Cuba Material collection · Colección Cuba Material

Powered by CatalogIt · Gestionada con CatalogIt

Catalog

Go back

Retail

objects primarily produced for the retail activity

"Álbum Zoológico" — collectible postalita album (Ediciones Mariví)

"Álbum Zoológico" — collectible postalita album (Ediciones Mariví)

Publication

Landscape-format saddle-stitched paper album for Cuban postalitas (collectible trading cards), into which a numbered series of animal cards was pasted on interior text pages. Front cover bears a color-illustrated zoo scene — antlered and leaping deer/antelope on a rocky outcrop above a zoo path with strolling visitors and a background tower — beneath the display title. Back cover carries a marine illustration (large shark, free diver with speared fish, reef fish, octopus, coral) representing the album's aquarium section. The published series comprised 192 numbered cards spanning mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and birds drawn from Havana's zoo and aquarium (per cataloged series description).

Banknote, 1 Peso, Banco Nacional de Cuba, Series 1961 — SPECIMEN

Banknote, 1 Peso, Banco Nacional de Cuba, Series 1961 — SPECIMEN

Banknote

One-peso note, obverse with portrait of José Martí in an oval wreath, "UN PESO" flanking; diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint across the face. Reverse depicts the rebel army's entry into Havana ("Entrada a La Habana, 8 de enero de 1959"). Non-circulating specimen example.

Box of "Casino" Nylon 40 socks (medias/calcetines), price $1.00

Box of "Casino" Nylon 40 socks (medias/calcetines), price $1.00

Clothing/Dress/Costume

Shallow rectangular box for a pair of men's nylon socks. The lid is covered in green flocked (velveteen) paper framing an inset gold foil/metallic label printed "Casino" (script) over "Nylon 60," with a shield trademark enclosing a winged foot and "TRADE MARK." The lower front edge of the box is embossed/printed "10½ MARRÓN" (size 10½; color brown). One end panel carries a small applied foil price sticker, maroon with gold border, reading "Nylon-40 / $1.00." The flocking is worn and the box is split/bumped at the near corner. The socks are not visible; contents not confirmed.

Box of "Casino" Nylon 60 socks (medias/calcetines), size 10½, brown – empty

Box of "Casino" Nylon 60 socks (medias/calcetines), size 10½, brown – empty

Clothing/Dress/Costume

Shallow rectangular box for a pair of men's nylon socks. The lid is covered in green flocked (velveteen) paper framing an inset gold foil/metallic label printed "Casino" (script) over "Nylon 60," with a shield trademark enclosing a winged foot and "TRADE MARK." The lower front edge of the box is embossed/printed "10½ MARRÓN" (size 10½; color brown). The flocking is rubbed and soiled, the foil label toned.

Coin, 1 Peso, República de Cuba, 1989 ("Patria o Muerte" star type)

Coin, 1 Peso, República de Cuba, 1989 ("Patria o Muerte" star type)

Coin

Cuban 1-peso circulating coin. Obverse (image 1): the Cuban national coat-of-arms (shield with royal palm, key over the strait, and rising sun, backed by fasces and crowned with a Phrygian cap), flanked by an oak branch and a laurel branch, with the legend "REPÚBLICA DE CUBA" above and "UN PESO" below. Reverse (image 2): a large five-pointed star over a radiant/sunburst field, the legend "PATRIA O MUERTE" above and the date "1989" below.

Coin, 3 Kopeks, USSR (Soviet Union), 1972

Coin, 3 Kopeks, USSR (Soviet Union), 1972

Coin

Soviet aluminum-bronze 3-kopek circulating coin. Obverse: the USSR state emblem — hammer and sickle over a globe with radiating sun, flanked by wheat ears bound with ribbons and surmounted by a star — above the legend "СССР" (USSR). Reverse: large numeral "3" over "КОПЕЙКИ" (kopeks) and the date "1972," within a wreath of wheat.

Coin, 5 Kopeks, USSR (Soviet Union), 1979

Coin, 5 Kopeks, USSR (Soviet Union), 1979

Coin

Soviet aluminum-bronze 5-kopek circulating coin. Reverse: large numeral "5" over "КОПЕЕК" (kopeks) and the date "1979," within a wreath of wheat and oak. Obverse: the USSR state emblem — hammer and sickle over a globe with radiating sun, flanked by wheat ears with ribbons, surmounted by a star — above the legend "СССР" (USSR).

