A collection of four lighters owned and used by Fidel Castro. Castro has signed one of the lighter boxes and one of the lighters.
Discovered within his personal crystal ashtray.
- The Zippo lighter was given to Castro by Cuba’s National Centre for Scientific Research. Castro has signed the box elegantly in black ink.
- Castro has signed the back of the animal print lighter in black ink. Natty Revuelta Clews has later added her name in dark blue ballpoint on the reverse to deter thieves.
- The black lighter, with brown case, is French made, given to Fidel by his mistress Natty Revuelta Clews in 1964 when she returned from France.
A regular cigar smoker until 1984, Castro likely held and used these lighters countless times.
Provenance
Acquired by the previous owner at the estate sale of Fidel Castro's mistress Natty Revuelta Clews, between December 2015 and July 2016.
The previous owner is British businessman Mr Gary Shannon, who knew the Castro family and their associates for 20+ years from circa 2000. Mr Shannon helped provide technology and communications infrastructure to Cuba.
The item formed part of Mr Shannon’s private Jagdamer Museum of Castro and Guevara memorabilia, from 2016 to 2020.
Natty Revuelta Clews (December 26, 1925 – February 27, 2015) was the mistress of Fidel Castro from 1955 until her death. Their daughter, Alina, was born in 1956.
Revuelta - a wealthy socialite - was instrumental in assisting Castro overthrow the Batista regime in Cuba.
Revuelta sold her jewels to support the Cuban rebels, helped plan the 26th of July Movement uprising in 1953 and, crucially, helped Fidel Castro co-ordinate the Cuban Revolution while he was imprisoned between 1953 and 1955, through exchanging secret messages with Castro.
The pair began their affair upon Castro’s release from prison in May 1955.
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