Lot
1551 
Cuba, 1864 (Mar. 18) Havana, Cuba to Santander, Spain, datelined folded letter bearing 1r green, two pairs, large margins, tied by oval grid cancels, partial "Habana, 18 Mar 64" cds, carried as endorsed by Antonio Lopez y Cia. "Espana", partial Santander (4.14) arrival backstamp, Very Fine, prepaid at the 4r quadruple rate for up to 2 ounces. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $280
Lot
1552
Cuba, 1865 (Aug. 15) Havana, Cuba to Bilbao, Spain, cover bearing two 1864, ½r green (18) pairs, large margins, tied by grid cancels, matching indistinct Habana (8.15) origin cds, carried by Antonio Lopez y Cia. Hamburgo, fresh and Very Fine, prepaid at the 4r quadruple rate for up to 2 ounces. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $150
Lot
1553
Cuba, 1866 (Oct. 15) Havana, Cuba to Bilbao, Spain, cover bearing 10c blue (24) strip of four, tied by oval grid cancels, carried by Antonio Lopex y Cia. Infanta Isabel, Bilboa (11.12) arrival backstamp; light horizontal bend, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $160
Lot
1554
Cuba, 1874 (Jun. 10) Havana, Cuba to Rivadeo, Spain, folded cover bearing 1871, 12c red lilac (50) tied by oval grid cancel, partial Havana (6.10) origin cds, carried by Antonio Lopez y Cia. Santander, Rivadeo arrival backstamp; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine. Estimate $500 - 750.
THE ONLY RECORDED PRINTED MATTER USE FROM CUBA TO SPAIN BEARING THE 1871 ESPANA ISSUE.
Lot
1555
Cuba, 1876 (Jan. 1) Havana, Cuba to Paris, France via New York, part-printed folded circular with blue "Nagel & Co., Havana, ENE 1, 1876" double-oval, perfect bold strike of black "New York, Jan 6" exchange cds and matching "T" in circle handstamp with blue crayon "10" centimes due rating (2¢), Paris (1.18) arrival backstamp, French red manuscript "20c" due rating, Extremely Fine and choice, This circular was due at the 20c printed matter rate. Estimate $150 - 200.
This cover was sent unpaid during the time when the United States already belonged to the GPU, but Cuba did not. New York debited France 10 centimes for transit fees owed to the U.S. The postage due in France for a letter would have been 8 decimes, however this was rate 20 centimes for the printed matter rate of 2-4 ounces.
Realized: $200
Lot
1556
Cuba, (UPU) 1877, 1878 Havana, Cuba to France via New York, paid and unpaid covers, 1877 (Oct. 6) with "B. Gerding, Habana, Oct 6, 1877" double-oval on unpaid folded letter to Cognac, France, "New York, Oct 11" duplex with "Havana Transit" and matching "T" in circle handstamp, blue Cherbourg (10.23) entry cds and "7" decimes due rating handstamp, other 1878 (Dec. 5) Havana cover to Bordeaux, France bearing 50c dark blue green (80) tied by circular of wedges prepaying up to 15 gr, red "Union-Pays d'outrem, Le Havre" (12.26) entry cds, Very Fine pair. Estimate $300 - 400.
On May 1sy 1877, Spain and it colonies finally joined the GPU and for the first time the word Cuba appeared on stamps. Cuba listed to use the same rates as the United States.
Realized: $200