron would appreciate a Rembrandt.

So, art is one thing that attracts us to collecting Mexico, but the country’s history has been another selling point. Learning the history of Mexico, one has the opportunity to not only appreciate all the recent modern issues that retell the stories of Mexico, but when collecting periods like the French intervention of 1862-67 or revolutionary period of 1910-16, the stamps become a connection with the past that we can appreciate each time we open up our albums. Polynesians have a term, “Mana”, for spirit and strength that is attached to physical objects. Each one of the stamps or covers the collector acquires is, in a sense, a connection to the spirit and strength of the past.

Challenge is the defining motivation for many collectors, and what other country presents such a challenge as Mexico? When the Elmhurst Philatelic Society, in Elmhurst, Illinois, decided to have all members study and collect a common country, they settled on Mexico after a little trial and error. The reason that most of them gave for accepting this country was the challenge and the opportunity to spread this activity over many years. Due to the engagement of Mexico with the collectors of this small club and the expanding interest of others to join the club, it grew into what has become Mexico-Elmhurst Philatelic Society International (MEPSI), the largest one-country stamp society in the United States. I personally know collectors that have spent most of their life collecting Mexico and never regretted it. There always seems to be something else to find and something else to learn about these stamps we love.

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Philatelic Periods of Mexico

Mexican stamps and postal history can be divided into six basic periods of study. They are Stampless Mail, Classic, Post-Classic, Revolutionary, Early-Modern and Modern. I will provide a brief overview of each period, as any of them could be an area of future study that may enrich your Mexico collecting efforts.

Stampless Mail: The first period of Mexico’s philatelic history I will call the Stampless Mail era, and it has two sub periods of great importance. The first is the Colonial Mail, and this in the most difficult and valuable to collect. The Colonial Mail that ends with the 1821 Independence of Mexico, precedes what we will simply call the Pre-Stamp period. The Pre-Stamp period lasted from 1821 until Mexico issued its first stamps on August 1, 1856. The idea that mail could serve the population to boost an educated people had either not occurred to or was ignored by those in power in most of Europe and their colonies of the New World. Mail was mainly Government or Church Mail. The Royal mail in Mexico was generally correspondence between either the rich merchants or members of the Vice-Royalty. Little personal correspondence has been found from the 18th Century, and internal mail in Mexico was slow to expand beyond the major cities and Royal military post. Catholic Church mail was just that, and it was little used by those outside the church. By the time of Mexican Independence in 1821, the routes and mail had become more established, connecting many of the areas of Mexico. The previous government division of Mexico began to have postal departments in what would later become the states of Mexico. These postal departments also later became the district offices that would play such an important role in the coming Classic period of Mexico’s stamp history.

Classic Period: In early 1856, the postal administrators of Mexico devised a plan that would set Mexico’s stamps apart as almost unique in the world. No other country in the world would have what is called the district system of overprints for every area of the country. The goal was to prevent what had become a national problem in Mexico: the robbery of the stagecoach lines which were the main link between the larger cities. To send valuable stamps that could be stolen and resold would cost the postal authorities a huge sum, diluting their revenue and necessitating continual rate increases. Someone — unknown today —came up with the idea of overprinting the stamps upon arrival at their designated district office that would validate the stamps for postal use. For the collector, this means that each stamp issue would turn into a possible average of 50 stamps for each denomination. The district overprinting of stamps would last until around 1883, marking the end of the Classic period. The Classic period’s legacy was an enormous amount of collectable varieties for the country. Adding to the numerous district overprints are consignment numbers and the cancels used on many of these stamps. The small number of series Mexico issued from 1856 to 1883 generated enough collectable stamps for stamp enthusiasts to spend a lifetime collecting.

The Classic period was a time of many conflicts, including the Imperial period during the 1860s when France installed Maximilian as Emperor of Mexico. There were also times when stamps were optional or simply unavailable, and mail was sent without stamps. We call these covers Sello Negro (Black Stamp), for the black postmarks and Franco (paid) notations. Some were sent collect as the pre-stamp covers had normally been sent, but many elected to pre-pay for these stampless covers as they did for the stamps. Postal history of these Sello Negro covers and stampless covers has become an important part of many advanced collections, where postal rates and links to historical events become part of their story.

The last of the Classic stamps issued were the 1874 issues and the Foreign Mail issues, which were designed by foreign stamp designers. They marked a transition to more attractive designs and higher quality stamp production.

