Tourism coaster, Varadero (Cuba), with Neptune emblem

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Tourism coaster, "Varadero" (Cuba), with Neptune emblem

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.304

Description

Round pressed-pulpboard coaster printed in two blues on a tan ground. The central figure is a stylized Neptune/Poseidon — crowned and bearded, holding a trident, with a scaled fish-tail lower body rising from stylized waves. To the upper left is the lowercase rounded "cuba" tourism wordmark (darker blue); across the foot, "VARADERO" in bold dark-blue capitals. The board is toned and fibrous with scattered staining. Three count.

Context

A tourism/souvenir coaster for Varadero, the long beach peninsula on the north coast (Matanzas province) that is Cuba's premier seaside resort destination. It uses the national lowercase "cuba" tourism wordmark of the INIT/Cubatur era, paired with a Neptune sea-god device fitting the beach/marine theme. It sits with the collection's Cuban tourism coasters (Playas del Este, La Bodeguita del Medio) as part of the state tourism sector's promotional/hospitality material.

Collection

The Cabrera Arús family collection, Leopoldo Arús Gálvez collection

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Made/Created

Place

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

Source: Cuban state tourism promotion for Varadero (INIT/Cubatur-era national branding); printer unidentified. Date: undetermined; tentatively 1970s–1980s (the "cuba" tourism wordmark and graphic style). Not closely datable. Place: Cuba (Varadero, Matanzas).

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Location

Front of Coaster

Transcription

Cuba Varadero

Dimensions

Diameter

10.5 cm

Materials

Material

Cardboard

Material Notes

Pressed wood-pulp coaster board; blue printing inks (two shades).

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Leopoldo Arús Gálvez

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

use

Place

City

Varadero

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

imagery

Web Links and URLs

Varadero Information

Research Notes

Notes

Sources: the object; the lowercase "cuba" wordmark corresponds to the national tourism branding of the INIT/Cubatur era; Varadero is Cuba's principal beach resort (Matanzas province).

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

May 23, 2022

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 18, 2026