MEXICO

MEXICO / MÉXICO.

150th anniversary of the founding of the Mexican Society of Geography and Statistics.
Shield of the Society and portrait of Valentín Gómez Farías.
Stamp issued on 18.04.1983.
Face value: 6 Mexican pesos.
Printing: Photogravure.
Print: 1,000,000 copies.
Size: 40 x 48 mm.

Catalogues
- Michel No. 1861.
- Scott No. 1314.
- StampWorld No. 1892.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 1671.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 1009.

The Ilustre y Benemérita Sociedad Mexicana de Geografía y Estadística (Illustrious and Meritorious Mexican Society of Geography and Statistics) was founded by Valentín Gómez Farías on April 18, 1833. It was the first scientific society of its specialty on the American continent. At first it was called Instituto de Geografía y Estadística (Institute of Geography and Statistics), and in 1851 it adopted its current name. Its founding purpose was the preparation of the cartography of the new country, with its different regions and with its new borders. The first results occurred in 1850, when the engineer Antonio García Cubas managed to finish the first general map of the country. During the 19th century, the society also dealt with the investigation of the Amerindian languages of Mexico.

Valentín Gómez Farías (Guadalajara, February 14, 1781 - Mexico City, July 5, 1858) was a Mexican physician and politician who served as President of Mexico and repeated the position five times. A radical liberal thinking man for his time, he was convinced that Mexico’s progress was hampered by two great institutions, inherited from the colonial past, the clergy and the army, and he devoted most of his political life to fighting them. As the leader of Congress, he promulgated the Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1857.

-
Thanks to Eulogio Gómez for his contribution.