Post-Classic Period: The Classic period is followed by the Post-Classic Issues of 1884-1910. These stamps mark the period that coincides with the expansion of the railroads in Mexico, which eliminated the need for the district overprint system to protect the transport of unused stamp inventory between the cities. This period was also marked by improvements in stamp production.

The first of the Post-Classic issues, the Medallions of 1884, actually had some stamps with district overprints, but those were done by postmasters not following the postal administration’s new guidelines. During the Post-Classic period we can find many issues that have changes in paper and perforations. The introduction of watermarks came with the Large Numerals issue of 1891, which helped make the stamp more secure from fakes. Beginning with the definitives of 1899, stamps would again be designed and even printed in England, until the last issue of the post-classic stamps in 1910, the Independence Issue.

Revolutionary Period: Starting in 1910 and lasting until the early 1920s, civil strife would overtake the country again. In 1913, the Northern states of Mexico broke away from the Government controlling Mexico. Stamps were produced — or overprinted — to satisfy the need for postage because of politics and disruptions to the delivery of stamps. Some of the most interesting stamps and covers were produced in Mexico during 1913 to 1916. Many of these stamps are collected for their rarity, for the local and political overprints, and also for the wide variety of covers, setting this period apart from all others in Mexican philately.

Early-Modern and Modern Periods: The next two periods of Mexican philately are the Early Modern and the Modern periods of Mexico. The lines between these two periods are more blurry than the divisions between the earlier ones. The Early-Modern period spans the printing styles and the improvements that were made with the 1917-20 issues that still had the qualities of the Post-Classic issues, to the increasingly modernizing designs of the stamps we see in the 1940s. The Modern period, with high quality stamp production, can then be defined as starting with the stamp designs of the definitive issues of 1950-75. The rise in commemorative issues is evident in both these periods. Today, Mexico’s stamps of the Twenty-First century are, by anyone’s standard, as beautifully done as any in the world.

We are now able to see how the progression of Mexico’s philately through these different periods has so much to offer both the general collector wanting just one each of the stamps of Mexico and the advanced collector looking for meaningful study material. There are other parts to these different periods of study that can be added to each of these periods, from postal history, postal stationery, proofs and essays, specimens, airmail issues, back of the book issues, revenues and other subjects that play an integral part in the philately of Mexico.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

When we decide to begin a collection of Mexico, there seem so many directions to take. Of course, the collector may just be adding stamps to their Mexico section of Latin American stamps. There are also “general” collectors filling in all the blanks in their albums. Most collectors start their Mexico collections after they have collected other countries for years. Collecting Mexico may just be a side venture while they slowly fill in the last remaining and more costly examples in their primary collection. Some collectors shy away from the stamps and only collect something like postal stationery or covers. Then there are the collectors that are only interested in one issue or one type of stamp, like Airmails or Officials. Each collector can — and should — follow their own path.

In this section we will explore where you would like to go with your collection of Mexico. My initial focus with Mexico was — like most collectors — getting one of each stamp. Before long, however, I decided to specialize in collecting one issue design in one denomination. Sometimes our shift into a deeper study happens by chance. In my case, it was when I bought a nice group of 1856 Dos Reales by happenstance. Due to my previous work in plating US classic issues, I was intrigued with the idea of plating these bright green stamps. My motivation for this quest increased substantially when I was told that it was almost impossible. Believing that nothing is impossible — maybe unlikely but not impossible — I was on my way to picking up every Dos Reales of the first design I could possibly find.

My advice for any collector, novice to well-seasoned, is to picture what you would like your collection to look like. If the image that comes to mind is thumbing through your album filled with as many stamps as you can find for each catalogue listing, that certainly is the way to go. This can be both rewarding in the time spent and also the hunt for just the right stamps for each section of your collection. Taking a step further into adding other items to your collection can enhance the total look. As a dealer buying collections of stamps, I often find additional sheets added to these albums holding blocks of stamps, imperforate items, proofs and essays, covers and other interesting philatelic material. This really does improve the collection and can greatly enhance the collector’s enjoyment.

