Mint Stamps -Prices for regular issues are based on reported stamp shipments and usage as reported by the Mexican post office. Reported Mint quantities, which were sold to dealers in 1889, have been reduced by those which were pen cancelled, those which were Redirected to other districts, and those which were made into Habilitado issues. Also, most mint stamps had their gum removed and were Cancelled To Order (CTO) by dealers because Mexican collectors preferred used stamps. While the quantities of each of these uses of mint stamps is unknown, assumptions were made based on the mint quantities available. As a result of these practices it is estimated that up to 32% of the regular issues no longer exist in mint condition. These stamps can be identified by a reported quantity of 9 stamps (Quantities can be seen by clicking on the stamp image). Note that few mint stamps were bought directly from the post office by collectors since they had little use for domestic mail, so, no additional supplies were assumed from this source. Habilitado and Redirected quantities are based on the quantities returned from the various source districts. Prices are based on the return quantities available since no records were kept on these, with used prices assumed as twice those for unused based on typical relative quantities of known stamps with small printings.

Mint stamps with no gum represents the bulk of the mint stamps since the gum was removed because of collector preference. The MINT(NG) are the standard for the pricing based on quantities returned and then sold to dealers. The Mint hinged and never hinged prices are twice the MINT(NG) prices since they are extremely rare.

Used Stamps - Prices for postally used stamps are priced at significantly higher levels since it is likely that only about 10% of the reported used items survived over the passage of 120+ years. Note also, such stamps are extremely rare except from five districts which represent 59% of all the stamps printed with district numbers. Since 16 districts had only from 1,200 to 9,300 stamps issued in total for up to 30 different printings, it is likely that only a few of their used stamps survived.

Pen Cancelled & Cancelled to Order (CTO) - Separate pricing is calculated for pen invalidated and Cancelled to Order (CTO) stamps. The pen invalidated issues were canceled by pen stroke at the local level before being returned to Mexico City until it was recognized that they could be used as Habilitado and to Redirect them to another district. While Scott Catalogue notes that pen cancelled issues should sell at the same price as used, this requires some nuance. Where pen cancelled stamps are known, it is assumed that few if any mint stamps remain unless they have been encountered. Hence, most pen cancelled should sell at half the price of mint and generally no more than for used stamps. CTO stamps were cancelled by dealers to accommodate collectors’ preference for used stamps. This was done to such an extent that few if any mint stamps can be found where CTO stamps are seen. They are fairly easy to recognize since less than a half dozen different cancel devices were used, most of which differ from those used by the post office. They are always gray black in color. They are priced here the same as pen cancelled stamps where those exist, Otherwise they are priced at half the Mint(NG) price.

Error Stamps & Other Varieties - No pricing was provided for the printing errors because, with a few exceptions, it is not known how many of each printing varieties and errors exist, albeit it is unlikely that any exceed 100 printed. In the case of the extensive number of Mexico City errors, it is also likely that many of these are printers waste which was sold with all the remainder stamps. Pricing for these items will be reported as it develops, i.e. if used copies of these errors come to light. For now, assume a price equal to the price of the regular issue, mint or used, plus $25.