OUR MAN IN CUBA – FEDERACION FILATELICA CUBANA BUILDING HAVANA, CUBA by Greg Robinson.

The Federacion Filatelica Cubana Building in Havana, featured on a stamp issued in 1957, is located a world away from the tourist areas. The building now looks as rundown as the rest of the city. The local streets feature potholes, which sometimes seem as big as moon craters.

You enter a very large room as you enter the building. There are many large tables, which facilitate the review of albums, etc. Chairs line the barren walls. A small office in the back of the room is where buyers complete their transactions.

I usually make two visits during a trip to Havana. The first visit is to notify the sellers that I am in Havana, and make appointments for my second visit. Merchandise for sale usually includes loose stamps, entire stamp collections, post cards, covers, coins (including gold), currency, medals, cigar bands, etc. The merchandise is from both pre and post 1959 eras.

Some of the merchandise is worthy of exhibition, and some is of lesser value. Sellers will patiently line up outside the office door. I always endeavor to buy something from everyone, since everyone appears to have the need of extra funds to merely survive. I always bring a supply of surplus stamps, postcards, covers, stamp and coin magazines, for the use of the members.

The building itself is not a government store. It appears to be run by the Federacion Filatelica members. Like the Freemasons, some non-government groups appear to be tolerated if they are non political. However, the Cuban Government does run the Museo Filatelica, located next to the Plaza de la Revolucion and the Jose Marti Monument. This building includes a permanent stamp exhibition and a store where one can purchase new stamps and first day covers. The Cuban Government also runs the Museo Numismatico in old Havana, where one can purchase new coins and currency