Postage Stamp History The United States intervened in Cuba in 1898. One of the interesting and rare series of stamps occurred as a result. This was the provisional issues known as 'Puerto Príncipe', now Camagüey named after the town where they were printed. The supplies of stamps in the town included stamps imprinted with the likeness of Alfonso XIII of Spain, but the United States in December, 1898, was now in control. A peace protocol had been entered into between U.S. and Spain on August 12, 1898, and the Treaty of Paris of December 10, 1898, ceded control to the United States. On December 19, 1898 the U.S. supplied stamps were still a month away from delivery. The local authorities solved that problem by obtaining permission from the provisional U.S. military government to contract a local printer to surcharge existing supplies of Spanish Cuban stamps with a surcharge of initially four different denominations. Eventually a total of five different printings were made that resulted in a total of five different denominations. These surcharged issues are scarce. As a result, forgeries are numerous. A Puerto Príncipe stamp should be authenticated to have maximum value to a collector. By using vertical verification lines, one can get a good idea of whether on not a surcharge is original or forged. The provisional stamp overprints on U.S. stamps initially consisted of a 1 centavo on a 1 Franklin, 2½c on a 2 Washington, 3c on a 3 Jackson, 5c on a 5 Grant, 10c on a 10 Webster and a 10c overprint on a U.S. special delivery stamp. It turned out that the 2½ stamp was in error as the postage rates had recently changed. They continued to use the 2½ stamps anyway and sold them for and valued them at 2 so as not to waste the large printing. Later a 2 overprint appeared. Later in 1899, the United States printed a series of six stamps for Cuba. They are known as the 'Alegorías Cubana' or Cuban allegory stamps. Regular postage rates of 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 and a special delivery 10 stamp comprised this series. As with the adhesive stamps, the first provisional stamped envelopes were also overprints on U.S. stock. There were eight different U.S. envelopes that were overprinted 'CUBA.' and '1c. (or 2c.) DE PESO.'. By the late summer of 1899, the U.S. had furnished Cuba with its own Columbus design to replace the overprints. Likewise the first (and only) postal cards of the U.S. administration were a 1 U.S. Jefferson card overprinted with 'CUBA.-1c. de Peso.' and a 2 U.S. Liberty card overprinted with 'CUBA.-2c. de Peso.' U.S. rule of Cuba ended on May 20, 1902 when Cuba became an independent Republic. 1 This album is organized with the 'Puerto Principe' issues displayed at the end of this album for those who wish to only print the more common and reasonalby priced issues of this USA Possession.
Stamps Issued Under Spanish Dominion Queen Isabella II 1855, Typography, Wmk. 104, Imperforate 1/2r p blue green 1r p grey green 2r p carmine 2r p orange red 1 2 3 4 1855-1856 Nos. 3 and 4 Surcharged 1/4r p on 2r p carmine 1/4r p on 2r p orange red 1/4r p on 2r p carmine without fraction bar 1/4r p on 2r p orange red 5 6 7 7a 8 1/2r p greenish blue 1r p green 1856, Wmk. 105 Rough Yellowish Paper 1r p emerald 2r p orange red 9 10 10a 11 1/2r p blue 1r p grey green 1857, Unwmk. White Smooth Paper 1r p pale yellow green 2r p dull rose 12 13 13a 14 2
1860, Surcharged 1/4r p on 2r p dull rose 15 1/4r p black Queen Isabella II 1862-1864, Imperforate 1/4r p black, buff ('64) 1/2r p green ('64) 16 17 18 1/2r p green, pale rose ('64) 1r p blue, salmon ('64) 2r p vermillion, buff ('64) 2r p red, buff ('64) 19 20 21 21a 1866 No. 17 Overprinted in Black 1/4r p black, buff 22 3
