Fantastic sealed wooden Habanos Trinidad Fundadores cigar box containing 24 of Cuba's famous handmade cigars, measuring 8.25? x 4.5? x 3?, signed on the top in black felt tip by Fidel Castro. The box is sealed with its "Republica de Cuba" government warranty seal and "Habanos" label. The maker's stamp on the bottom reads: "Habanos S.A., Hecho en Cuba, Totalmente a mano, EUN CCUG." Castro signed this box in 1999 for John McKiernan, a member of a United States delegation to Cuba that participated in the 'Race to Habana' sailing regatta. In fine condition.
Supported by exemplary provenance, the signed cigar box is accompanied by: three photos of Castro meeting with the delegation, including one that shows him signing the cigar box for McKiernan; a framed letter from the Cuban embassy, dated June 2, 1999, stating that the bearer "was presented by the President of the Republic of Cuba, Hon. Mr. Fidel Castro Ruz, a box of Cuban cigars"; and a detailed provenance statement from the recipient: "In the year 1999 there were many opportunities to 'thaw' the chilly relationship between Cuba and the United States. One such event, authorized by the U.S. State Department, was the 'Habana Race,' a 300 nautical mile sailing regatta starting at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club and finishing at the Hemingway Marina in the Cuban capital of Havana.
As an avid and experienced sailor, I was asked to be a member of the crew on a boat owned by friends of mine. As it happened, I was also a companion of a US Congresswoman who had an interest in Latin American affairs. Given the diverse professional lives (medical, business, technical) of our crew , she managed to arrange a meeting with several Cuban government representatives. We were told that Mr. Castro himself might also be in attendance, but we would not know until the last minute.
On our second evening in Havana, my companion and I were about to dine in the National Hotel, when we were met by two officials who advised we were invited to meet with Mr. Castro and several of his cabinet members. The rest, as it is said, is history. We were escorted to the Cuban Ministry, and met with Mr. Castro (as shown in the pictures) over dinner and excellent vintages, and spoke mainly of the commercial possibilities between the US and Cuba. We judiciously avoided the thorny political issues of the day. The evening was capped off with a benevolent farewell and a box of Mr. Castro’s favorite cigars (which he no longer smoked)."
Beginning in 1980, Trinidad Fundadores were exclusively produced for Fidel Castro, and until 1998 the only boxes that were allowed to leave Cuba had been gifts to foreign dignitaries; the brand made its official launch as a Cuban export in February 1998. Cigars were an integral component of Castro's heroic revolutionary image, and as such this signed box is a rare and remarkable historical artifact. In fine condition.
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