1916 Matanzas Promissory Note for $862.78 in “Oro Americano,” Payable August 11, 1917, with Cuban Revenue Stamps

On offer is a handwritten and partially printed promissory note (pagaré) issued in Matanzas, Cuba, dated August 13, 1916, recording a short-term credit obligation of $862.78, payable on August 11, 1917, to the order of Sr. Manuel de Ajuria.

The obligation is written both numerically and in full [“ochocientos sesenta y dos pesos con 78/100”], and the document is executed in manuscript by Laurentino García, noted as administrator.

The printed form specifies payment in “oro americano,” reflecting the monetary environment of early Republican Cuba, in which U.S. gold-standard currency functioned as a stable unit of account in commercial agreements and credit instruments.

The note bears two affixed Cuban revenue stamps canceled in ink, indicating compliance with fiscal regulations governing negotiable instruments. A rectangular ink stamp from Matanzas [“B.N. de C.”] and additional manuscript endorsements appear on the face, consistent with handling, validation, or circulation.

Promissory notes of this type formed a standard component of commercial and private credit practice in early 20th-century Cuba. This example is notable for preserving the full structure of the instrument: printed form, manuscript execution, stamped taxation, stated maturity, and explicit currency clause.

Condition: Single sheet on printed form with manuscript entries. Moderate to heavy age toning, with fold lines, staining, and handling wear. Revenue stamps intact and well adhered; all text remains legible.