A 26th of July Movement armband personally owned, signed and inscribed by Fidel Castro.
He writes in dark ink, translated: “How many people will remember this moment? January 1, 1959 Fidel”.
January 1, 1959 was the day after Castro had successfully overthrown the Cuban dictator Batista.
The 26th of July Movement was the Cuban revolutionary group and political party headed by Fidel Castro. The name marks the group’s 26th July, 1953 failed attempt to overthrow Batista.
A historic, period piece from Fidel Castro.
26th of July Movement armbands are hugely rare. One owned by Castro, let alone signed by him, is likely unique today.
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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