Stamps with date "1866", Imperforate 5c dull violet 10c blue 23 20c green 40c rose 24 25 26 Stamps with date "1867", Perf.14 5c dull violet 10c blue 20c green 40c rose 27 28 29 30 5c dull violet Stamps with date "1868", Perf.14 10c blue 20c green 31 32 33 40c rose 34 4
1868 Nos. 31-34 Overprinted in Black 5c dull violet 10c blue 20c green 40c rose 35 35A 36 37 Stamps with date "1869" 5c rose 10c red brown 20c orange 40c dull violet 38 39 40 41 'Espana' Issue 1870 5c blue 10c green 20c red brown 40c rose 46 47 48 49 1871 12c red lilac 25c ultramarine 50c grey green 1p pale brown 50 51 52 53 5
King Amadeo 1873, Perf. 14 12 1/2c dark green 25c grey 50c brown 1p red brown 54 55 56 57 'Espana' 1874 12 1/2c brown 25c ultramarine 50c deep violet 50c grey 1p carmine 58 59 60 61 62 'Coat of Arms' 1875 12 1/2c light violet 25c ultramarine 50c blue green 1p brown 63 64 65 66 King Alfonso XII 1876 12 1/2c green 25c grey 50c ultramarine 1p black 67 68 69 70 6
1877 10c light green 12 1/2c grey 25c dark green 50c black 1p black 71 72 73 74 75 5c blue 10c black Stamps with date "1878" 12 1/2c brown bistre 25c yellow green 76 77 78 79 50c dark blue green 1p carmine 80 81 5c slate black Stamps with date "1879" 10c orange 82 83 12 1/2c rose 25c ultramarine 50c grey 1p olive bistre 84 85 86 87 7
1880 5c green 10c lake 12 1/2 grey 25c grey blue 88 89 90 91 50c brown 1p yellow brown 92 93 1881 1c green 2c lake 94 95 2 1/2c olive bistre 5c grey blue 10c yellow brown 20c dark brown 96 97 98 99 1c green 1882 2c lake 2 1/2c dark brown 100 101 102 8
5c grey blue Cuba 1882 Continued 10c olive bistre 20c red brown 5 on 5c Type "a" 103 104 Issue of 1882 Overprinted and Surcharged in Black, Red, or Blue 10 on 10c Type "a" 20 on 20c Type "a" 105 5 on 5c Type "b" 106 107 108 109 10 on 10c Type "b" 20 on 20c Type "b" 5 on 5c Type "c" 10 on 10c Type "c" 110 111 112 113 20 on 20c Type "c" 5 on 5c Type "d" 10 on 10c Type "d" 20 on 20c Type "d" 114 115 116 117 5 on 5c Type "e" 10 on 10c Type "e" 20 on 20c Type "e" 118 119 120 9
1883-1886 1c green 2nd re-touch 2 1/2c olive bistre 2 1/2c violet 121 122 124 5c grey blue 1st re-touch 5c grey blue 2nd re-touch 10c brown 1st re-touch 20c olive bistre 125 126 127 128 1888 2 1/2c red brown 129 10c blue 20c brownish grey 130 131 10
King Alfonso XIII 1890-1897 1c grey brown 1c olive grey ('91) 1c ultramarine ('94) 1c dark violet ('96) 2c slate blue 132 133 134 135 136 2c lilac brown ('91) 2c rose ('94) 2c claret ('96) 2 1/2c emerald 2 1/2c salmon ('91) 137 138 139 140 141 2 1/2c lilac ('94) 2 1/2c rose ('96) 5c olive grey 5c emerald ('91) 5c slate blue ('96) 142 143 144 145 146 10c brown violet 10c claret ('91) 10c emerald ('96) 20c dark violet 20c ultramarine ('91) 147 148 149 150 151 20c red brown ('94) 20c violet ('96) 40c orange brown ('97) 80c lilac brown ('97) 152 153 154 155 11
King Alfonso XIII 1898 1m orange brown 2m orange brown 3m orange brown 4m orange brown 5m orange brown 156 157 158 159 160 1c black violet 2c dark blue green 3c dark brown 4c orange 5c carmine rose 161 162 163 164 165 6c dark blue 8c grey brown 10c vermillion 15c slate green 20c maroon 166 167 168 169 170 40c dark lilac 60c black 80c red brown 171 172 173 1p yellow green 2p slate blue 174 175 12
Issued Under United States Administration Puerto Principe Issue In December 1898, Puerto Principe, a provincial capital now called Camaguey, ran short of 1c, 2c, 3c, 5c, and 10c stamps. The Postmaster ordered Cuban stamps to be surcharged on December 19, 1898 The surcharging was done to horizontal strips of five stamps, so vertical pairs and blocks do not exist. Five types are found in each setting, and five printings were made. Refer to the Identifier on the last page for help in properly identifying this issue Examples of Surcharges used and other information can be found in the CUBA section of the Scott US Specialized Stamp Catalogue Regular Issues