(GUEVARA CHE) Group of 4 letters to young Che Guevara from h

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(GUEVARA, CHE.) Group of 4 letters to young Che Guevara from his friends Alberto and Tomas Granado and his father. 4 Autograph Letters Signed to Ernesto "Che" Guevara Serna from Ernesto Guevara Lynch (his father), and Alberto and Tomas Granado, various sizes; minor wear and foxing. All four are accompanied by their original mailing envelopes addressed to Ernesto Guevara, care of the Argentine consulate in Mexico City; the stamps are clipped from all but one of the envelopes. Vp, 1954-55

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Ernesto "Che" Guevara (1928-1967), the Marxist revolutionary and Cuban guerrilla leader, was born and raised in Argentina. As a young medical student in 1952, he undertook a long journey around South America with his friend Alberto Granado which played an important role in developing his radical politics. His memoir of this trip was published in English as The Motorcycle Diaries: A Journey Around South America, and was the basis of the popular 2004 film The Motorcycle Diaries. This small collection of Guevara's correspondence consists of letters he received in the three years following the tour. During this period, he continued to pursue a medical career even as he became increasingly immersed in revolutionary politics.
The first is a 4-page letter is dated 4 March 1954 from Guevara's close friend Alberto Granado, his sidekick on the famous 1952 tour. Granado was in Rome studying biochemistry, and exploring Europe in his spare time. He addresses Guevara by his rugby nickname Fuser, and signs with his own nickname, Mial; he signs the envelope "AG." Most of Granado's letter is devoted to the glories of Italian art and architecture. He digresses to the subject of women on the final page: "Estoy gastando plate a lo ferro, pues cojo casi todes las noches (5 a 6 dollares). . . . Me parece una buena idea esa di mejar con una mujer. Yo he peusado lo mismo, pero el último me cagué pués la mina era casada y he ture miedo al ho." He mentions their mutual friends Calica Ferrer and Carlos Figueroa, and concludes with a paragraph of technical discussion regarding his biomedical research.
Next is a 2-page letter from Alberto's brother Tomas Granado, signed "Tomasito" and dated from Córdoba, Argentina, 11 October 1954. This letter ranges from his Introduction to Politics course at the university, to a comprehensive update of local rugby matches. He also includes an update on repairs to his old motorcycle, which he is considering upgrading "por sise me ocurre hacer una gira" (in case he goes on a longer trip).
Next is another letter from Alberto Granado in Rome, this one in 2 pages and dated 30 January 1955. He hopes that Ernesto will be able to join him in Caracas, and passes on a rumor that Ernesto had gone to Buenos Aires in an airplane full of refugees.
Finally is a two-page letter from father Ernesto Guevara Lynch (1900-1987) dated 17 April 1955. He offers thanks for the 55th birthday wishes and expresses a desire to visit his son in Venezuela. No place is given, but the envelope is postmarked Buenos Aires.
Two months after Che received this final letter, he was introduced to Raul and Fidel Castro, became a central figure in the Cuban revolution, and went on to fight in Congo and Bolivia, where he was captured and assassinated with the help of the CIA. Today, he is widely regarded as one of the 20th century's great villains or heroes, depending on one's political affiliation. These letters bring us back to a time when he was simply a young man. Translations into English available upon request. Provenance: acquired from a licensed dealer in Havana.