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"Although celebrated by Hemingway in A Farewell to Arms', the Italian front in the First World War has been relatively neglected in literature. And yet some of the fiercest fighting of the war took place in the Alps between the Italian army and the forces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Over 650,000 Italians were killed, 947,000 wounded in the war."-'Sardinian Brigade', By Emilio Lussu

"This is the first account in English of a much-overlooked, but important, First World War battlefront located in the mountains astride the border between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Not well known in the West, the battles of Isonzo were nevertheless ferocious, and compiled a record of bloodletting that totaled over 1.75 million for both sides. In sharp contrast to claims that neither the Italian nor the Austrian armies were viable fighting forces, Schindler aims to bring the terrible sacrifices endured by both armies back to their rightful place in the history of 20th century Europe."-'Isonzo: The Forgotten Sacrifice of the Great War', by John R. Schindler, London.

"YOU COULD NOT TAKE THE MOUNTAIN UNTIL YOU TOOK THE RIVER. BUT, YOU COULD NOT TAKE THE RIVER UNTIL YOU TOOK THE MOUNTAIN."
'Isonzo: The Forgotten Sacrifice of the Great War'. "The first definitive English-language account of WWI's just-about-forgotten epic clash between Italy and Austria-Hungary. The dozen battles fought in the Isonzo valley stand out for the scale of their slaughter, cruelty, courage and ghastly military-command pigheadedness in the face of failure. After 29 months and 11 major offensives, the Italian Army had advanced only a few miles, at a cost of more than 1.1 million casualties. The Austrians, with the aid of several German divisions, finally launched their own offensive, known as "Caporetto." The Italians crumbled, and soon the Austrians were threatening Venice.
It's remarkable how long Italian troops fought and endured in the face of indescribable hardship. The Italian commander, Luigi Cadorna, had no concern for the state of his men. Trench conditions were appalling; medical facilities, dreadful (countless thousands of Italian soldiers died from cholera and malaria); leave, nonexistent; and infantry army pay, the worst in Europe, which meant incredible hardships for soldiers' families and contributed to plummeting morale. Discipline was barbaric."- Steve Forbes, Forbes Magazine

"It should be noted, that the act of Decimation, was a practice, and not just a threat in the Italian Army. Gen. Cadorna had 750 Italian Soldiers executed by firing squad, regardless of their fighting spirit, just to set examples.
These unfortunate men, who's only crime was to draw a short straw, regardless of their courage, were then branded "cowards" in official military dispatch. Their family homes and all their family's property was then proclaimed 'public domain'."

"In WW1 a million casualties were inflicted on this 200 mile front, ranging from the Mediterranean summer heat to the Arctic cold of the Alpine peaks, which made this one of the bloodiest battlefields of the world. It was fought over the river Isonzo which became synonymous with massacre, fear and despair for the soldier. Eleven major Italian offensives failed to break the Austro-Hungarian defenses and this is the story of massive allied failure against a background of huge undisclosed casualties. For the soldiers it was a war of endurance, artillery, mortar attacks, poison gas, machine guns, avalanches and rats.
It was here that Ernest Hemingway fell in love with a hospital nurse and wrote Farewell to Arms. It was here too that both Rommel and Mussolini served their military apprenticeship. -'Fight For The River', 1996

ITALIAN/AUSTRIAN WARFARE IN THE MOUNTAINS

"In the high mountains [Dolomiti, Adamello/Presanella and Ortler Ranges] during the three years of war, over 60,000 men on both sides would be killed in combat, by enemy gunfire. Some were company and battalion sized battles, others were remote mountaintop duels between patrols. Sixty thousand would freeze to death and at least 60,000 more would perish in avalanches, including a two-day period in December of 1916 that saw 10,000 troops being buried alive by the 'white death'.

