Mary Hemingway Donates "finca Vigia" To "the People Of - Feb 11, 2015 | Alexander Historical Auctions Llc In Md
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MARY HEMINGWAY DONATES "FINCA VIGIA" TO "THE PEOPLE OF

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MARY HEMINGWAY DONATES "FINCA VIGIA" TO "THE PEOPLE OF
MARY HEMINGWAY DONATES "FINCA VIGIA" TO "THE PEOPLE OF
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MARY HEMINGWAY DONATES ""FINCA VIGIA"" TO ""THE PEOPLE OF CUBA"" MARY HEMINGWAY (1908-1986) American journalist who was the fourth wife and widow of Ernest Hemingway whom she married in 1946. Historic grouping of material definitively proving that Hemingway's beloved suburban Havana home ""Finca Vigia"" was intended by Mary Hemingway to have been given to the Cuban people. This grouping was discovered among the papers of Roberto Herrera a Spaniard who was a close friend and confidante of Ernest Hemingway during the twenty years he owned ""Finca Vigia"". Included is an A.D.S. ""M. H."" 1p. 4to. [n.p. n.d. most likely Finca Vigia Aug. 25 1961]. Mrs. Hemingway writes in part: ""...Whereas - my husband Ernest Hemingway was for twenty-five years a friend of the Pueblo of Cuba...he never took part in the politics of Cuba...he never sold any possessions of his except his words having given away cars guns books and his Nobel Prize Medal to the Virgen del Cobre...I believe that he would be pleased that his property...in Cuba be given to the people of Cuba...as a center for opportunities for wider education...to be maintained in his memory...I hereby give to the people of Cuba this property..."". Also present is a typed translation into Spanish of the text unsigned. The two documents were apparently also sent with an initialed A.L.S. on Finca Vigia letterhead 1p. 8vo. Aug. 25 1961 (included) in which Mary writes Herrera: ""A tiny present from Papa with all his thanks - and mine..."" with one of her calling cards and an envelope addressed in her hand to simply: ""Roberto Herrera"" and obviously hand-delivered. Overall near fine. Ernest Hemingway had committed suicide in Ketchum less than two months earlier. However at some point shortly thereafter Mary backtracked and stated that after Hemingway's suicide the Cuban government contacted her in Idaho and announced that it intended to expropriate the house along with all real property in Cuba. These documents show that Mary did indeed intend to donate the home to the Cuban people.
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MARY HEMINGWAY DONATES "FINCA VIGIA" TO "THE PEOPLE OF

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