Article suitable for Top Juniors and above
Find out moreMexican stamps
A selection of Mexican postage stamps celebrating Aztec themes. (Written/compiled by Ian Mursell/Mexicolore)
Over the years (these date from the 1980s onwards) the Mexican postal service has included several pre-Hispanic motifs in its stamps. Almost all these are Aztec motifs, but one isn’t: can you spot it? You can see a larger version by clicking on the image. Once you’ve worked out the answer then go to the bottom of the page and click to see if you’re correct.
Above left is a set of Mexican stamps from 1956, commemorating the first Mexican postage stamp in 1856. The central image shows a priest using a fire drill to kindle flames – very similar to this illustration from the Codex Laud (now in Oxford).
Don’t forget that on the back of every Mexican coin you’ll always find the Mexican national emblem; as Graciela says “It’s a lovely way to remind ourselves, every day, of our ancestors, that we’re very proud of.”
Mexican stamps