There are many different areas where you could decide to focus your vision for your collection. I have a good friend who started out collecting stamps of the United States, but when he discovered the world of postal stationery he was hooked. It was not long before he was adding the Mexican material to his quickly expanding collection. He is now far more interested in the Mexican section of postal stationery and has built one of the better collections of Mexican Postal Stationery in the world today. So, things do change as we grow in our interest. My only caution is to keep your first vision strong and let that guide you as you shift your focus. This way, you will not only find more enjoyment in your travel through Mexico’s philatelic possibilities, you will also look back and see that you have made your vision a reality.


Where do I start?

Collectors new to Mexico often quickly learn that acquiring good genuine examples is easier said than done. Where are all these stamps that you want to add to your collection? To illustrate the process of finding material, I will tell my own story of making Mexico the focus of my stamp collection.

I started collecting Mexico before I had internet. eBay, Nick Follansbee’s great catalog, and joining MEPSI were all still in the future. The few stamp stores near me lacked anything but the most common Mexican stamps — and rarely had more than a handful. At the local stamp show I found a few dealers that had Mexican stamps, but often the early issues were not available and many of the stamps were priced at full catalog regardless of condition. Things improved significantly when I went to one of the large stamps shows here in Southern California. I met Ray "Doc" Ameen, who had a large inventory of Mexican material. I also met some members of MEPSI. That prompted me to join the society, where I found more reference material and help about what I was starting to collect.

Fortunately, not long after I decided to start my collection of Mexico, I also bought my first computer and joined the internet, where I found material that I had not imagined on this new sellers and buyers site called eBay. Wow. Now I could buy stamps directly from sellers all over the place. Each week brought more auctions and sometimes disappointments when I was outbid. I worked at trying to put up a bid at the last minute, last second or as late as I could. eBay did not yet have store fronts with ‘Buy It Now’ stamps, nor were there any snipe programs. PayPal did not exist yet, and sending out checks for purchases meant slow delivery. But there were stamps I wanted and prices I could easily pay.

At this point, I started to sell stamps on eBay in order to finance the stamps I wanted to buy on eBay and at the occasional stamp show Doc would attend. As a member of MEPSI, I gained access to their auctions and circuit books. Over the years I started to send in bids to main line auctions that had Mexican material, but I was too often disappointed in finding out the lots were sold out at just above my bid — or worse – the stamps I won failed to meet my expectations when I received them. I now only go to auctions in person to view lots before I bid on the floor or later at home over the internet.

My story of the ups and downs of collecting Mexico points to several things I have learned over these past 30 years that may be helpful to you.

The journey you take to make your collection the best it can be will be filled with special finds and sometimes disappointments, but in the end, it will be a journey well traveled.

So what should I pay for Mexican Philately?

Learning where to find Mexican material is only part of the equation. This begs the question of how much should you pay. Cost may depend on your budget, but condition can mean a lot of things when considering availability and cost. This may also change your ideas of how you want to form your collection and how it will evolve as you work on it.

Back in the 1930s, at the height of the Great Depression, the average family had three things that entertained them at home: radio, reading, and hobbies. Evenings were often spent listening to radio shows, reading books or newspapers, and, often, pulling out stamp collections. In those days the collector could go to the local Five-and-Dime store and pick up a large bag of stamps on paper for a dime. They would then sort, soak, and place new finds into their albums. Trading the duplicates with friends became a passion of the young and old in those times. There were certainly also people that spent large amounts of money on stamps during those times (like today), purchasing some of the most desirable stamps on the market. Even the average collector would at times buy a high budget item that would be something special in their album.

It is the collectors’ willingness to spend money on stamps that has always promoted stamp collecting. The reason is obvious to some and not so much to others, but if it were not for the dealers bringing the stamps to the market there would not be any stamps for the collector to collect. We no longer have the stamp shops of the past, and stamp shows are not nearly as common as they used to be. But we do have the Internet.

On the Internet we can find thousands upon thousands of lots each week on sites like eBay, HipStamp, Stamp Auction Network and others. Obviously, eBay is the thousand pound gorilla for internet stamp sales, but a seeker of stamps can certainly find many more online sources. It is sometimes disheartening to wade through so many lots in search of what you are looking for. It is the times when you find something special at a fair price that makes the hunt especially satisfying.

