c.1909 Cuba Mambises Postcard – Cuban Liberation Army Soldiers – Matanzas to USA

This historic postcard was mailed from Cuba to Frank M. Taylor at 1035 Walnut Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA.

The card retains its original Cuban 1 Centavo green postage stamp depicting the Statue of Christopher Columbus, together with a February 2 postal cancellation. The postal markings and handwritten notation are consistent with Matanzas, Cuba, and the card appears to date to approximately 1909.

The dramatic color image depicts a long formation of Cuban soldiers, or mambises, riding and marching through a palm-lined Cuban landscape—a striking representation of the Ejército Libertador associated with Cuba's struggle for independence from Spain.

Details:
Cuba, early 20th century
Circa 1909
Color lithographic/printed postcard
Spanish and English caption
Cuban 1 Centavo Columbus postage stamp
Postally used
Sent to Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA
Approx. 13.7 × 8.8 cm

Condition: Antique used condition with expected age-related wear, corner and edge wear, handwriting, postal cancellation, toning and minor surface marks. The color image remains attractive and the original Cuban postage stamp is still attached. Please examine photographs for condition.

An evocative piece of early Cuban postal, military and independence history.