Warmly hugging a Cuban officer at the height of the Cold War, this is a previously unseen photograph of British traitor Kim Philby holidaying in Castro's country after his defection.

The smiling Cambridge spy was sent to the communist country by Moscow in 1978 - 15 years after he fled for the Soviet Union after sharing secrets for decades.

Philby is considered the country's worst traitor whose work for the KGB led to the deaths and imprisonments of countless British agents.

His little-known visit to Cuba was believed to have been one of the very few times Philby left Russia, where he was said to have led a miserable life in a flat on the sixth floor of a Moscow tower block.

The former British intelligence officer, who spent years revealing state secrets to Russia after being recruited by the Russians in the 1930s, was lauded by Cubans, showered with gifts and asked to pose with officials.

His Russian wife, Rufina, accompanied him on the secret trip - their first since her husband defected - and she later said Philby developed pneumonia and was under constant watch by the KGB.

Traitor Kim Philby hugs a Cuban Army officer during a secret trip to Cuba after he defected to the Russians

Philby, pictured with his fourth wife Rufina at dinner, would try to devastate Britain's intelligence services by sharing secrets with his KGB paymasters

Philby and wife Rufina with Russian and Cuban officials in the resort town of Camaguey in a rare trip away from Russia 40 years ago

Philby was treated as a celebrity on the trip ten years before his death and was asked to autograph and sign a guest book

He is seen hugging a military officer while being presented with a gift in one image.

In another photo the bespectacled spy can be seen holding court around a table with other communists, both Cuban and Russian.

The photos are accompanied by a letter in which Mrs Philby recalled the holiday 16 years later.

In it she explained it was the couple's first trip out of the Soviet Union since her husband defected and they were well looked after by local members of the KGB.

She added the trip was very enjoyable although her then 66-year-old husband developed pneumonia during it due to the hot and damp conditions.

The album of photographs belonged to British collector David Gainsborough Roberts, who built up an eclectic collection of historic memorabilia.

Mr Roberts, 73, died last year on Jersey and the Philby photos are being sold at auction by his estate.

Philby was one of the members of the Cambridge spy ring alongside Guy Burgess, Donald Maclean, Anthony Blunt and John Cairncross.

The group acquired their name as they were recruited by the Russians while they were at Cambridge University in the 1930s.

The album of Philby's holiday snaps is likely to fetch £1,000 at auction on Saturday

Philby and his wife were asked to pose with countless Cuban officials

Other Russian agents were also invited on the trip to Cuba at a time when the countries had few allies

The Cambridge spy was presented with gifts at the resort six hours east of Havana

Russian and cuban officials crowd around to read something Philby had written in the guest book

While they were spying for the Russians during the Second World War and the Cold War, the five men were pursuing successful careers in the British government.

Philby lived in Moscow for 25 years mainly stuck in his tower block flat before his death

In 1951 it emerged there was a spy within the British establishment and the finger pointed at Maclean. Both he and Burgess then made headlines by suddenly disappearing and turning up in Moscow in 1956.

Philby denied being a spy but ultimately defected in 1963.

He spent the first few years in Moscow under virtual house arrest and passed the time writing his memoirs.

The 38 black and white photos of Philby's trip to Cuba are being sold by auctioneers Henry Aldridge and Son of Devizes, Wilts.

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: 'They are a group of black and white photographs that are previously unpublished shots of Kim Philby and his wife with various dignitaries in Cuba.

'Philby was a high ranking individual in Russia and going to Cuba for Moscow, he would have met some very important local people.

'Although there are no photos showing it, he must have met Fidel Castro on that trip as it seems inconceivable that such an important person would go all that way and not.

'It would appear that there is very little known about this trip to Cuba.

'Most people think Philby remained in Moscow after defecting and the letter that accompanies the photos has his wife stating it was their first time outside of Russia since he defected.

'Philby was said to have lived an unhappy existence in Moscow and this album offers a fascinating snapshot into a rare moment of happiness for one of the most notorious traitors of the 20th century.

'The timing of this sale is also quite apt given the relationship between Moscow and the West today.'

Philby died of heart failure in 1988 aged 76. He was given a hero's funeral in Moscow and there is also a memorial for him in the cemetery where he is buried.

The album is tipped to sell for £1,000 on Saturday.