This all brings us to the question of how much should you pay for the things you do find. Remember that the dealer sets their price, not some catalog. It depends on the seller’s business plan — or lack of plan. I know dealers that price their lots at such huge prices that one may wonder if they ever sell anything. (They do, but the buyers are normally looking for something very specialized or they are naive in thinking they are getting a good deal.) There are other sellers that are just trying to move stamps and will start everything at low prices, like 99 cents, to attract buyers. Often those sellers are actually making their profit on material they paid little to nothing for and charge a high fee for postage. Other dealers will ask some percentage of catalogue regardless of condition, authenticity, or rarity. Then you have some dealers that will start their lots out at a reasonable amount that will ensure them a working profit, overhead cost and original cost of the goods based on condition and rarity.

The following are some of my tips on what price to pay for different eras of the stamps and Postal History or Stationery.

Stampless Period: Pre-Stamp and Sello Negro covers are the prelude to stamps and they fall into Colonial, Independence Pre-Stamp and Sello Negro (black mark) cover 1856 forward. Colonial material tends to be very expensive, is often in terrible condition, and is rarely complete. The pre-stamp covers are more valuable for the cancelation, and the Sello Negro are valued by the district. These covers can be found for a few dollars to hundreds of dollars. No collector should be buying these unless they have acquired some knowledge of these subjects.

Classic Period: Classic stamps are valued by district and cancellation. Mint stamps are not generally as desirable as the used examples, unless used are prohibitively priced in this condition. Once you have moved past the common districts and cancels, physical and centering condition is not as important as district and cancel. Some items are scarce or rare despite appearing to be common, depending on what may have been happening during their use.

Study is of critical importance, and owning a copy of Nicholas Follansbee’s catalog The Stamps of Mexico 1856-1910 is a necessity. Joseph Schatkes’ book The Cancellations of Mexico 1856-1874 is another important resource. Reaching out to more experienced collectors with your questions can also pay big dividends; even a simple question can give up wonderful answers in evaluating these stamps.

Condition makes a lot of difference in price of common issues, districts and consignments, but unlike many stamps of the world where a faulty stamp may only bring 5% of catalogue value, in Mexico the price for a faulty common stamp, depending on how faulty it is, will cost anywhere from 10% to 30% of catalogue value. Sound, very fine common stamps can exceed catalogue values. Scarcity can elevate the price for even faulty stamps, and better condition examples depend on the collector’s priorities and willingness to pay a premium. The rule of thumb for nice on-cover common classics is about 10x catalog of the singles. Values increase significantly for better examples.

Post-Classic Period: Many of the more common stamps from the Post-Classic period can be found at what I consider really great prices. Many of these stamps are very inexpensive if used. Even in mint condition, common issues are fairly inexpensive. Condition makes a lot of difference, since perforations are generally poorly done, straight edges were also used on the outer sheet margins and these stamps were produced in high numbers. Prices for common, off-center or straight-edge stamps are generally around 20-30% of catalog in decent condition. Faulty stamps from this period are generally undesirable and very low in cost, except for scarce issues and better varieties. Gum on mint is rarely an important consideration of value on these issues up to the Mulitas and the 1899-1910 issues. Mulitas bring prices of 50-60% of catalog if nice. Never Hinged stamps are scarce except for the very most common issues.


Revolutionary Period: Revolutionary stamps are inexpensive for most of the issues, and are generally collected in mint condition. Used stamps are common for mostly the low denomination issues. Gum is generally missing on many of the mint stamps and is rarely a consideration for most collectors. Special printings and some local issues are really scarce to rare. On cover most of the revolutionary issue stamps in nice condition are very desirable and bring good prices, especially for the Local issues.


Early-Modern Period: Stamps from the Early-Modern period are generally collected in mint condition with hinges, due to the few stamps that were saved from album hinging. Collectors can, of course, choose to buy only never-hinged examples. On resale they do not bring much difference to the buy price regardless of higher values in the catalog. Never-hinged examples should sell at about full catalog. Hinged stamps should sell at about 40 to 60% of catalog depending on perforation and centering. Values of early modern stamps on cover depend on how they were used.


Modern Period: Modern issues are far more desirable in Mint condition, either lightly hinged or never hinged. However, good prices can be found with Mint hinged (hinge shows or may have light remnants of the hinge). Prices should be around 40-50% of catalog for lightly hinged and 50-75% of catalog for never hinged, depending on centering. Many of the common commemoratives during the 1970’s and 1980’s are rarely worth catalog values, let alone face value, due to high-volume printing of these issues. Modern stamps on cover are rarely valuable, unless they are one of the few really valuable stamps of this period.

