Cuba #164 King Alfonso XIII - 1898 Mint Never-Hinged Issue

One of the final issues of Cuba under Spanish dominion, this stamp pictures a pre-teen King Alfonso XIII, who became King of Spain upon his birth. In an attempt to end the Cuban independence movement, Spain granted autonomy to Cuba in 1898, but this ended when Spain lost the Spanish-American War and the United States took possession of the island, ending the stamp’s brief time of usage. (Cuba #164)