Name/Title
26 of July Movement Enamel Badge — "Libres o Mártires"Entry/Object ID
2025.2.23Description
A small horizontal rectangular badge in hand-painted enamel (or enamel-like cold paint) over a stamped metal base, with gilt/brass linear detailing dividing the fields. The left field carries the Movimiento 26 de Julio flag — red over black — with "26 J" in gold. At center, an oval medallion bordered in gilt with a white/gray background shows a frontal portrait of Fidel Castro, bearded and wearing an olive field cap. The right field shows the Cuban national flag (blue-and-white stripes, red hoist triangle with white star). Across the bottom runs a yellow banner with dark capitals: "LIBRES O MÁRTIRES" (i.e., "LIBRES O MÁRTIRES").Use
Obtained in Cuba by Anna Veltfort and brought to New York City with her when she moved back to the US.Context
The badge assembles the core iconography of the 26 of July Movement, the organization Fidel Castro founded after the 1953 Moncada assault to overthrow Batista. Its red-and-black flag and armband — first used publicly in the 30 November 1956 Santiago uprising led by Frank País, with black for mourning/clandestine struggle and red for blood shed — appear here beside the national flag. The motto "Libres o Mártires" distills the movement's founding vow: in June 1955, departing the Isla de Pinos, Fidel promised "seremos libres o mártires," as the Movimiento 26 de Julio was constituted. The portrait casts Castro as leader of that struggle; such hand-painted patriotic badges circulated in the early revolutionary years.Collection
Anna Veltfort collectionAcquisition
Accession
2025.2Source or Donor
Anna VeltfortAcquisition Method
GiftMade/Created
Place
Country
CubaRegion
Caribbean, Central AmericaNotes
Date: Undetermined. The iconography belongs to the 26 of July Movement of 1955–1959; the badge may date to the early revolutionary years, probably 1959 (Castro is depicted with the beard he grew iduring the guerrilla campaign).Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
InscriptionTranscription
26 J
LIBRES O MARTIRESLanguage
SpanishTranslation
J 26
FREE OR MARTYRSParts
Single enamel-on-metal plate.Materials
Material
MetalMaterial Notes
Stamped metal base (brass or similar) with vitreous enamel and/or hand-applied cold enamel/paint; gilt linear detailing (materials tentative).Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Anna VeltfortNotes
ownerPerson or Organization
M-26-7Notes
imageryPerson or Organization
Fidel Castro RuzNotes
imageryRelated Places
Place
City
HavanaCountry
CubaRegion
Caribbean, Central AmericaNotes
acquisitionPlace
City
New York CityState/Province
New YorkCountry
U.S.A.Continent
North AmericaNotes
preservationCreated By
María A. Cabrera ArúsCreate Date
March 31, 2022Updated By
María A. Cabrera ArúsUpdate Date
June 18, 2026