Mexico year 1864 Miquel Hidalgo full set MNH stamps

Mexico 1864 Miquel Hidalgo full set MNH ** stamps

In 1864, the philatelic history of Mexico was quite complex due to the conflict between the Second Mexican Empire (under Emperor Maximilian) and the Republican government (under Benito Juárez).

While the famous “Eagle” stamps were the primary imperial issue of 1864, there was indeed a specific Republican issue featuring Miguel Hidalgo released that same year.

The 1864 Miguel Hidalgo Issue (Republican)

These stamps were produced by the American Bank Note Company (ABNC) in New York for the Republican government. Because the French occupied Mexico City at the time, these stamps were primarily used in Republican-held territories like Monterrey and Saltillo.

The “full set” typically consists of 4 values:

Key Features for Collectors

• District Overprints: In 19th-century Mexico, stamps were sent to districts and then hand-stamped with the district name (e.g., “MONTERREY”) to prevent theft during transit. Stamps without overprints are often considered “remainders” (stamps that were never sent to a post office) and are generally less valuable than those with genuine postal overprints.
• Perforation: Unlike the earlier 1856 and 1861 issues which were imperforate, the 1864 Hidalgo stamps are perforated (usually Perf 12).
• Forgeries: This specific set is one of the most forged in Mexican philately. Genuine copies have very sharp, fine lines in the engraving (especially in the hair and eyes of Hidalgo), while forgeries often look “fuzzy” or lithographed rather than engraved.