of Cuba of 1896 and 1898 Surcharged 1898-99, Black Surcharge on Nos. 156-158, 160 1cent on 1m (a) 1cents on 1m (b) 2c on 2m (c) 2c on 2m orange brown pos1 orange brown pos4 orange brown pos1 inverted surcharge 176 177 178 178a 2c on 2m (d) 2c on 2m 3c on 1m (k) 3c on 1m (l) 3c on 2m (e) orange brown pos1 inverted surcharge orange brown pos4 orange brown pos4 orange brown pos2 179 179a 179B 179D 179F 3c on 2m (f) 3c on 3m (e) 3c on 3m 3c on 3m (f) orange brown pos2 orange brown pos1 inverted surcharge orange brown pos1 179G 180 180a 181 3c on 3m inverted surcharge 5c on 1m (g) orange brown pos2 5c on 1m inverted surcharge 181a 182 182a 13
5c on 1m (h) 5c on 1m 5c on 2m (g) 5c on 2m (h) orange brown pos2 inverted surcharge orange brown pos2 orange brown pos2 183 183a 184 185 5c on 3m (g) 5c on 3m 5c on 3m (h) 5c on 3m orange brown pos2 inverted surcharge orange brown pos2 inverted surcharge 186 186a 187 187a 5c on 5m (g) orange brown pos 1&2 5c on 5m inverted surcharge 5c on 5m (h) orange brown pos 1&2 188 188a 189 5c on 5m inverted surcharge 5c on 5m (i) orange brown pos4 189a 189C 14
Black Surcharge on No. P25 5c on 1/2m (g) blue green pos2 5c on 1/2m inverted surcharge 5c on 1/2m (h) blue green pos2 190 190a 191 5c on 1/2m inverted surcharge 5c on 1/2m (i) blue green pos4 5c on 1/2m (j) blue green pos4 191a 192 193 Red Surcharge on No. 161 3c on 1c (k) 3c on 1c 3c on 1c (l) 3c on 1c black violet pos3 inverted surcharge black violet pos3 inverted surcharge 196 196a 197 197a 5c on 1c (i) 5c on 1c 5c on 1c (j) 5c on 1c black violet pos3 inverted surcharge black violet pos3 inverted surcharge 198 198a 199 199a 15
10c on 1c (m) black violet pos3 10c on 1c broken figure '1' 200 200a The following series lists only the common varieties. Many sub-varieties exist and are catalogued in the Scott United States Specialized. Black Surcharge on Nos. P26-P30 3c on 1m (k) 3c on 1m (l) 3c on 2m (k) 3c on 2m (l) 3c on 3m (k) blue green pos5 blue green pos5 blue green pos5 blue green pos5 blue green pos5 201 202 203 204 205 3c on 3m (l) 5c on 1m (i) 5c on 1m (j) 5c on 2m (i) 5c on 2m (j) blue green pos5 blue green pos5 blue green pos5 blue green pos5 blue green pos5 206 211 212 213 214 5c on 3m (i) 5c on 3m (j) 5c on 4m (i) 5c on 4m (j) blue green pos5 blue green pos5 blue green pos5 blue green pos5 215 216 217 218 5c on 8m (i) 5c on 8m (j) blue green pos5 blue green pos5 219 220 16
General Postage USA Nos. 279, 267, 267b, 279Bf, 279Bh, 268, 281, 282C, and 283 Surcharged in Black 1899, Wmk. 191, Perf. 12 2c on 2c 2.5c on 2c 2.5c on 2c reddish carmine type IV reddish carmine type III reddish carmine type IV 221 222 222A 223 223A 10c on 10c brown type II 224 225 226 226A Issues of the Republic under US Military Rule Re-engraved The re-engraved stamps issued by the Republic of Cuba in 1905-07 may be distinguished from the issue of 1899 as follows: Nos. 227-231 are watermarked U S-C 1c : The ends of the label inscribed 'Centavo' are rounded instead of square 2c : The foliate ornaments, inside the oval disks bearing the numerals of value, have been removed 5c : Two lines forming a right angle have been added in the upper corners of the label bearing the word 'Cuba' 10c: A small ball has been added to each of the square ends of the label Scott 227 Original Scott 227 Re-Engraved Scott 228 Original Scott 228 Re-Engraved Scott 230 Original Scott 230 Re-Engraved Scott 231 Original 1899, Wmk. US-C(191C), Perf. 12 Scott 231 Re-Engraved 227 228 229 230 231 17
Issues of the Republic 1902 No. 229 Surcharged in Carmine 1c on 3c purple 232 1905, Unwmk, Perf.12 Issues of 1899 Re-engraved 1c green 2c rose 5c blue 10c brown 233 234 236 237 See the identifier on Pg16 or refer to the Scott USA Specialized Catalogue to aid in identification of these issues 1907 50c grey black and black 238 18
