Oscar B. Cintas (1887–1957): Cuban industrialist, diplomat and collector

Business career and diplomacy

Cintas developed holdings in the sugar industry and in transportation, which were central sectors of Cuba's economy during his lifetime. His standing in Cuban commercial circles led to diplomatic appointment: he served as Cuba's ambassador to the United States from 1932 to 1934. In that role he acted as a liaison between business and government interests and gained further prominence in both Havana and Washington.

Collector and benefactor

Beyond commerce, Cintas was an active collector of rare books, manuscripts and works of art. In 1949 he paid $54,000 at a public auction for what is known as the Bliss Copy of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. The Bliss Copy is one of the few signed, authorial copies of the speech, and Cintas’s acquisition drew attention in the press of the day. He later arranged for the manuscript to be given to the American people: in his will he willed the document to the United States on the condition that it be preserved and displayed at the White House.

Legacy and historical note

Cintas died in New York City in 1957. Two years later, amid the upheaval of the Cuban Revolution, properties owned by many wealthy Cubans—including holdings once associated with Cintas—were claimed by the new government. The Gettysburg Address manuscript that Cintas had purchased and bequeathed was moved to the White House in 1959 and remains part of the nation's historical holdings.

Notable facts

• Born in Sagua la Grande, Cuba, in 1887 and died in New York City in 1957.
• Combined commercial leadership in sugar and railroads with public service as ambassador (1932–34).
• Purchased the Bliss Copy of the Gettysburg Address in 1949; bequeathed it for display at the White House.
• Collecting and philanthropic interests have contributed to his continued recognition in cultural and historical circles.

Cintas occupies a place in 20th-century Cuban-American history as an example of a business leader whose cultural tastes and diplomatic roles linked private wealth to public heritage. For further reading on related topics—Cuban economic history, diplomatic relations in the interwar period, and the provenance of major American manuscripts—consult specialized sources and museum records.