Cuba was one of the last outposts of the slave trade and suffered a civil war in 1868-78. Further insurrection occasioned an American naval presence to protect US interests and lives. An explosion aboard the USS Maine in Havana harbour on 15 February 1898 sparked the Spanish-American War.

Spanish P0 in Havana first used handstamps in 1768 and perhaps earlier. Havana was on the main route for Spanish imperial packets from this time. By 1840 there were 28 offices using special handstruck markings.

About 1840 the British POs in Havana and St Jago de Cuba began to use crowned circle paid markings and these continued until British stamps were brought into use in 1866 (Havana - C58 and St Jago C88).

First stamps issued in April 1855; jointly valid in Puerto Rico but Cuba had its own separate issues from 1873. In 1862 there was a French PA in Santiago de Cuba and from 1865 in Havana. Both the British and French agencies were closed in 1877 when Spain's colonies joined the UPU.

Following the Spanish-American War, Cuba came under US control until 1902, though during this period an independent republic was declared which Spain was forced to recognize on 21 February 1901. It remained politically turbulent and was reoccupied by the Americans in 1906-9. By 1938 there were 634 POs.

Cuba became a Communist republic in 1959, but the US still maintains a base at Guantanamo which uses a Forces P0.