¡LIBERTAD Ó MUERTE! EPISODIOS DE LA REVOLUCIÓN

Havana: Dibujos Publicitarios Luque, c. 1960, soft cover with stapled binding, 30x22cm, pp.40; condition Good, complete with all cards present and firmly attached, some rippling and foxing to pages, old darkened Scotch tape repair to front and verso of title page with no loss of text.

 ¡Libertad ó Muerte! Episodios de la Revolución  is an educational sticker/trading card album published in Cuba shortly after Fidel Castro and his revolutionary forces overthrew the Batista regime in 1959.  The introduction presents the work as a true and complete story of the revolution for both adults and children: "Let it be a source of knowledge for children and a reference book for adults."  The album was part of the new government's political education program for youth, yet its violent images of assassinations and gun battles may strike many as too graphic for young people.  

The paper used for both the pages and cards was far from the highest quality, making the album's survival all the more remarkable.  Individual trading cards from the 325-card set (320 numbered and five unnumbered flag cards) were originally included as premiums inside packaged food products manufactured by companies like Felices.  Each card was to be pasted into its appropriate spot in the album.  After many purchases and trades a child might hope to assemble a complete set, which chronicles the story of the Cuban insurgent struggle from 1933 to the final victory early in 1959.  The collection ends with Castro's triumphant appearance in New York City a few months later and a final card documenting his signing of the Agrarian Reform Law  [May 17, 1959].  

Production was soon halted and the album withdrawn from circulation after several revolutionary commanders featured in its pages turned against the new government.  Four prominent examples were:

1.  HUBERT MATOS                      Criticized Castro's shift toward Marxism, arrested in October 1959

2.  RAÚL CHIBÁS                           Called for Castro's overthrow, fled to the U.S. in August 1960 

3.  GUTIÉRREZ MENOYO             Opposed Castro's pro-Soviet policy, fled to the U.S. in January 1961

4.  HUMERTO SORI MARÍN          Joined anti-Castro rebels in the Bay of Pigs invasion, executed in April 1961

Though undated, the album can reasonably be narrowed to an 11-month window.  This is evidenced by Hubert Matos’ card, which has "Traidor!" (traitor) stamped in red over his portrait, while Raúl Chibás’ card (and the other two) do not.   Matos was arrested and branded a traitor in October 1959, whereas Chibás defected to the U.S. in early August 1960.  Therefore, the album and cards were almost certainly printed between late October 1959 and September 1960.

A book in similar format, Album de la Revolución Cubana, was published during the same period in Cuba but contains only 268 cards and has been reprinted multiple times.   ¡Libertad ó Muerte! Episodios de la Revolución  was never reprinted and is quite scarce, with WorldCat locating just four examples in libraries worldwide.

Ships from the United States.