Cuba 1‑peso coin, 1986

Cuba 1‑peso coin, 1986

Coin

Circular brass‑colored coin. Reverse (image 1): a five‑pointed star over a radiating sunburst, encircled by the legend "PATRIA O MUERTE," with the date "1986" below. Obverse (image 2): the Cuban national coat of arms (shield with key, rising sun, royal palm) flanked by oak and laurel branches, the legend "REPÚBLICA DE CUBA" above and the denomination "UN PESO" below. Beaded/dentil border both sides.

Cuba 20‑centavos coin, 1962

Cuba 20‑centavos coin, 1962

Coin

Circular brass‑colored coin. Obverse (image 1): left‑facing bust of José Martí, with the legend "PATRIA O MUERTE" arched above and the date "1962" at lower left. Reverse (image 2): the Cuban national coat of arms (shield with key, rising sun, royal palm) flanked by oak and laurel branches, with the legend "REPÚBLICA DE CUBA" above and the denomination "VEINTE CENTAVOS" below. Beaded/dentil border both sides.

Cuba 20‑centavos coin, 1969

Cuba 20‑centavos coin, 1969

Coin

Circular silver‑colored coin. Reverse (image 1): a five‑pointed star with a central raised disc bearing the Roman numeral "XX," over the legend "PATRIA O MUERTE" above and the date "1969" below. Obverse (image 2): the Cuban national coat of arms (shield with key, rising sun, royal palm) flanked by oak and laurel branches, with the legend "REPÚBLICA DE CUBA" above and the denomination "VEINTE CENTAVOS" below. Beaded/dentil border both sides.

Cuba 40‑centavos coin, 1962 (Camilo Cienfuegos)

Cuba 40‑centavos coin, 1962 (Camilo Cienfuegos)

Coin

Circular silver‑gray coin. Obverse (image 1): right‑facing bearded bust of Camilo Cienfuegos, with the legend "PATRIA O MUERTE" arched above and the date "1962" at left. Reverse (image 2): the Cuban national coat of arms (shield with key, rising sun, royal palm) flanked by oak and laurel branches, with the legend "REPÚBLICA DE CUBA" above and the denomination "CUARENTA CENTAVOS" below. Beaded/dentil border both sides.

Cuba INTUR 5‑centavos tourist coin, 1981 (Polymita snail)

Cuba INTUR 5‑centavos tourist coin, 1981 (Polymita snail)

Coin

Circular brass‑colored coin. One face (image 1): a coiled land‑snail shell (Cuban Polymita) in relief, encircled by the legend "INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE TURISMO," with "1981 · CUBA" below. Other face (image 2): the INTUR logo — a stylized royal palm above a boat/horizon device with "INTUR" lettering — over the denomination "CINCO CENTAVOS." Plain raised rim both sides.

Cuban ration booklet — "Control de Ventas para Productos Alimenticios" (Comercio Interior), núcleo No. 798

Cuban ration booklet — "Control de Ventas para Productos Alimenticios" (Comercio Interior), núcleo No. 798

Object/Artifact

Landscape-format paperbound libreta with a buff card cover printed in black. Upper left: an abstract square logo with comercio interior (lowercase); upper right: NUCLEO No. 798 (798 handwritten in red) in a ruled box; a horizontal rule; then CONTROL DE VENTAS PARA / PRODUCTOS ALIMENTICIOS; and at the foot, ESTA LIBRETA NO CONSTITUYE UN DOCUMENTO DE IDENTIFICACION. No year printed on the cover. Interior not imaged.

Cuban ration booklet — "Productos Alimenticios 1969–1970," Habana Metropolitana (MINCIN)

Cuban ration booklet — "Productos Alimenticios 1969–1970," Habana Metropolitana (MINCIN)

Object/Artifact

A small landscape-format paperbound booklet (libreta / control booklet for rationed foodstuffs) with a buff card cover printed in red and black. Upper left: the ministry's MCI logo (a diamond device) with GOBIERNO REVOLUCIONARIO / MINISTERIO DEL COMERCIO INTERIOR. Center: the title PRODUCTOS ALIMENTICIOS in shaded display type, the period 1969-1970 in red, and HABANA METROPOLITANA in red. A handwritten "70" sits in the upper-right corner; the booklet is thread/staple-bound at the right edge.

