Lenticular (stereo-vario) pocket calendar, 1987 — Soviet export for the Cuban (Spanish-language) market

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Lenticular ("stereo-vario") pocket calendar, 1987 — Soviet export for the Cuban (Spanish-language) market

Entry/Object ID

2025.11.34

Description

Small rectangular lenticular pocket-calendar card with rounded corners and a finely ribbed lens surface. The picture side flips between two interlaced frames: (1) a three-masted, square-rigged sailing ship under full pale-yellow sail on blue swells; (2) three cartoon children riding in an inverted umbrella used as a boat — one standing and pointing ahead while gripping the umbrella's hooked handle as a mast — over the same stylized waves. The umbrella handle "ghosts" faintly through the sky of the ship frame, confirming the two images share a single interlaced lens. The reverse carries a printed 1987 calendar: twelve months in Spanish (enero–diciembre) in four rows of three, weekday columns lettered L M M J V S D (lunes–domingo, week beginning Monday), with Sundays/holidays in red, all within a dotted diamond border.

Acquisition

Accession

2025.11

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Made/Created

Manufacturer

VBPK

Date made

1986

Time Period

1980s

Place

Country

U.S.S.R.

Region

Eastern Europe

Continent

Europe

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Notes

Reverse — "© Hecho en la URSS · VBPK" and "1987" (red); full Spanish monthly grid with L M M J V S D weekday initials. Picture side — none.

Materials

Material Notes

Materials: Lithographically printed paper/card laminated to a ribbed plastic (acrylic) lenticular lens sheet; verso offset-printed in black and red on the paper backing. Technique: Lenticular ("stereo-vario"/переливной) flip printing on the obverse; two-color (black and red) offset lithography for the calendar grid on the verso.

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Relationships

Related Places

Place

Country

U.S.S.R.

Region

Eastern Europe

Continent

Europe

Notes

production

Research Notes

Notes

The paired frames read as a "reality/imagination" conceit — children in a makeshift umbrella-boat picturing themselves aboard a grand tall ship — a common device for flip lenticulars. The specific source (a particular cartoon or illustrated tale) is unidentified

Notes

The Spanish-language imprint "Hecho en la URSS" paired with an all-Spanish calendar establishes this as a Soviet export novelty made for the Spanish-speaking (Cuban) market.

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

December 29, 2025

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 18, 2026