Cuban History
An exciting collection of Cuban History collected more than 50 years ago with the concept of opening a museum in Miami dedicated to the people of Cuba. This museum quality collection contains historical Maps and Documents dating from 1500 to 1950’s and has never been on the market before as well it offers unique historical insights into Cuba’s history.

1561 Map of Cuba by Venetian cartographer, entitled “Isola Cuba Nova” showing only a few settlements and the actual topography made by Christopher Columbus just decades earlier
The Collection begins with early Maps as above dating 1561 shortly after Columbus discovered Cuba – 1630 Map with a featured insert of Havana which is among the earliest known to exist – 1762 Map when Britain was at war with France and Spain was a ally of France, the British attacked Havana and laid siege to the city. A large Map done in 1853 with detailed inserts of cities and charts of the Cuban population. The collection also contains printed broadsides including a Cuban printed “Declaration of Independence” from Spain in 1851 in which the Cuban citizens led by Joaquin de Aguero during a little known revolution against Spain, they launched their ill-fated revolt on the 4th of July in concert with the American Revolution and the heading of this broadside has Cuban and American flags flying side by side in 1851. The collection culminates with original unpublished and secret letters handwritten by Fidel Castro in the Sierra Maestra Mountains attempting to organize a revolution to capture Cuba.


Lengthy 11 page handwritten hand written letter by Fidel Castro during a rainstorm from his camp in the Sierra Maestra Mountains September 23rd, 1958, just months before he took over the government of Cuba. Written on plain note book stationery vest pocket size “ M-1 bullets are in dear need, ones that were (air) dropped have not been found, we have None “ and “ We have very few 30.06 bullets they are not enough to meet the needs the different troops require” and “ More Anti-Tank bullets are needed, if possible more Anti – Tank rifles” etc. (the verso has Castro’s handwritten navigation Coordinates and Latitude and Longitude for the airlift).
Cuba is a hot topic in today’s world and this collection offers a unique insight into Cuban history and how Fidel Castro was able to take control of the nation. Castro’s letters plead for weapons and for ammunition, in one letter he clearly states “we have weapons but no bullets” the letters describe funding their purchase through secret bank accounts in Miami and Venezuela, leasing a B26 to air drop on a landing field he had built in the mountain’s. The handwritten letters by Fidel Castro are all folded down to shirt pocket size so they could be delivered in secret, you can still see the sweat stains on the side that faced in. These were in fact Secret communications from Castro; as if the Cuban Government Army had discovered where Fidel Castro was and the fact he had run out of ammunition he could have been captured and his revolutionary army destroyed. There is also a Letter of Commendation dated in 1958 from his brother Raul Castro which has a crudely rubberstamped “ July 26th Movement Liberty or Death ” motto. All of this correspondence is hurriedly written on plain note pad vest pocket type stationery that Fidel Castro would have carried with him inside his uniform. None have any Official heading, one letter was written during a rainstorm as the ink was running while Fidel was writing it somewhere in the Sierra Maestra jungle mountains of Cuba in 1958.

A Unique and exciting collection irreplaceable and certainly an important nucleus to form an important Museum Exhibition collection of the History of Cuba.

Inventory and Price on Request.
 

“Cuban Revolutionary broadside, printed in Cuba 4th of July 1851 by Joaquin de Aguero being a Manifesto to raise troops in Cuba to defeat Spain’s occupation and calling for a Declaration of Independence from Spain, like America had done from England just decades earlier, well printed with a logo at top of American and Cuban flags flying together. This was the 1st Cuban Revolution !
These are just a few of the important documents from this Historical Collection. A complete inventory with individual prices are available - please call Gary at 501-258-1861 or email at

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GARY HENDERSHOTT - | PO Box 8432 – Santa Fe, NM 87504 | TEL. 501-258-1861

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