Stamp Investment Tip: Cuba 1953 Airliner Issue (Scott #C75-78)

In 1953, Cuba issued a set of four airmail stamps picturing Lockheed Constellation Airliners (Scott #C75-78). Only 10,000 sets were issued, and Scott '10 prices the unused set at $ 86.00 . Many of the sets were used as postage and discarded, as the 2p and 5p high values were used for shipping packages to the U.S..


This is one of many scarce issues of Cuba which should be targeted for investment. I believe it inevitable that Cuba will join the fold of more-or-less free nations, and that tourism and trade will explode as a result. Currently, the average wage of each of the 11 1/2 million people living in this "socialist utopia" is under $20 per month, and GDP per capita is 107th in the world. Annual GDP growth has been high, averaging 6.4% over the last 5 years, but given the levels of corruption and favoritism shown to high ranking Communist Party members, it's an open question whether much of that new wealth has been filtering downward. Eventually, something will have to give.


The current market for Cuban stamps, especially of the Pre-Castro Period, is bolstered by interest of stamp collectors within Cuban-American community, currently about 1.6 million strong, and far wealthier than their compatriots on the island. Interest in Cuban stamps is likely to increase, especially given the likely prospect of a replacement of the stale, "gerontocratic" regime within a decade or so.

Stamp Investment Tip: Cuba 1898 Alfonso XIII Issue (Scott #156-75)

I view many of the early sets of Spain's former colonies as grossly undervalued, and highly recommend the purchase of an Edifil Catalog of Spain and Dependencies, which notes printing quantities for many of these issues.

One such set was issued by Cuba around the time of the Spanish-American War. The 1898 Alfonso XIII issue, a set of definitives featuring the boy king, had a printing of only 10,000, and has a current Scott Value of $ 89.95 for an unused set. It may be unavailable in Never Hinged condition, so aim for a nice LH set or a sound used one.

Cuba is very interesting from the point of view of philatelic history, initially having issued stamps as a Spanish Colony, then under U.S. Administration, and finally, as a republic, with importation of unused stamps of the Castro period currently prohibited by a U.S. embargo. I think it inevitable that friendly relations between the U.S. and Cuba will eventually be restored, allowing fat American tourists and new wealth to flow into the island. Even without that catalyst, however, the set should rise, as it has a dual market, and is sought by collectors of both Cuba and Spanish Colonies.