Enjoy collecting, learn about your stamps and remember that very few of these stamps are unique. If you pass up something that seems too high-priced, you will likely find the item at another time for less. Just knowing about what you are buying will help you determine what you should pay.

What Condition Should I Accept In Mexican Material?

We now move to the question of conditions acceptable for philatelic material from Mexico. This is a very interesting and important part of collecting for all – novices and advanced collectors alike. One of the things that makes collecting Mexico really unique is the huge volume of stamp varieties that are collectable in the Classic period due to the district overprinting and wide variety of interesting cancels from large to small communities. While there is a large number of varieties, some of them are extremely difficult to find.

Common Mexico flawless Un Real / Rare 1864 (Zacatecas) provisional Dos Reales w/ minor hinge thin
Postal district overprints turned the five first issues of 1856 into a search for around 250 different issues. The district overprint system does the same for all the other issues through 1883, when Mexico eliminated the practice. Joseph Schatzkes' book The Cancellations of Mexico, 1856-1874 lists of over 1,900 cancels from both the district headquarters, smaller towns, villages and haciendas. This translates into thousands of stamps that the average collector of classics could spend years acquiring for each of the issues. Each stamp or piece of postal history or stationery will pose a problem when you add all the other periods of philatelic material to the list of things collectors are looking for in Mexican material. As we approach such a problem of high volume and short supply, the availability of what we are looking for can present a huge problem when physical condition and centering are figured into the equation.

This reminds me of a story about two friends. The old friends were meeting for the first time in a long while. When they met, the first friend was introduced to his old friend’s new wife. He was horrified that the woman was the ugliest he could ever remember seeing. Later when he took his friend aside, he asked him as gently as he could, “I do not mean to be harsh, but your wife is not as attractive as I expected.” Well, his friend looked at him and said, “Yes, I know she is not as beautiful as some women but I love her anyway.” Sometimes, a stamp may not be beautiful, but the collector may love it all the same.

Common Sound 5th period Mazatlan 2R / Rare Mexico Tres Centavos w/ light bend
There are two key elements to condition. One is the centering of a stamp. Traditionally the range goes from average where the design is cut into by the separation to Superb where the margins are large and perfectly even. For most of the classic stamps of Mexico, the margins are generally poor because the perforations where done so poorly that scissor separation was necessary. Some stamps were aligned so closely together on the plate that margins would cut into the design regardless of how careful the clerk may have been in clipping them apart. This was especially true for the 1856 Un Real and Dos Reales issues and the Eagles. Poor quality of margins remained a problem for Mexico up until the 1920s. This does not mean that there are no nice examples, but what it does mean is that the pool of Very Fine or Better stamps is low compared to lesser quality centered stamps.

The second element of condition is the physical qualities of the material you wish to collect. I know collectors who will not even accept a stamp with a minor corner crease or a missing perforation tooth. Horrors that the stamp may have a light hinge thin or a dealers mark on the back. The bottom line for collecting Mexico is that very few stamps can be found with the high physical qualities of many of the other countries of the world, because mintages for Mexico are much lower when coupled with countless varieties for any one issue in the classics.

Sound Common 6ctv SLP / Thin figure 12ctv Mexico light cancel w/ minor Hinge thin
The chances of finding stamps in high quality condition becomes lower and lower for the district overprints that are scarce. This is why I have always looked first for appearance. I would rather have a slightly faulty stamp, such as light hinge thin or a clerk’s fold on a nice appearing stamp than a stamp that has a less appealing cancel or poor centering that is sound in other respects. It is not hard to pass up buying a common stamp that you know you can find in nicer condition. But when you are looking at a nice appearing stamp from a better district or with a better cancel, that has a small fault it is much harder to say, “I am not interested because a fault of any kind trumps rarity.”

How will condition affect my material’s value when I get ready to sell? This is a question every collector will ask when reflecting on the future when their collection will be sold. First, one must consider how much you are paying for the material you buy. Do you pay as much for a faulty stamp as you would for one that is totally sound? No, of course you would not. Are you expecting your common perfect stamps to sell for more because they are perfect? Think again, because common stamps will not be prized just because they are nice, and you will likely never see them in main line auctions due to the low values. Nice rare stamps, yes, they will bring high dollars in an auction and will also increase the value of what a dealer may pay. Be realistic, and realize that very few stamps wind up being showcased at auction houses. Most auction houses will only list a single item for around $100 start. Stamps under that value will be grouped together into collection lots and the prices fall to a low fraction of catalogue value.

