GUEVARA, CHE ERNESTO
Press photograph of a straw-hatted Che Guevara working at a sugar mill, gelatin silver print, 9 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches (24 x 19 cm), the verso with an affixed descriptive typewritten slip dated Havana, February 24, 1964 bearing the stamps of the Cuban Ministerio de Industrias as well as Che Guevara's personal ministerial stamp. The lower portion of the photograph extensively inscribed by Guevara in his customary purple ink, ten lines plus felicitations signed "Che". Creases, small loss to upper left corner, wear and pinholes to other corners, the inscription by Che with some minor soiling.
Following the success of the Cuban revolution in 1959, one of Guevara's major roles was the administration of agrarian land reforms as the Minister of Industry. The typewritten text reads, in rough translation "February 24th, 1964 "Year of Consolidation" The Minister of Industry, in recognition of the commemoration of the third anniversary of the creation of the Ministry of Industry and of volunteer revolutionary workers, gives as a commemoration ... special souvenir of the occasion ... on the occasion of his birthday, to Diogene Cabrera is given as a gift this congratulation given as a courtesy for his honourable attitude, worthy of decoration, planting the seed of the example and the condition by which we ratify ourselves each day as model examples of the revolution in ratifying a new step forward in the process of our industrial growth. Congratulations..." To this, Che has appended (in his almost illegible physician's hand) "To our valourous and tireless, decorated colleagues of Industry, who forgive with all sacrifice and abnegation/self-sacrifice, all have contributed as faithful and absolute exponents to the constant edification of our society. I warmly congratulate them ... for all of you with fraternal affection, Che."