MEXICO. After the fall and execution of Maximilian in June 1867,...

MEXICO. After the fall and execution of Maximilian in June 1867, the Mexican government found itself without usable postage stamps. The next government issue appeared in September 1868. In the interim period, several towns issued provisional stamps. One of these was Cuernavaca, situated about 60 miles south of Mexico City. The catalogs list only one provisional. This is a cut-out of the double circle postmark with the district overprint applied, as a one real value (not a two reales as some incorrectly indicate). Thirteen covers are recorded with this stamp. In 1995 the unique dos reales value was discovered. This example is a double strike with double district overprint, on a small piece with a manuscript Ž2Ž next to it. A third type of Cuernavaca provisional has been recorded. This does not use the CUERNAVACA double circle postmark, but rather the double oval directly struck on the letter. Three, possibly four, have been seen, but this mark has not yet been recorded in the literature. Two of the exmaples are on judicial letters. All those that have been seen are single strikes. This new discovery has a double strike of the double oval postmark with district overprint applied in the center which pays the two reales rate to VERA CRUZ. This is the only dos reales usage. The letter was place in French ship in Vera Cruz and the octagonal French VERA CRUZ PAQ. FR. B No. 3 applied for transit to AVIGNON, France. Upon arrival the letter was taxed Ž10Ž postage due and has a PARIS transit and AVIGNON receipt postmark on the reverse. The cover is opened on three sides. Only three Mexican provisionals are recorded with transatlantic usage. THE UNIQUE CUERNAVACA TRANSATLANTIC USAGE. (via Philasearch.com: Soler y Llach - Mail Auction - item 9219-A3661-3271)