THE ITALIAN FRONT

"Though the men of the Bell Tower considered the regular Army a sub-species, they held them in awe for making suicidal attacks, as on the Western and Russian fronts, in which they climbed out of their trenches and into a wall of machine-gun fire. On occasion, along a stretch of less than a kilometer, five thousand men might go over the top, and within a few minutes suffer a thousand instantly dead, a thousand wounded who would die slowly on the ground, a thousand grievously wounded, a thousand lightly wounded, and a thousand who were physically untouched but spiritually shattered for the rest of their lives, which, in some cases, was merely a matter of weeks."

"Horses that were lifted into the air on geysers of dirty blood and smoke, somersaulted and landed dead on their backs. Men were blown to pieces, vaporized, or slammed down by the shock waves. Others, who had taken shrapnel through their cheeks or their shoulders, staggered blindly away, but many of the wounded pointed their rifles and fired."- 'A Soldier of the Great War', By Mark Helprin, New York/London, 1991.

LJUBLJANA PASS

"For a few worthless pieces of soil, the Italians had paid with the blood of a quarter-million soldiers. The fighting was beyond praise for it's courage and resolution. There is no reason to scoff. It is wondrous that common soldiers would stick with such a repellent task. To brave death when every purpose is proved futile is the bitterest of all trials. We can only weep for these pitiful legions shattered on the rocks in a forlorn, long-ago attempt to gain the Ljubljana pass."- 'World War One', By S.L.A. Marshall.

Honored Soldier of the Great War, Giovanni Ellero (1878-1948). Combat Veteran of the Italian Front. Decorated for Valor, Italian-Turkish War (Libya/Africa)1911-1912, World War One 1915-1918, 3rd Army, First Line Trenches. Survived the the Carso/Piave/Isonzo Fronts; including the Battles of Gorizia, Montegrappa, Caporetto, Vittorio Veneto. Served in the Italian Royal Infantry from 1897-1900, 1911-1912, 1915-1920

Rare hand signed 8"x12" War period photograph of Italian Queen Elena. Signed and dated 1918, praising the good work of the nurse, Maria Teresa Guidi.

Rare hand signed 6"x10" ca. 1921 photograph of World War One Italian Commando Supremo, General Armando Diaz (1861-1928)

Very rare signed photograph, 7 3/8" x 11 ¼", of World War One Italian Commando Supremo, General Luigi Cadorna (1850?1928). He directed eleven major battles with limited results. He is credited with the successful defense in the Trentino (1916), the capture of Gorizia (1916), and the victory at Baensezza (1917). Replaced by Gen. Armando Diaz after the Fall of Caporetto. Cadorna, a poor tactician, with a 19th Century mind set (a common trait of old school military leadership during the Great War), threw his army away in repeated suicidal frontal assaults. A brutal disciplinarian, he implemented the rule of strict military punishment, by resurrecting the ancient Roman Army's practice of 'Decimation', in which one man in ten was picked at random and shot to death as an example to others. In this way, 750 Italian soldiers were executed during WW1.

Rare signed photograph of GENERAL CARLO PORRO DI SANTA MARIA (1854-1939), Chief of Staff to Italian Commando Supremo, General Luigi Cadorna during the First World War. A former Colonel of Artillery. It was Porro who recommended and introduced the Czech Legion into the Italian Army. After the Fall of Caporetto it was Porro along with Cadorna who bore the brunt of the blame for the disaster. Later he was appointed Minister of State by Mussolini. He was a Knight of the Order of the SS. Maurizio and Lazzaro. In 1916 he received the Grand Military Order of Italy. Photo by Guigoni & Bossi, silver print, 4"x5½" three-quarter length portrait laid to photographer's mat, overall 7½"x12¼". Darkly signed on mat beneath image, adding his different commands and dated "30 March 1924."

Scarce hand signed photo of UMBERTO DI SAVOIA (Humbert II), 1904–83, last king of Italy (1946), son and successor of Victor Emmanuel III. On the abdication (May, 1946) of his father, who was tainted by his long acquiescence (1922–43) to Fascist rule, Humbert succeeded to the throne, pending a referendum on the monarchy. The referendum (June, 1946) resulted in the establishment of a republic, and Humbert went into exile in Portugal. Hand signed photograph, dedicated by Umberto di Savioa in 1924 to Captain Giacomo Ferrari, who later became the leading commander of the anti-Nazi Partisan forces in the western region of Italy during WWII. 16" x 11". Torino, Italy.

