10/8/2026
SRBIJAFILA XVI opened at Central Military Club of Serbia
SRBIJAFILA XVI, a national philatelic exhibition with international participation organized by the Union of Philatelists of Serbia with the support of the Post of Serbia, is open at the Central Military Club of Serbia in Belgrade until 11 October.
SRBIJAFILA XVI marks 75 years of organized exhibition philately in Serbia continuing a tradition which began in 1951 and commemorates the 160th anniversary of the printing of the first Serbian regular postage stamp featuring the image of Prince Mihailo.
Vladimir Milić, President of the Union of Philatelists of Serbia, expressed his satisfaction that the 16th exhibition was taking place after a 15-year hiatus and thanked the event's patrons. He noted that visitors would have the opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the richness of nationaland, to some extent, sharedpostal history, given the participation of 80 exhibitors from Serbia and the former Yugoslav republics, who are presenting 107 philatelic exhibits.
"Philately begins with collecting, but it does not end there. Behind every exhibit lie years of research, knowledge, and exploration. Only when such material emerges from private collections, undergoes expert curation, and is publicly displayed does it acquire new value. It becomes accessible to everyone and part of our shared cultural heritage. That is precisely why an exhibition serves as a meeting point for collectors, researchers, and institutions to engage with the general public", said Milić.
As exhibits of exceptional philatelic significance, Milić singled out the section of the honour class dedicated to Aleksandar Boričić’s renowned collection, Predrag Antić’s exhibit "Principality of Serbia", and two major collections belonging to Nikola Maraković.
Dejan Savić, a member of the exhibition’s Honorary Committee, stated that the event is recognized for its significant international and cultural dimension, as it embodies the culture of remembrance, history, and communication. "The contribution of this event to our country's international visibility is immeasurable, as is the significance it holds, and has historically attached to the establishment of the first post office, the inception of postal services, and the issuance of the first stamp," Savić concluded.
Zoran Anđelković, Acting Director of the Post of Serbia, the exhibition’s general sponsor, highlighted this event as a testament to the quality and value of Serbian philately, as well as the development and stability of the Post from its founding in 1840 to the present day. He also noted the awards PostEurop presented to the Post of Serbia last year for technological innovation and for the most beautiful stamp in the "Europa" series.
"When you look at the postage stamps displayed here, you can see history—starting with the first Serbian stamp—as well as the way Serbia developed and what mattered to the citizens and the Serbian people: the events, figures, and buildings," said Anđelković, announcing continued support for this and similar events.
The Union of Philatelists of Serbia awarded the Gold Badge, the highest honour for contributions to and support for the preservation and promotion of philately and postal traditions to Zoran Anđelković and Dejan Savić.
In honour of SERBIAFILA XVI, the Post of Serbia has released a commemorative postage stamp issue – a souvenir sheet with a commemorative stamp, a first-day cover, and a commemorative postmark.
The exhibition at the Central Military Club of Serbia is open to visitors until 11 October. It showcases old and rare postage stamps, letters, postmarks, postal stationery, postcards, and other materials that bear witness to the development of the postal service, as well as to the history, society, and era in which they originated. The highlight of the event will be the presentation of the Grand Prix award to the most successful exhibitor. Admission is free.