Che Guevara’s Irish cigar lighter is among the items set to go under the hammer in an online auction of historic memorabilia this month.
The lighter bought at Shannon Airport during a chance visit will be auctioned alongside a remarkable array of items which includes the Bible Michael Collins had with him when he was assassinated, a newly discovered copy of Wolfe Tone’s speech from the dock and Phil Lynott’s bass guitar.
Guevara, who had distant Irish heritage, found himself in Ireland by chance when his Prague-to-Havana flight was diverted to Shannon with engine trouble in 1965.
He bought the lighter, which has a high guide of €2,300, at the duty-free shop and called it his lucky Irish lighter.
How JD Vance emerged as the chief saboteur of the transatlantic alliance
Jeff Bezos has made a sacrificial offering of the Washington Post. A once-great newspaper is dying in darkness
After a title under lockdown, winning the Premier League with some noise will mean more to Liverpool
Film-maker Laura Carreira: ‘It is a universal sentiment, not feeling correctly rewarded for your hard work’
[ Che Guevara’s father ‘was more into his Irish than his Basque side’Opens in new window ]
He used it until after his unsuccessful rebellion campaign in the Congo in 1966, at which point he gave it to Fidel Castro’s mistress, Natty Revuelta Clews, telling her it was not so lucky.
The Gormleys Signature Sale brings together key figures from Irish and international history, as well as items from pop culture, and runs online until November 14th.
Antiques expert Niall Mullen said that every item in the auction “tells a tale from history”.
[ Che Guevara furore sees far right try to give Spaniards harsh history lessonOpens in new window ]
“There has rarely been such a collection brought to market that will resonate with so many people,” he said.
Also up for sale is the King James Bible which was issued to Collins when he took up a role as a post office worker in London in 1906, and an original of the speech of Theobald Wolfe Tone, delivered in the dock during his trial for treason in 1798.
Viewings for these items will take place at Gormleys Dublin from November 2nd-5th, and at Gormleys Belfast from November 9th-11th, with the timed online auction closing on November 14th. – PA