Very scarce signed autographed photo of Italian Field Marshal, General Emilio De Bono. He also lists in his own hand all of his military commands prior to 1929. Emilio De Bono (1866-1944) Governor of Tripolitania (1925-29). He entered the Italian army in 1884 as a second lieutenant and rose to a place on the general staff in the Italo-Turkish war in Libya (1911). In World War I he distinguished himself against the Austrians at the Battle of Gorizia (1916) and the Battle of Mt. Grappa (October 1918). He was discharged with the rank of major general in 1920. He was among the earliest adherents of the Fascist movement and in 1922 was one of the four organizers of the famous March on Rome, which signaled the beginning of the Fascist regime. After serving as chief of police and commander of the Fascist militia, he was appointed governor of Tripolitania in 1925 and in 1929 became minister for the colonies. He later admitted that as early as 1932 he and Benito Mussolini began seriously to contemplate forcing a war upon Ethiopia. When it broke out in October 1935, he was appointed commander in chief, but after six weeks he was replaced by the more talented Gen. Pietro Badoglio, though he was rewarded with the rank of field marshal. He became inspector of Italian overseas forces in 1939 and on the eve of Italy's entry into World War II he was put in charge of the group of armies of the south. Appointed minister of state in 1942, he participated in the historic meeting of the Fascist Grand Council (July 24/25, 1943) and was among those who voted against Mussolini, thus causing the leader's downfall. When Mussolini regained power in northern Italy with German help, he had De Bono arrested, tried for treason, and executed by a firing squad along with Mussolini's son-in-law. His last words just before being shot were, "Viva L'Italia!" Dated January 1929. 13 7/8" x 8 3/4". Photo by 'F. Murie, Tripoli'.

Very scarce signed autographed photo of Austrian General Wilhelm Zehner. 11 1/2" x 8 1/2". Photo by 'Heereslichtbildstelle Wien VI, Gumpendorferstr. 1, Vienna. With double-headed eagle. Sept. 1937. Inscription in his own hand, reads: "Meinem hochgeschaetzten Lehrer der Infantrie-Kadettenschule zu Kamenitz in Verehrung Zehner, Wien Sept. 1937" (Translation: To my highly regarded Teacher at the Infantry-Cadet-School at Kamenitz with respect, Zehner, Vienna, Sept. 1937.) Wilhelm Zehner was born 1883 in Siebenbuergen, Austrian-Hungarian Empire. Served heroically in WWI against Italy, and Russia, and climbed the ladder of military ranks, gathering many decorations. Became State Secy for the Army in Post- WWI Austria under Dr. Dollfuss in 1934. Dollfuss was assassinated by the SS, Zehner rose to the rank of General of Infantry. In 1938 he was incorporated into the WWII German Wehrmacht. Considered an enemy of the Nazis, the General was found dead in his home with a gun in his hand the same year. Though reported as suicide it is more likely he too was murdered. The photo shows Zehner in uniform looking straight into the camera, his chest filled with medals, 6 Edelweiss on his collar, with cape and decorated hat. His nickname was "IRON ZEHNER".

