Cuba 1888 Bisected 10 Centavos Stamp on Cover

Cuba · 1888 · 5 centavos

The stamp features the right half of a green 10 centavos stamp, depicting a portrait of a young monarch, bisected for use as a 5 centavos denomination. It is affixed to an envelope with a Havana backstamp from September 20, 1888.

This bisected stamp illustrates a period of stamp shortage in Cuba, where a 10 centavos stamp was provisionally cut in half to serve as a 5 centavos denomination. Such postal necessities provide valuable insight into the challenges of mail service in the late 19th century.