page_title: Postage stamps and postal history of Cuba
section_title: First stamps and postal stationery
hierarchical_section_title: Postage stamps and postal history of Cuba / First stamps and postal stationery
caption_attribution_description: English: 1855 Stamp of Cuba with 1st Portrait of Isabel II Français&#160;: Timbre de 1/2 real bleu-vert des Antilles espagnoles, c-à-d Cuba et Puerto-Rico en 1855. Yvert N°1.
context_page_description: This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Cuba.
  Cuba is an island country in the Caribbean Sea. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital.
context_section_description: The first stamps of Cuba were issues for the Spanish West Indies, for use in both Cuba and Puerto Rico, issued in April, 1855. These stamps are referred to as the "Antilles". At first, Isabella II had her portrait on all regular issues until her abdication in 1868.
  Cuba had separate stamps from 1873. Postage stamps continued to be labeled only "ULTRAMAR" (overseas) until the word CUBA appeared for the first time in 1877. The portrait of Alfonso XII adorned the stamps from 1876 until 1890, some three years after his posthumously born successor, Alfonso XIII, assumed the throne under Regency status, and had his portrait instead. This depicted a baby whose hairline was considerably receded and thus earned the irreverent nickname of el pelón (baldie).  Finally, in 1898, a youth with tousled hair appears.
  Postal cards for Cuba were printed in Spain and sent to their colonies in 1878. With the war of independence for Cuba, the United States intervened from 1898 to 1902. At that time, stamped envelopes and newspaper wrappers became available to the residents of Cuba.
caption: An 1855 stamp depicting the portrait of Isabel II.
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