QSL No. 10: 1950 – Establishment of the Bulgarian National Radio’s Golden Fund

Throughout 2026, Radio Bulgaria is confirming listeners' reception reports with a new series of 12 QSL cards. Each card highlights a significant moment from the history of the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and Radio Bulgaria, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. At the beginning of each month, we present the story behind the image featured on the latest card.

The tenth QSL card for 2026 is dedicated to the establishment of the Bulgarian National Radio’s Golden Fund

The idea of preserving valuable recordings for future generations dates back to the first director of the National Radio, Sirak Skitnik. At his initiative, tape recorders were purchased specifically for this purpose in 1938. In 1950, an order was issued to establish the Bulgarian National Radio’s Golden Fund, but it began operating systematically and in its current form as a specialized archive in November 1957. 

The Bulgarian National Radio’s Golden Fund houses an invaluable collection of audio documents, designated as the national sound archive, documenting significant events in public life in Bulgaria and around the world, as well as recordings of National Assembly sessions, interviews with prominent artists and public figures and music.

The QSL card itself features archival studio sound-recording equipment.

The oldest recording in the Golden Fund dates back to 1897 — “Bulgarian Horo” by Alois Macak, a Czech bandmaster and composer who made significant contributions to the development of Bulgarian military music. 

How to Receive the QSL Card

To receive this QSL card, simply send us a reception report including:

For Radio Bulgaria: the date and language of the programme you listened to.
For other BNR programmes: the date, time, frequency, and details about the programme content.
Reception reports may be submitted via:

E-mail: reception.report@bnr.bg

Post:
Bulgarian National Radio
Desislava Semkovska
4 Dragan Tsankov Blvd.
1040 Sofia
Bulgaria

Please remember to include your postal mailing address, as QSL cards are sent by regular mail.

We would also like to remind our listeners that BNR continues to confirm reception reports with QSL cards from previous series. If you would like to receive a particular earlier card, please mention your preference in your reception report.

Learn more about the stories behind the other QSL cards in BNR’s new series:

• QSL No. 9: 1948-1960 -Bulgarian National Radio’s music groups

• QSL Card No. 8: First Bulgarian radio manufacturing factory

• QSL Card No. 7: 1940,the TULAN Radio Receiver

• QSL card No. 6: Radio Sofia’s 1939 outside broadcast van

• QSL card No. 5: 1938 -Construction of the old building of the radio begin

• QSL card No. 4: 1935 -Sirak Skitnik, the first director of the BNR

• QSL card No. 3: 1930 –The first union of radio enthusiasts in Bulgaria

• QSL card No. 2:Commemorating Bulgaria’s first radio signal

• Our new QSL cards: 90years BNR and 90 years Radio Bulgaria