Spanish Cuba 1894 Newspaper stamps / complete set
The Spanish Cuba 1894 definitive set is a fascinating snapshot of colonial philatelic history. It was issued during the final years of Spain’s control over the island, just right before the outbreak of the Cuban War of Independence in 1895.
The Design: “El Pelón”
Every stamp in this definitive series features a left-facing profile portrait of the boy-king Alfonso XIII. Because he was born a king (his father passed away before his birth), early Spanish colonial stamps feature him as a toddler or young child.
Spanish collectors affectionately call this specific design “El Pelón” (The Baldy or The Fleeced One) due to the fine, sparse baby hair on his head.
The 1894 Set Checklist
The 1894 series consists of 18 different denominations ranging from fractions of a centavo for newspapers up to a full peso for heavy packages. They all share the same layout but change drastically in color:
| Denomination | Color | Scott Catalogue # |
| 1/2m (milésima) | Pale Blue | #156 |
| 1m (milésima) | Dark Violet | #157 |
| 2m (milésima) | Claret | #158 |
| 3m (milésima) | Dark Blue | #159 |
| 4m (milésima) | Bright Green | #160 |
| 1c (centavo) | Emerald Green | #161 |
| 2c (centavo) | Rose-red | #162 |
| 2 ½c (centavo) | Lavender | #163 |
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.