Stamp Collecting Cuba Appraisal

Cuba 1971 Apicultura (Beekeeping) Postage Stamp Set

This is a set of five vertical postage stamps from Cuba, issued in 1971 as part of a series dedicated to Apicultura (Beekeeping). Each stamp is printed on paper with a distinctive light sage green background and features detailed anatomical or behavioral illustrations related to honey bees. The denominations visible represent the 1c, 3c, 9c, 13c, and 30c values. The 1c stamp illustrates the bee life cycle from egg to pupa; the 3c and 9c show worker bees; the 13c depicts a mating pair or swarming behavior; and the 30c features the queen bee. Each stamp includes the country name 'CUBA' and 'CORREOS 1971' at the top, 'APICULTURA' at the bottom left, and the numeric denomination at the bottom right. The stamps are perforated on all four sides. The condition appears to be 'Used' or 'Canceled-to-Order' (CTO), as several stamps exhibit visible circular postal cancellations in black ink, most notably across the 9c, 13c, and 30c examples. The printing quality is characteristic of mid-20th-century Cuban commemorative issues, utilizing a multi-color lithographic process to achieve scientific accuracy in the bee's stripes and wing venation. No significant tears are visible, though some minor edge softening is present on the perforations.