On 14 April 2010, Czech Post has issued the single stamp features the Czech traveller, Enrique Stanko Vraz. Enrique Stanko Vráz was a Czech traveller and photographer. He was born in Bulgaria on February 18th. His father was a Russian officer or even diplomat. His mother was a Czech.His origin is therefore somewhat mysterious. The only thing which is certain is that Vráz was a keen traveller.
During his travels across Africa, South and North Americas, Japan and South-East Asia he gathered an extraordinary collection of natural exhibits, including approximately 15,000 insects, 1,200 birds, 600 mammals and a good deal of other species. Some of them were purchased by the British Governor who exhibited them in Dublin.
A large part of the collection was donated by Vráz to the National Museum in Prague in 1885. He moved to Prague for a short time in 1907 but had to return back to the United States because of a lack of money. As an authorised representative of the Prague's National Council, he set up its American branch, and gradually became involved in politics.
He helped to organize the Czech-American life and was a member of the future President Wilson's election team. At that successful period of time he began suffering from heart problems, and in 1920 he lost one of his hands because of cancer. He and his wife and daughter returned to Prague in 1921 for the rest of his life. He failed to secure a position in both the National Museum and Náprstek's Museum and his only income came from lectures and publications. The difficult situation further intensified his heavy depression. He died, aged 72, on February 20th, 1932.
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