9/16/2025
Postage stamp dedicated to Cuba presented at the Museum of Books and Travel
The personalized postage stamp "Cuba Collection" was presented at the Museum of Book and Travel of the Adligat Society in Belgrade, on the occasion of the 66th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution.
The Director of the Museum of Book and Travel Viktor Lazić, the Minister of Information and Telecommunications of Serbia Boris Bratina, the Ambassador of Cuba to Belgrade, H.E. Leyde Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández, and the Acting Director of the Post of Serbia Zoran Anđelković spoke about the traditional closeness and friendly relations between the two countries, the celebration of the anniversary and the symbolism of the issue.
The Cuban collection of books, philately and numismatics, which is the heritage of the Adligat’s Museum of Book and Travel, is the largest collection of its kind in ten countries of Southeast Europe, while the philately collection with more than ten thousand postage stamps and numerous copies of first and rare issues is of particular importance, explained the director of the Museum and host of the ceremony, Viktor Lazić.
Lazić said: “The collection, which is rare in the world, was started by Milorad Lazić in the early 1960s, when relations between Yugoslavia and Cuba were at their peak, and was continued to be supplemented by his son Branislav Lazić, and then by his grandson Viktor Lazić.” He added that he believes that the personalized postage stamp will contribute to the Serbian, Cuban and world public becoming better acquainted with the extremely valuable “Cuba Collection” in Adligat.
Zoran Anđelković expressed his satisfaction that the Post of Serbia, in honour of the exceptional relations between Serbia and Cuba, symbolically contributed to the celebration of the anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, as one of the most significant historical dates and milestones for Cuba and all of Latin America. “I am extremely glad that there are associations like Adligat, which preserve the treasures not only of our country, but also of other countries and peoples, which is an important bond of friendly relations. This is an undertaking that deserves respect and I would like to congratulate the Adligat Society on it”, said Anđelković.
"I am deeply grateful that the Cuban collection at Adligat is presented in a new light on this occasion, on the occasion of the 66th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, while internationally, throughout the world, until 2026, we will mark the centenary of the birth of the historical leader of our revolution and the founder of our revolution, Fidel Castro", said the Cuban Ambassador H.E. Leyde Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández.
The issue, explained Ambassador Rodríguez Hernández, features the collection's motifs and the national Cuban bird, the Tocororo (Cuban trogon), which is the most beautiful bird of Cuba and a symbol of the state and freedom, thanks to its bright plumage and resilience in captivity. "The green colour of the feathers is reminiscent of the Cuban countryside, its white chest, red belly and blue feathers on the head reflect the colours of the Cuban flag", said the ambassador.
Ambassador Rodríguez Hernández, who is soon completing his mission in the Republic of Serbia, thanked the organizers of the issue, the Aligat Society, the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, the Post of Serbia, the PTT Museum and Srbijamarka, the Government of Serbia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministries of Culture, Sports and Education, for their philatelic contribution and good cooperation.
The artistic realization of the issue of the personalized postage stamp "Cuban Collection" is the work of Jakša Vlahović and Anamari Banjac, creators of the stamps for the Post of Serbia.