Now available, two vintage stamp sets from Cuba, memorializing the revolutionaries that helped Fidel Castro overthrow the government of Fulgencio Bautista in 1959.
Stamp Set – Revolutionaries
This set of four stamps was issued in April 1964 to commemorate some of the fighters who died during the campaigns against the government in the late 1950s.
2-centavo – Bernardo Juan Borrell was a member of the 26th of July Movement's action and sabotage group in Havana who took part in the “Night of the One Hundred Bombs” operation on November 8th, 1957. He was later captured by the Bureau of Investigation and executed by firing squad without a trial.
3-centavo – Marcelo Salado was another member of the 26th of July Movement who was killed by police shortly after the end of a general strike which took place in Havana on April 9th, 1958. Overall, the strike was poorly organized and largely ineffective in meeting its goals, and Salado was recognized by police as he walked down the street with a fellow revolutionary. He was killed immediately.
10-centavo – Oscar Lucero was a law student and member of the 26th of July Movement. In February 1958 he and another revolutionary kidnapped famed Argentine race car driver Juan Manuel Fangio just before he was set to race in the 2nd annual Cuban Grand Prix. Their intent was to force the cancelation of the race and embarrass the Batista government. Fangio was held for approximately 29 hours before he was released. Lucero was arrested by police during a raid on an apartment on April 28th, 1958, and died three weeks later while in police detention.
13-centavo – Sergio González was the leader of the 26th of July Movement's action and sabotage group in Havana. On November 8th, 1957, he organized the so-called “Night of One Hundred Bombs” operation in which bombs and firecrackers in strategic places of the Cuban capital that exploded simultaneously at nine o'clock at night.
He and two other members of his group, including Bernardo Juan Borrell, were arrested by the Bureau of Investigation. They were later executed by firing squad without a trial.
Stamp Set - Attack on Presidential Palace
This set of three stamps was minted in Cuba in 1963 to celebrate the 6th anniversary of the failed attack on the Presidential palace by revolutionaries. The attack took place on March 13th, 1957, and involved 46 revolutionaries who were intent on seizing the palace and killing President Fulgencio Bautista. Although the attackers made it inside the palace, they were ultimately repelled, with 26 of the 46 killed during the battle.
Two years later, Bautista was finally deposed, and Fidel Castro took control of the country. The new Cuban government subsequently released many different stamp sets over the years depicting the struggle against the Bautista government, including this set of three.
The three stamps in this set include:
9 centavos - Guerillas Attacking Palace
13 centavos - Four Student Leaders (Machado, Rodriguez, Westbrook, and Carbo)
30 centavos - Jose A. Echeverria and Menelad Mora
Add these two unique vintage stamp sets to your collection today.