Of all the things I say about condition, one thing runs true, and that is the fact that you, the collector, are the one who determines what your collection is and how you want it to be. So, look for what pleases you and be realistic in what you can find and afford. Lastly, try to have fun hunting for those special items that make your collection interesting and satisfying.

How do I find out more about Mexican stamps?

Many collectors use the Scott Catalog for their basic number reference, while others use Stanley Gibbons, Michel, or other catalogs that list stamps of the world. Numerous catalogs of Mexican stamps have been produced over the years, including some from Mexico, such as Celis Cano and Vackimes. Few had in-depth information on the Classics through the Modern except for Celis Cano’s Sellos Postales de Mexico (last published in 1982 in Spanish). This last reference catalogue is no longer available as far as I know, but, so much has been learned over the years that an old copy is of little use for values and other things that have been updated.

Detail from a page of Nicholas Follansbee’s catalog on 1856-1910 issues
The one catalog that stands out for all collectors of Mexico is Nicolas Follansbee’s Stamps of Mexico 1856-1910, which covers all the early issues by both district and denomination. It also breaks down paper varieties and much more. My friend Nick has put out three editions since the late 1990s, with the last one released in 2015. If you are a collector of the early issues or not, this is a very good reference, simply, because when collecting Mexico you are bound to purchase some of the early issues, and this is where you will find out if you have something of value or just another common district issue. It is a great read for the early collectors.

Detail from a page of Dale Pulver’s handbook of Mexican stamps
In 1992, Dale Pulver wrote a handbook published by Linn’s called Introduction to the Stamps of Mexico. It appears to be out of print but is sometimes available on eBay or thriftbooks.com. It’s a great read with a lot of information for the novice collector, but also a lot of reminders for the more advanced collectors. Much of the content came from the monthly columns Dale wrote for Linn’s over many years. The full set of those messages were digitized by MEPSI’s former Librarian, the late Tad Mackie, and can be downloaded here.

I have already pointed out a few references that you are likely to find useful, but there are many others that are very helpful to the general collector or for those that want to go into greater depth. Some examples include:

Samuel Chapman (1859-1943)
Samuel Chapman, an Englishman living in Mexico in the late 19th Century developed a magnificent collection of Mexico. As a student of philately he was able to do research at the Mexican National Postal archives. He found out a great deal about the district stamps sent, used and returned. He was also able to piece together much of the philatelic history of Mexico and compiled information that still has great value to present-day philatelists. This information went into his 1926 book The Postage Stamps of Mexico, 1856-1868, that became a landmark publication for data on 1856-68 issues. A reprint of this book was published in 1976 by Quartermain Publication, Inc, in conjunction with the Collectors Club of New York.

MEPSI was also able to copy a large percentage of the Postal Archive data a number of years ago, first in photocopies, and later Tad Mackie was able to take the photocopies and turn them into digital form. These are available for research of both districts and sub offices. Not totally complete, but they have a great deal of information for a true student of the classic Mexican stamps.

If you join MEPSI, you will be able to access the full online archive of our journal, Mexicana, dating back to 1952. Comprised of more than 300 issues, the archive covers over a thousand articles that pertain to collecting Mexican issues, history, technical knowledge, new findings and more. Mexicana has won Gold and Vermeil Medals in Philatelic literature competitions. Access to Mexicana is one of the significant benefits of joining. The Society also has helped writers turn their research efforts into good books, handbooks and articles that are reaching the needs of our members. For more information, explore mepsi.org, where you can submit your membership application online. As a member, you will also be able to participate in MEPSI's Circuit Sales and purchase digital versions of MEPSI publications. Dues start at $35 per year and represent some of the best money you will ever spend if you are really interested in collecting Mexico or just love the topics.

Bubba Bland has been collecting, selling, and writing about the stamps of Mexico for more than 30 years. He served for more than 15 years on the Board of Directors of the Mexico-Elmhurst Philatelic Society International (MEPSI), including three years as President. Semi-retired as a stamp dealer, he still sometimes lists stamps in his oobubba store on eBay. For many years, he has written a weekly newsletter about Mexican philately. You can subscribe by writing to him at oobubba@icloud.com.