Che Guevara’s Cigar Box Set To Sell For £12,000
If you fancy storing your smokes inside one of the most famous cigar boxes in history, you’ll have to cough up about £12,000 for the privilege.
That’s how much the one belonging to Marxist revolutionary Ernest ‘Che’ Guevara is expected to sell of at an upcoming auction.
The price is down to the rarity of the decorative wooden box, that is believed to be the only possession belonging to the communist leader which has ever been offered up for public sale.
It is even signed by the man himself and was given as a birthday present from the Cuban government to the cigar lover.
Guevara was such a fan that he even advised guerrilla fighters to include tobacco among items in their backpack saying “a smoke in times of rest is a great companion to the solitary soldier”.
Rare: The cigar box is signed by Che Guevara (SWNS)
Ben Jones, consultant with Mullock’s Auctioneers, who are handling the sale at Ludlow Race Course, Shropshire, said: "To our knowledge this is the first time that one of Che’s personal possessions has been offered for sale.
"So nothing quite like this has been offered to the public before.
"Items relating to this period of Cuban history rarely appear on the market and we have only handled one Che Guevara signed photo in the last 10 years.
"He was known for his love of cigars, which makes this box likely to have been of personal significance to him.”
The box is thought to be one of only two or three in existence that were given to Guevara in an official capacity and was provided by a private collector - who also happens to be a friend of one of the revolutionary’s sons.
Guevara memorabilia has sold previously for world-record prices, with a lock of his hair going for £82,000 in 2007, making it the most expensive lock of hair to ever sell at auction.
Revolutionary: The communist’s face is instantly recognisable (Rex)
The cigar box, presented to Che as an official gift from Cuban government officers on his birthday in June, 1963 is expected to fetch £10,000 and £12,000.
The box is inscribed with a burned effect on the inside, stating "To the Minister Of Industry Commandant Ernesto Guevara of the Sema - CHE - We wish you much happiness on your birthday.”
It has an official "received” stamp, with Che’s written signature, alongside the inscription.
The Marxist revolutionary from Argentina was a key figure in the Cuban Revolution of the 1950s before he was killed in Bolivia attempting to spark revolution there in 1967.
The auction is set to take place on March 1.