Very scarce and historicaly important autographed photo of Italian Commando Supremo, General Armando Diaz. 11 1/2" x 9 1/2". Photo by Harris & Ewing, Washington, D.C. Inscription in his own hand, reads: "To the American Red Cross. Washington 7. XII. 1921. General A. Diaz", signed to the Red Cross while in Washington for the dedication of the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier. It was the first and last time all of the Supreme Commanders of the Allied Forces of the Great War were gathered together in one place. Armando Diaz was born in 1861. He joined the Italian Army and was a successful field commander in the Turkish War (1911-12) and was a member of the general staff under General Luigi Cadorna on the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914. Diaz was given a divisional command in May 1915 and was one of the more successful generals during the Isonzo Offensive and the victory at Gorizia in August 1916. Following the disastrous Battle of Caporetto, October 24, 1917, in which all the fruits of earlier campaigns were lost, Diaz succeeded Cadorna as commander-in-chief of the Italian armies. In nine days, June 15-23, 1918, Diaz decisively repulsed a great Austrian offensive designed to crush the Italian armies, driving the Austrians back across the Piave and inflicting enormous losses. After four months' preparation, Diaz began, October 24, a tremendous counterattack against the Austrian lines in Italy. These soon began to crumble under his well-directed blows. A series of increasing successes resulted at the end of ten days in the total collapse and rout of the Austrian forces. When Austria, on November 4, accepted terms of truce, a virtual surrender which hastened the impending downfall of Germany, the Italian armies under Diaz had captured 300,000 prisoners, 5,000 guns, and military booty valued at about a billion dollars. This victory by Diaz ranks as one of the most overwhelming in military history. In 1921 Benito Mussolini appointed Diaz as his war minister. He retained the post until his promotion to field marshal and retirement in 1924. Armando Diaz died in 1928.

Scarce inscribed & Signed Photograph of Guglielmo Ferrero (1871–1942), New York, May 2, 1931. The 5¾" x 9½" photo is inscribed to former New York congressman Seymour Halpern, a lifelong autograph collector. Accompanied by a Typed Letter Signed from Ferrero to Halpern. Ferrero, an Italian man of letters and famous historian. With his father-in-law, the criminologist Cesare Lombroso, he collaborated in the writing of La donna delinquente (1893, tr. The Female Offender, 1895). His interest in psychology and sociology permeates his writings. An outspoken critic of Fascism, Ferrero was exiled by Benito Mussolini and became (1930) Professor of History at the Univ. of Geneva, Switzerland, where he died. Among his numerous works the best-known deal with Roman history, notably The Greatness and Decline of Rome (5 vol., 1902–7, tr. 1907–9). His Geneva lectures, held on Thursday afternoons every week from 1931 to 1942, filled the biggest hall at the university with listeners who well knew that they were hearing not only the research of a master historian but the diagnosis of Europe's heightening political fever of militarism and tyranny.

Rare signed photograph ANTONIO CIPPICO (1877-1935). Italian statesman; literary and political journalist; represented Italy in League of Nations (1925-28); member of Italian Commission for Intellectual Cooperation. ISP, silver print, 8"x10" half-length portrait. Inscribed to noted collector Rev. Cornelius Greenway "with cordial wishes...August 1, 1925."

Captain Enrico Alberto D'Albertis (1846-1932), Rare ALS, 2 pgs. Dated Genoa, November 15, 1911 (7 1/4" x 5 1/2") on his personal stationary with Castle D'Albertis letterhead. An Italian Navy officer, Genoese seaman and Explorer, deeply rooted in his own culture and open to the discovery of others. He re-travelled over the routes of Columbus, and wrote fascinating travel adventure novels. He roamed the world and traveled to America, visiting San Francisco, California, in the late 1800s. He then journeyed overland by mule train and came to an area that forms the present day Hopi Indian Reservation. In 1886 he acquired the ruins of the bastion of Montegalletto in Genoa, opposite the Forte San Giorgio on the 15th-century town-walls. He had rebuilt the bastion as a castle in medieval style: the Castello d'Albertis. The building shows many architectonic elements of emblematic buildings of the former Genoa, and antique marbles, a splendid portal of 15th century, one gun of the 1500's found in the dock, and a multitude of works of art. But the castle was also expression of D'Albertis's devotion to Columbus, to whom numerous works of art and several elements refer. He had gathered his great archaeological and ethnographical collections from his countless journeys to Africa, the Americas, South East Asia and Oceania.

