Lesser Poland. He wanted to take a photo album to Hong Kong from 1866. The souvenirs were taken by customs officers

Album with photos dated to 1866, four frames with stereoscopic photos and photography in the frame. Such souvenirs were found in a wooden box stopped to control the car customs officers. Their owner wanted, without permission, to take them to Hong Kong. Souvenirs probably come from Russia.

The press officer of the Małopolska Customs and Tax Office Robert Szewczyk announced on Tuesday that the attempt to export cultural goods was discovered by officers from Tarnów during roadside control. In one of the detained cars, they discovered a wooden chest in which they found an album containing 29 photos dated to 1866, four frames with stereoscopic photos and a photo in a setting with dimensions of 50×60 cm.

“The goods were to be sent to Hong Kong, but the driver did not have required export permits, which indicates an attempt to illegally export cultural goods,” the tax administration representative pointed out.

“Items can be a good of culture of considerable historical and material value – at least several hundred thousand zlotys. Similar photographs are offered for sale by famous auction houses. Prices at one of the auctions oscillate around 25,000 British pounds for a set of four photos” – said in the communiqué.

Items taken over by officers from the Małopolska Customs and Tax Office

Possible violation of sanctions for Russia

According to officers, detained items can be the good of culture of considerable historical and material value – at least several hundred thousand zlotys. In addition, due to the suspicion that items may come from Russiathe case may bear the features of a violation of the act regulating the turnover of goods from countries covered by international sanctions.

According to Szewczyk, further explanatory actions are currently underway, including expertise to confirm the origin and historical value of the disclosed objects.