Movimiento 26 de Julio Shield Lapel Pin (M-26-7 insignia)

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Movimiento 26 de Julio Shield Lapel Pin (M-26-7 insignia)

Entry/Object ID

2025.2.32

Description

A small shield-shaped (escutcheon) enamel pin with a gilt rim. The upper field is red enamel lettered "MOVIMIENTO" in gilt across the top; the lower field is black enamel lettered "JULIO" in gilt along the point; at center, a white enamel disc carries a gilt "26."

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 bears the name of the 26 of July Movement, the insurrectionary organization Fidel Castro founded in 1955 (named for the failed 1953 assault on the Moncada barracks) that waged the urban-and-rural struggle culminating in Batista's fall on 1 January 1959. Membership and supporter insignia circulated during the clandestine insurrection and the early revolutionary period, before the Movement was absorbed into the ORI (1961) and successor parties.

Collection

Anna Veltfort collection

Acquisition

Accession

2025.2

Source or Donor

Anna Veltfort

Acquisition Method

Gift

Made/Created

Date made

circa 1959

Place

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

Maker/Attribution: Unmarked and unidentified. Cuban — or possibly produced within the Cuban exile/solidarity network that funded the Movement in 1957–1958 (tentative). Date: circa 1955–1961 (the Movement's lifespan as a named organization). May date to the insurrectionary period (1955–1958, at or before the collection's nominal 1959 lower bound) or to the early revolutionary years (1959–1961); not narrowable from the object (flag). Place: Cuba (or Cuban émigré community) (tentative).

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Transcription

Movimiento 26 Julio

Language

Spanish

Translation

26th of July Movement

Dimensions

Height

1.7 cm

Width

1.3 cm

Parts

Single enamel-on-metal shield badge.

Materials

Material

Metal

Material Notes

Stamped metal (brass) with red, black, and white enamel and gilt lettering and rim.

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Anna Veltfort

Notes

owner

Person or Organization

M-26-7

Notes

imagery

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

acquisition, possibly production

Place

City

New York City

State/Province

New York

Country

U.S.A.

Continent

North America

Notes

preservation

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

March 31, 2022

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 18, 2026