Gift presentation box, "Felicidades," with firework/pinwheel print (empty)

Gift presentation box, "Felicidades," with firework/pinwheel print (empty)

Object/Artifact

Two-piece rigid paperboard set-up box (separate lift-off lid over a base/tray), rectangular, covered inside and out with cream paper printed with a repeating radiating "firework/pinwheel" (Catherine-wheel) motif alternating magenta/pink and blue. The lid rests askew over the base, which holds loosely crumpled white tissue paper (original packing). On the lid is a torn remnant of a small red/maroon printed paper seal reading "Felicidades." Surfaces show heavy age soiling, water-staining, and scattered brown foxing.

Improvised LP sleeve

Improvised LP sleeve

Object/Artifact

A square record sleeve in a muted greenish-tan/kraft tone, hand-fashioned rather than commercially manufactured — apparently cut and folded from a paper bag. The lower corners are folded in diagonally and a serrated/zigzag line runs across the lower portion, consistent with a refolded bag and/or its original glued or pinked seam. The left side carries two parallel vertical strips of gummed kraft paper tape, plus a third diagonal strip near the lower-left corner, applied as reinforcement/repair. The surface is heavily creased and wrinkled throughout. Faint markings are present in the center-left area but are illegible. There is no printed cover art, title, or label; this improvised wrapper served as the LP's sole jacket.

Libreta de Productos Industriales (Cuban industrial-goods / clothing ration book), 1989 — two examples with repurposed postcard covers

Libreta de Productos Industriales (Cuban industrial-goods / clothing ration book), 1989 — two examples with repurposed postcard covers

Object/Artifact

Small stapled booklet issued by MINCIN for the rationed purchase of industrial products (clothing, footwear, a few appliances, and once-yearly children's toys). Interior pages carry perforated tear-off coupons coded H-11 through H-24 (and a numbered control grid), each marked "SERIE 1989," with a green sun emblem; printed consumer instructions ("AL CONSUMIDOR" / "ADVERTENCIA") and the issuing-ministry address appear on an inside page. Each of the two booklets is sheathed in a protective cover hand-cut from a Cuban tourist postcard, with the holder's name inked on the front. Multiples — two booklets: 1- Rafael García; cover Hotel Habana Riviera card (trilingual; "Cuba alegre como su sol" series); handwritten poem/dedication to "Madre" inside 2- Neida Céspedes; cover red-flowers (cactus-dahlia) card

Lottery savings-bond ticket (bono), INAV — Sorteo No. 67, 9 July 1960

Lottery savings-bond ticket (bono), INAV — Sorteo No. 67, 9 July 1960

Banknote

Printed paper lottery/savings-bond fraction (a centésima — one-hundredth part of a bono) issued by the Instituto Nacional de Ahorro y Viviendas, República de Cuba, on a green guilloché security ground. Front: header "REPÚBLICA DE CUBA / INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE AHORRO Y VIVIENDAS"; upper-left value statement "VALOR NOMINAL 22¢" and "PRECIO AL PÚBLICO 25¢"; large central serial "17036," spelled out "UNO SIETE CERO TRES SEIS"; series "7ᴬ" in the upper-right panel with a stylized emblem; the word "SIETE"; and "SORTEO Nº 67 / JULIO 9, 1960." At left, a line illustration of a Modern-Movement multifamily housing block captioned "RESIDENCIAL 'NUEVO CAMAGÜEY'," the drawing signed "J. BIBILONI." Reverse: a "TABLA DE REINTEGROS PARA BONOS NO PREMIADOS" (graduated refund schedule for non-winning bonds, rising by year from 10% to 125.4%); a finance/prize breakdown (40,000 bonos at $22 = $880,000; one prize of $100,000; one prize of 10 houses at $5,000 each = $50,000; 1,000 prizes of $50 = $50,000; 7% for expenses; balance to refunds and housing); explanatory text identifying the ticket as a hundredth part of the bono for Sorteo No. 67 to be drawn in La Habana on 9 July 1960; "DIRECTOR GENERAL" with a facsimile signature; and a right-margin imprint "SORTEO No. 67 / 9 DE JULIO DE 1960." The serial number is also punch-perforated through the sheet.