Cuba 1910 1c green and violet 2c carmine and green 3c violet and blue 5c blue and green 239 240 241 242 5c blue and green 8c olive and violet 10c brown and blue 1p slate and black 242 243 244 246 50c violet black 245 1911-1913 1c green 2c carmine rose 5c ultramarine 8c olive green and black 1p black 247 248 250 251 252 19
1c green Cuba 1914-1915 Map of Cuba Issue 2c carmine rose 2c red ('15) 253 254 255 3c violet 5c blue 8c olive green 10c brown 256 257 258 259 10c olive green ('15) 50c orange 1p grey 260 261 262 1914 Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda Cuban Poet 1927, Unwmk, Perf. 12 Arms of the Republic 25th Anniversary 5c blue 263 25c violet 283 20
1917-1918, Unwmk, Perf. 12 1c blue green 2c rose 2c light red ('18) 3c violet 5c deep blue 264 265 266 267 268 8c red brown 10c yellow brown 20c grey green ('15) 50c dull rose 1p black 269 270 271 272 273 1925-1928, Wmk. 106, Perf. 12 Same designs as Nos. 264-271 1c blue green 2c bright rose 5c deep blue 8c red brown ('28) 274 275 276 277 10c yellow brown ('27) 20c olive green 278 279 21
1c deep green 1928, Wmk 106 Sixth Pan-American Conference 2c bright rose 5c deep blue 284 285 286 8c light red brown 10c bistre brown 13c orange 287 288 289 20c olive green 30c dark violet 50c carmine rose 290 291 292 1p grey black 293 22
1c green Cuba 1929 Opening of the Capitol, Havana 2c carmine rose 5c blue 294 295 296 10c bistre brown 20c violet 297 298 1930 2nd Central American Athletic Games 1c green 2c carmine rose 299 300 5c blue 10c bistre brown 20c violet 301 302 303 23
Air Post Stamps C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C11 C12 C13 C14 C14A C15 24
Cuba Special Delivery Stamps Issued under US Administration Special Delivery Stamp of the United States No. E5 Surcharged in Red 1899, Wmk. 191, Perf. 12 No Period after "CUBA" Issue of the Republic under US Military Rule Special Delivery Messenger Inscribed: Immediata 1899, Wmk. US-C(191C), Perf. 12 E1 E1a E2 Issues of the Republic Inscribed: Immediata 1902, Perf. 12 1910, Unwmk E3 E4 1914, Perf. 12 Airplane and Morro Castle 1927, Wmk, Star (106) 1935, Perf. 10 E5 E6 E7 Matanzas Issue 1936, Photogravure Wmk. Wavy Lines (229) Perf. 12.5 Triumph of the Revolution 1936 E8 E9 25
Postage Due Stamps Issued under United States Administration Postage Due Stamps of the United States Nos. J38 J39, J41, and J42 Surcharged in Black like Nos. 221-226A 1899, Wmk. 191, Perf. 12 5c on 5c deep claret 10c on 10c deep claret J1 J2 J3 J4 Issues of the Republic 1914, Engraved, Unwmk, Perf. 12 2c carmine rose 5c carmine rose J5 J6 J7 1927-1928 1c rose red 2c rose red 5c rose red J8 J9 J10 26
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10c blue Cuba Imperforate Pairs 1867 20c green 28a 12c red lilac 1871 29a 25c ultramarine 50a 50c grey green 51a 1p pale brown 52a 53a 1873 50c brown 56a 1874 1p carmine 62a 29
12 1/2c light violet Cuba 1875 25c ultramarine 63a 64a 50c blue green 50c ultramarine 65a 1876 1p black 69a 12 1/2c grey 1877 70a 25c dark green 72a 73a 50c black 74a 30
5c blue 1878 10c black 76a 12 1/2c brown bistre 77a 25c deep green 78b 50c dark blue green 79a 1p carmine 80a 81a 1879 25c ultramarine 85b 31
1c ultramarine Cuba 1890-1897 2c rose 134a 2 1/2c lilac 138a 5c emerald 142a 10c claret 145a 20c red brown 148a 1c blue green 1926 152a 2c bright rose 280 281 5c deep blue 282 32
Cuba Puerto Principe Identification Page The small letters in brackets next to the denomenation represent the overprint variety as above The numbers next to the colour as in 'pos1, pos2' etc. represent the position of the overprint For further information regarding this issue, many web sites and the Scott United States Specialized Catalogue provide useful information As this page is purely optional, it is placed at the end for easy printing. 33