The"seals" that are occasionally seen on the old documents are actually tax stamps, or evidence of taxes paid to the crown.

To collectors, these are referred to as "revenue stamped paper," or "renta papel sellado," and in Spain they date from a decree signed by Felipe IV on October 6,1636.

The design of the stamp changed each year, and was to be available in four sellos: primero, segundo, tercero, and quatro. A different fee or tax was charged for each. The most important documents were primero and these cost the most, being charged per page.

In the Spanish colonies they date from December 1638. Rather than changed every year, these were valid for two years.

In the 1640/41 period the primero was 24 reales; the segundo, 6 reales; the tercero, 1 real; and the quarto, 1/4 real.

You can occasionally find documents with these tax stamps at stamp dealers. The cost varies quite a bit: generally earlier complete documents in good condition with clear impressions will be quite expensive (several thousand dollars for a example from Felipe IV). Documents from the early 1800s will range from less than $100 to a few hundred dollars. Poor impressions, partial or damaged documents, sell for less.

"Mexico's Revenue Stamps: An Introduction to the Revenue Stamps of Mexico" by Michael D. Roberts (2011) illustrates the various types and gives general price information.

George Fulton
Pleasanton, CA

Antonio,
It's been a long time since I've looked at the Census film 168804 in
search of more information on the residents of Jalpa, Zac. My records
indicate that there was only a burned cover page, but no specific list
of residents. Pages from other towns seemed to have been intermingled
with the 1769 Xalpa. Did you come across other pages for Jalpa.

As for the "Escrituras," can you give more details about the records
contain or focus on? I am not familiar with them and doubt many others
know these records.

Arturo G

>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 14:55:57 -0700 (PDT)
> From: zacatecano020@hotmail.com
> To: research@lists.nuestrosranchos.org
> Subject: [Nuestros Ranchos] Escrituras 1691 - 1738, Padrones 1639 -
> 1735
> Message-ID:
>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
>
> I was looking at microfilm of Escrituras:
> Escrituras 1691 - 1738
> Film/DGS # 169054
>
> I only looked at the first few pages as immediately I was reading a lot of interesting things and how the seals/stamps that were on the escrituras. I only read the first few pages because I ended up chatting about geneology with one of the aides at the LDS center that was helping me make copies. The title of the microfilm is:
>
> Archivo De La Sagrada Mita
> Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
> Escrituras
> Hojas Sueltas, Siglo XVII
>
> But when I first began reading the first pages I was seeing escrituras dating back to 1598!! I wrote down some notes on what one said, "Bellade San Felipe 28 de Septiembre 1598 Trespaso Valle de San Francisco, Juan Diaz Domingo Palacios. Hacienda de Domingo Gallegos 1597" as example. I liked the seal/stamp I saw on another escritura year 1707 and made two copies of it:
>
> http://oi60.tinypic.com/11vgmds.jpg
> http://oi58.tinypic.com/jsbr42.jpg
>
> And the seal/stamp on the first page of this escritura year 1692/1693:
>
> http://oi59.tinypic.com/ojknrl.jpg
>
> I am looking for the Escrituras of my GGGGGGG Grandfather Antonio Madera (1660 - 1709) from Minilla, Mezquitic, Jalisco, Mexico area. His wife Maria De La Canderlia (1655 - 1735) had left a testamento at Monte Escobedo, Zacatecas, Mexico.
>
> I was also looking at
>
> Padrones 1639 - 1775
> Film/DGS # 168804
>
> Didn't find the census of our region in the Huejuquilla/Mezquitic. I wrote some notes on what it contained:
>
> Laguna,
> Juchipila,
> Xalpa - 1769 census
> Monterrey, Valle De La Pinas - 1762 Census
> Rancho Del Maraoach???
> Villa de ? Caliente Census
> Pueblo Teoquitatlan 1765 Census
> Hacienda de Toluquilla
>
> There are census of several villages I am not familiar with in that microfilm. I made a copy of the title page of one of the Census in that microfilm which is this:
>
> http://oi59.tinypic.com/5l3n21.jpg
>
> I am not familiar with that place. Where is it?
>
> End of Research Digest, Vol 105, Issue 20
> *****************************************