Juventud En Peligro [Youth in Danger]

Oscar Valdés; Ricardo Roldán, producer

[Havana]: CMBF Television Revolucion, [1960]. 8 ¼ x 10 ½ in.  Offset and Ben Day printed. Saddle-stapled in pictorial wraps. [17] pp. Text in Spanish. 

An early Cuban post-revolutionary piece of popular artwork, this portfolio was produced in conjunction with a  television program exploring repression by the state security forces of U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista.

The album is full of pasted-in cards printed with graphic depictions to accompany the tale of revolution. The form resembles and suggests a collect-them-all style for completing this book, with the cards likely taken from chewing gum boxes or cigarette packs. Of the 100 cards to complete the story, four are missing from this example: frames 66, 98, 99, and 100. 

The book ends with a quote from renowned 19th century Cuban poet and philosopher, José Martí: “Una ciudad es culpable mientras no es toda ella una escuela; la calle que no lo es, es una mancha en la frente de la ciudad.” (“A city is guilty if it is not always a school; the street that is not, is a stain on the front of the city.”)

A rare piece of early post-revolutionary Castroist propaganda, depicting the violence of the armed wing of the state (“la Policia de Batista”), and an exceptionally artful publication showing the revolutionary potential of popular media. No copies located in OCLC as of March 2021.

Edge wear to wraps and some interior pages, not obstructing image or text. Some toning commensurate with paper of this age and quality. The images of revolutionary violence and state repression remain bright (despite the darkness they depict), and the binding remains tight. Overall very good.