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World Definitive Issues

Article 193: Cuba First Issue 1 Real Value

Most blocks of this stamp are pen-cancelled. This cancellation was applied when these stamps were used to pay for newspaper subscriptions, and also when they were voided in 1864. Here is an irregulat block of 11 of the 1855 1Real on bluish paper.
Below is a detail from the specimen in the first row, first column. Notice the design is mostly missing lower right corner.
Below left is a detail from the specimen in the first row, second column. This specimen bears a long vertical scratch in the design. Below right is a detail from the specimen in the second row, fourth column. This specimen has two small breaks under the R of 1RL.
Here is a vertical block of six of the 1855 1Real on bluish paper.
Below is a detail from the specimen in the second row, second column. Notice the design is missing a pearl.
Below is a detail from the specimen in the third row, first column. Notice the design is missing several pearls.
Here is a block of four of the 1855 1Real on white paper.
Below is a detail from the specimen in the first row, second column. Notice the design is missing almost all of the lower outer line.

Information about the stamps in this issue may be found in the following articles (including the present one):

1: The Color Varieties of the Cuba 1855 1/2 Real: A brief look at the bluish and white paper color varieties.

36 (Postal History Part 1): Some of these stamps were also used in other Spanish Colonies; only the Cuban usages are discussed here, with the exception of one cover used in Puerto Rico. This article is divided into three major sections:
1. Covers with the 1855 and 1856 Baeza postmarks.
2. Covers with smaller postmarks of varying design.
3. Covers from the 1860s with the small, and final postmarks.
A very interesting characteristic of postal history before the invention of the envelope is that the letter is almost always preserved with the cover. I find no better way to place these stamps in their times than to include a family letter from 1856 with a poignant and interesting tale.

136: Cuba 1855-1863 Half Real I have previously shown the color varieties of the 1855 half real. I expand here by adding some larger images for the 1855 printings, and many more from the later printings, including many plate varieties. Quick links: main page / 1855 Blue Paper / 1855 White Paper / 1856 / 1857-61 Dirty Plate / Postal Forgeries / Plate Varieties main page : CORRFOS / CORRFOS detailed image / Early line breaks / Late line breaks / Plate Wear / 1862 Cleaned Plate

 

 

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