Preview of Stamps Catalogue CD : VOLUME 2

CUBA, SPANISH COLONY

Return To Catalogue - Cuba 1899 onwards - Cuba miscellaneous

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Before 1873 the issued of the Spanish Westindies were used.

1873 King Amadeus, inscription 'ULTRAMAR 1873'

  12 1/2 c green
  25 c grey
  50 c brown
  1 p brown

These stamps have perforation 14.
Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
12 1/2 c *** ***
25 c * *
50 c * *
1 P RR R

These stamps (except 12 1/2 c) overprinted with a signature see Porto Rico.

Forgeries exist, example of a Spiro forgery:

(Spiro forgeries, note the strange 'Spiro cancels')

1874 As Spanish stamps of 1873, but inscription 'ULTRAMAR 1874'

  12 1/2 c brown
  25 c blue
  50 c violet
  1 P red

For the 25 c stamp overprinted with a signature see Porto Rico.

1875 Arms, Inscription 'ULTRAMAR 1875'

  12 1/2 c violet
  25 c blue
  50 c green
  1 P brown

For these stamps (except 12 1/2 c) overprinted with a signature see Porto Rico.

1876 Alfonso XII

Inscription 'ULTRAMAR 1876'

  12 1/2 c green
  25 c grey
  50 c blue
  1 p black

For these stamps (except 12 1/2 c) overprinted with a signature see Porto Rico.

Inscription 'CUBA 1877'

  10 c green
  12 1/2 c grey
  25 c green
  50 c black
  1 P olive

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
10 c	R	R
12 1/2 c	*	***
25 c	c	*
50 c	c	*
1 P	***	R

Inscription 'CUBA 1878'

  5 c blue
  10 c black
  12 1/2 c olive
  25 c green
  50 c green
  1 P red

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 c	c	***
10 c	R	R
12 1/2 c	*	**
25 c	c	*
50 c	c	*
1 P	***	***

Inscription 'CUBA 1879'

  5 c black
  10 c brown
  12 1/2 c red
  25 c blue
  50 c grey
  1 p brown

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 c	c	***
10 c	R	RR
12 1/2 c	*	***
25 c	c	*
50 c	c	*
1 P	***	***

Forgeries exist, examples:

I have no information concerning the distinghuishing characteristics of the above forgeries.

(I suspect the above 10 c 1877 stamps to be forgeries, they are only partially perforated)

1880 Alfonso XII, new type

Inscription 'CUBA 1880'

  5 c green
  10 c red
  12 1/2 c grey
  25 c bleu
  50 c brown
  1 p brown

Inscription 'CUBA 1881'

  1 c green
  2 c red
  2 1/2 c olive
  5 c blue
  10 c brown
  20 c brown

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1 c	c	*
2 c	***	R
2 1/2 c	*	**
5 c	c	*
10 c	*	*
20 c	*	**

Inscription 'CUBA'

  1 c green
  2 c red
  2 1/2 c brown
  2 1/2 c lilac
  5 c blue
  10 c olive
  10 c brown
  10 c blue
  20 c brown
  20 c grey

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1 c	*	*
2 c	*	**
2 1/2 c brown	*	*	Colour shades exist
2 1/2 c lilac	*	*	Colour shades exist
5 c	*	*
10 c olive	*	*
10 c brown	***	**
10 c blue	*	*
20 c brown	R	R
20 c grey	*	**	Colour shades exist

Overprinted with a fancy pattern to distinguish stolen stamps from those issued by the post office.

  5 on 5 c grey (5 different overprints, all in red)
  10 on 10 c olive (5 different overprints, all in blue)
  20 on 20 c brown (5 different overprints)

The different surcharges seem to exist on the same sheet. Errors and inverted overprints exist.
Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
Cheapest types
5 on 5 c * *
10 on 10 c * *
20 on 20 c ** ***

Forged overprints exist, example:

Newspaper stamps inscription 'CUBA-IMPRESOS' (1888)

  1/2 m black
  1 m black
  2 m black
  3 m black
  4 m black
  8 m black

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1/2 m	*	*
1 m	*	*
2 m	*	*
3 m	*	**
4 m	*	**
8 m	*	**

Forgeries, examples:

I've been told that the next stamps are postal forgeries, note that the 'C' of 'CUBA is more open than in the genuine stamps.

(Postal forgery)

(Other postal forgeries)

1890 Alfonso XII, 'Babyface', inscription 'ISLA DE CUBA'

  1 c brown
  1 c grey
  1 c blue
  1 c black
  2 c red
  2 c blue
  2 c brown
  2 1/2 c green
  2 1/2 c orange
  2 1/2 c violet
  2 1/2 c red
  5 c green
  5 c blue
  10 c brown
  10 c red
  10 c green
  20 c violet
  20 c blue
  20 c brown
  40 c brown
  80 c brown

Newspaper stamps, inscription 'CUBA-IMPRESOS' (1890-1896)


  1/2 m brown
  1/2 m violet
  1/2 m red
  1/2 m blue
  1 m brown
  1 m violet
  1 m red
  1 m blue
  2 m brown
  2 m violet
  2 m red
  2 m blue
  3 m brown
  3 m violet
  3 m red
  3 m blue
  4 m brown
  4 m violet
  4 m red
  4 m blue
  8 m brown
  8 m violet
  8 m red
  8 m blue

Bogus issue? a 2 m stamp overprinted with 'HABILITADO 3 cents.':

(Bogus issue?)

I have also seen the 8 m value with the same overprint.

1898 'Curly head' Alfonso XIII facing the left

  1 m brwon
  2 m brown
  3 m brown
  4 m brown
  5 m brown
  1 c violet
  2 c green
  3 c brown
  4 c orange
  5 c red
  6 c blue
  8 c brown
  10 c red
  15 c olive
  20 c brown
  40 c violet
  60 c black
  80 c brown
  1 p green
  2 p blue

(Bogus issue, forgery? Overprinted 'HABILITADO 3 cents.' on a 2 m stamp)

I have also seen similar overprints in the values: 2 c on 2 m, 3 c on 3 m and 5 c on 5 m.

For stamps of Cuba issued from 1899 onwards, click here.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer

Preview of Stamps Catalogue CD : VOLUME 2