VITTORIO SCIALOJA (1856-1933) Rare Signed Photo, dated Rome, June 3, 1933 (9 1/2" x 6 1/4"). Foreign Minister from 1919 to 1920 and a supporter of moderation and conciliation. Scialoja was professor of Roman law at the University of Rome and an authority on international law. He became a Senator in 1904, and served variously as Minister of Justice, Propaganda Minister, and Minister of Foreign Affairs in pre-Fascist Italian governments. Minister in the Boselli and Orlando Cabinets during World War I, and of foreign affairs under Nitti (1919-20). He represented Italy at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, and from February 1925 he served as a delegate to the League of Nations. Although he was not a member of the Fascist Party, he appeared to have considerable personal influence over Mussolini, and is widely credited for Il Duce's presence in Locarno.

Original press photo, dated May 31, 1913. Showing the Italian Military's first Bianchi Armored Automobile. American Press Ass'n.

Original press photo, dated 1918. Showing one of the Italian Army's first two tanks. Produced by Fiat

Rare Prayer Card of Italy's greatest fighter Ace of World War One, Major Francesco Baracca. Units: 70a, 91a. 34 Victories. Born May 9, 1888 at Lugo di Romagna. Died June 19, 1918, at Mount Montello. The son of a nobleman, Italy's greatest ace entered the Scuola Militare at Modena in October 1907. Less than a year later, he was an officer in the Royal Piedmont Cavalry. In April 1912, Baracca and other cavalry officers were ordered to Reims, France for flight training. By the time the Kingdom of Italy declared war on the Austro-Hungarian Empire on 24 May 1915, Baracca was an experienced pilot and instructor. Flying Nieuport two-seaters along the Udine Front, his first attempts to shoot down enemy aircraft were frustrated by frequent machine gun jams. With a Nieuport 11, he scored the first Italian victory of the war on 7 April 1916, forcing down an Austrian Aviatik with an accurate burst of machine gun fire. His final victory, an Austrian Albatros D.III, came just three days prior to his death. Shot down and killed while strafing enemy lines, his body was recovered a few days later near the burnt out wreckage of his SPAD VII. When found, Baracca was holding a pistol in his hand and had a bullet hole in his forehead. Whether he was shot down by ground fire, chose suicide over a fiery death in the cockpit or was killed attempting to resist capture will never be known. On the ground and in the air, Baracca's aircraft were easily recognized by the prancing black horse painted on the fuselage. In 1923, Baracca's mother, Countess Paolina, suggested Enzo Ferrari use her son's emblem on his now famous line of automobiles.

WW1 Italian Collar Star insignia, removed from the bodies of a dead Italian Soldier, and a dead Officer, by Dr. James Inches, Detroit, MI, Health Commissioner, serving at the Italian Front, and later given to E.P. Yerkes, Esq., in 1920.

~A few 19th Century Italian images~

Rare Cabinet Card image of Princess Margrethe of Savoy as Queen of Italy, with son Victor Emmanuel (later King of Italy WW1 & WW2) From Wikipedia Margrethe of Savoy (Turin, November 20, 1851- Bordighera, 1926), was the Queen of Italy during the reign (1878-1900) of her husband, Humbert I. She was the daughter of Ferdinand, Duke of Genoa and granddaughter of Carlo Alberto. She married her cousin Humbert (Umberto) in 1868. On November 11 , 1869, Margherita gave birth to Victor Emmanuel, Prince of Naples, afterwards Victor Emmanuel III of Italy. Namesake of Margherita, her name means "daisy" in Italian. She encouraged artists and writers and founded cultural institutions, notably the Società del Quartetto, and the Casa di Dante. She benefited many charities, especially the Red Cross. Image by Fratelli Marco & Giovanni Contarini, Venezia. ca 1878

Rare Ca. 1880 Cabinet Card of Gen. Giuseppe Garibaldi

Rare Cabinet Card of Italain scholar and writer, Ruggero Bonghi (1828-1895), with his personally signed autograph. One of Italy's greatest 19th Century politicians. Photograph by H. Le Lieure, Roma. Ca. late 1870's

Very rare hand signed CDV of Garibaldi, By Photographer Allessandro Pavia, taken in Milano, ca. 1870

