A fantastic 26th of July Movement flag signed by Fidel Castro during the Cuban revolution is one of the star lots in Dominic Winter Auctioneers' November 6 sale in the UK.
 Massetti began working with guerillas in Argentina following his meeting with Guevara and Castro |
The triangular linen flag is in the traditional red and black with a white stitched star of the 26th of July Movement and is signed and inscribed by Castro, warranting an estimate value of £10,000-15,000 ($16,161-24,242).
Dated April 13, 1958, the flag was signed when Jorge Ricardo Masseti, an Argentinian who would later become the first director of Cuba's Prensa Latina news agency, travelled to Cuba to interview Fidel Castro and Che Guevara for Argentinian radio.
Despite Castro and Guevara being engaged in guerrilla warfare in the Sierra Mastra mountains, Massetti managed to secure the interview - the flag is his memento from the occasion. His encounter with his countryman Che Guevara profoundly affected Massetti, and the pair developed a close relationship from that point on.
Massetti disappeared while carrying out revolutionary guerrilla work in Argentina in 1964.
The flag is inscribed "In memory of your interview and your help for the people of Cuba". It is accompanied by a vintage green (usually red and black) 26th of July Movement armband.
Both items were obtained from the family of Hermes Pena torres, who is believed to have been fighting alongside Massetti when he died.
Also featuring in the sale are a number of rare photographs of Castro and other Cuban revolutionaries, as well as signed items and a section devoted to Che Guevara memorabilia.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a Fidel Castro autograph on a poster of recognition, as well as a Castro-signed invitation card.