Product box for Crystalex glassware

Product box for Crystalex glassware

Object/Artifact

Square set-up/folding box. The lid is covered in printed paper with a deep cobalt-blue ground and an allover pattern of silver/metallic concentric-circle ("target") motifs in a loose grid — a 1970s–80s op-art-style design. The base is unprinted kraft corrugated cardboard. A printed manufacturer's label is affixed to the underside. The box appears empty in the images; no glass object is visible. Remnants of clear tape/cellophane survive at the lid corners.

Ration book (libreta de abastecimiento) — "Control de Ventas para Productos Alimenticios," Comercio Interior

Ration book (libreta de abastecimiento) — "Control de Ventas para Productos Alimenticios," Comercio Interior

Object/Artifact

A small stapled paper booklet, the cover printed with the Comercio Interior logo and the title "CONTROL DE VENTAS PARA PRODUCTOS ALIMENTICIOS," a "NÚCLEO No." field, and the printed disclaimer "ESTA LIBRETA NO CONSTITUYE UN DOCUMENTO DE IDENTIFICACIÓN." The cover is filled in by hand in pen: the year "1981," the núcleo (household) number, a registration code, and a list of household members with accompanying figures. Heavily aged.

Retail display card for "Diamond" (Zuanshi / 钻石牌) brand stainless steel watch bands

Retail display card for "Diamond" (Zuanshi / 钻石牌) brand stainless steel watch bands

Object/Artifact

Narrow, elongated rectangular card of stiff paperboard, printed on the obverse and designed to function as a point-of-sale display and dispenser for wristwatch bands. The printed face carries a red ground with a white angular panel at the left end bearing the brand's emblem: a stylized faceted gem emitting radiating lines above the word "DIAMOND." To the right, in gold, run the brand name and product designation in Chinese characters, followed by the English line "Stainless Steel Watch Bands" in cursive script and the bilingual statement of origin. Two lengths of bent ferrous wire (of the type used as oversized paper clips) remain fixed through the card near each end; these served to retain the individual watch bands offered for sale. The bands themselves are no longer present, leaving the card as surviving packaging/merchandising material rather than a complete retail unit. The card shows heavy handling, surface soiling, fading of the red ground, and edge wear consistent with shop use and storage.

Serviguía Opina de la Ciudad de La Habana, 1988–89 (Havana services directory)

Serviguía Opina de la Ciudad de La Habana, 1988–89 (Havana services directory)

Book

Softcover services directory/guidebook for the city of Havana, cover-titled "SERVIGUIA · OPINA · DE LA CIUDAD DE LA HABANA · 88-89," priced $1.00. The interior title page reads "SERVI-GUIA OPINA — Directorio General de Servicios, Ciudad de La Habana," alphabetized by service type and street, dated Enero 1989 (edition closed 1988). Contents list state services available to Havana's population (drawn from Poder Popular and central-state organisms), with sections including emergency services ("Servicios de Urgencia" — ambulancia, bomberos, patrulla PNR, taxis, etc., illustrated with line drawings) and a consumer-education page on reading electricity meters ("No lo pierda de vista"). The back cover carries a colour advertisement for the Banco Popular de Ahorro featuring the mascot "Ahorrito" ("Asegure su deseo, INCREMENTE su cuenta de ahorro… El banco de la familia cubana"). Manuscript annotation in ink on the emergency-services page (a phone number for "Matutino").

Small decorative box with basketweave print (empty)

Small decorative box with basketweave print (empty)

Object/Artifact

Small two-piece rigid paperboard set-up box — a lift-off lid over a shallow base/tray — rectangular, covered inside and out with cream paper printed in coral/pink with a repeating basketweave (woven-square / cross-hatch) pattern. The lid is shown resting askew over the base. The interior is plain, uncoated paperboard, heavily foxed and stained. No lettering, label, or seal anywhere on the piece.

Thermoformed plastic meat/poultry packaging tray

Thermoformed plastic meat/poultry packaging tray

Object/Artifact

Rectangular shallow tray with rounded corners and a raised, stepped rim. Pale amber to ivory plastic (reads translucent-amber under direct light, opaque ivory otherwise). Floor molded with longitudinal drainage channels flanking central "ladder" rib fields (short transverse rungs) — a standard drainage/absorbent-pad layout for packaged fresh meat or poultry. Molded rectangular cartouches along the top and bottom edges carry the maker codes. Size code implies roughly 19 × 14 cm (footprint unverified — no scale in image).