The Republic of Cuba has been a member of the Universal Postal Union since 1902. Cuba's first postage stamps were joint issues with Puerto Rico, issued in April 1855. This release is called "Antillean". At first, all standard stamps featured a portrait of Isabella II before her abdication in 1868. The inscriptions on colonial postage stamps read: “Correos” (“Mail”), “Plata” (“Silver”), “Ultramar” (“Overseas Possessions”). Since 1873, separate stamps of the Spanish colonial administration began to be issued for Cuba. However, until 1876 they retained the inscription “ULTRAMAR” (“Overseas Territory”); the word “CUBA” (“Cuba”) first appeared on postage stamps in 1877.