Scarce CDV of Garibaldi's son Picciotti

Scarce CDV of Garibaldi's son Menotti

Rare CDV of Garibaldi's patriotic Daughter-in-law, and son Ricciotti's wife, Costanza Garibaldi. A talented Seamstress, she was well known for her beautiful embroidery work. Here she is wearing a "Red Shirt" of her own creation, bearing patriotic Italian symbols, motifs, and her name embroidered on the collar. Photographer is Fratelli Alinari, Firenze

Rare CDV of Garibaldi's General, Nino Bixio. Photographer, A. Duroni, Milano

Garibaldino, Ca. 1890 photograph of a proud Veteran of Garibaldi's Red Shirt Volunteers, Burano Bedeschini (personally signed by him), posing with his original red shirt and decorations of the Risorgimento

Red Shirt Volunteer, Pietro Di Biaggio, ca 1863. A heroic soldier, honored by Gen. Garibaldi for exceptionally valiant action in combat. He volunteered when General Garibaldi personly came to his village looking for recruits to fight for the unity of Italy. His Red Shirt was made by two women in Milan under total secrecy, as this was considered treason punishable by death. Reenlisted in 1864. Marched victorious into Rome in 1870 after their final Siege and Battle to unite Italy under one King, Vittorio Emanuele II. Born in 1844, died in 1913. Carved on his tombstone is the following inscription: "Padre Affettuoso, Ottimo Sposo, Cittadino Integerrimo, Soldato Eroico, Religione E Patria, Onoro". Translation: "Affectionate father, Excellent Spouse, Incorruptible Citizen, Heroic Soldier, Religion and Native Country, Honor".

Ca.1865 CDV of a Pontifical Zouave. A fully armed, equipped, and decorated veteran of the battles against Garibaldi. The Pope's Cross Ribbon decoration indicates that he was a Volunteer who served in Major O'Reilley's Papal Brigade. Photographer, Fratelli D'Alessandri, Roma

CDV of Antonio Andrea Arrighi. A former Italian Galley Slave who endured years of torture. At the age of 9 years old he served as a Drummer Boy under General Garibaldi, where he was wounded and captured during the Siege of Rome. He remained a prisoner for two years, receiving 17 lashes across his back, on release. Years later he came to America and fought in the Civil War, serving in Company G of the 10th Illinois Cavalry, from September 1861 to November 1865. In 1869 he became an Ordained Protestant Minister, serving as a Missionary for the next 40 years. Photographer, H.G. Smith, Boston, Mass.

Ca.1863 signed CDV of Hiram Powers (1805-1873). Born at Woodstock, Vermont. Arguably America's greatest sculptor of the 19th Century. Personally autographed by him. Though not Italian by birth, Powers, adopted Italy as his home. Moving his studio to Florence in 1837, he remained there with his family until his death, and is buried there. His sons opened a flourishing photography studio in Florence, of which this CDV is a product. Photo by Freres Powers, Photographie Americaine, 103, Via dei Serragh, Florence.

"Brothers in Arms".Extremely rare ca.1860's Tintype of two Italian Bersagliere

~Some Related 19th Century Italian Items~

1870 Hand colored French litho, titled at top border, 'GARIBALDI ET SES VOLONTAIRES (Combattant Les Prussiens). Bottom border, "EN AVANT! VIVE LA FRANCE". No. 957, Nouvelle Imagerie d'Epinal. Imp. Lith. OLIVEIR-PINOT Edit. a Epinal. Desposito in Milano de P. Clerc. Depose P.V. 16 1/2" x 12"

1860 Hand colored French litho, titled at top border, 'GARIBALDI ET SES VOLONTAIRES (Combattant Les Prussiens). Bottom border, "EN AVANT MES AMIS! VIVE L'ITALIE ET VICTOR-EMMANUEL". No. 131, Imp. Lith. Pellerin & Cie. a Epinal, Fournisseurs B.tes de S.M.L'Imperattrice. 16 1/2" x 12"

Very rare large 1860 Italian Battle Print. Stunning Italian Stone Lithograph of Garibaldi and his Red Shirts at the Battle of Melazzo. Scanned image only shows a small portion of Litho. Titled at bottom border, 'COMBATTIMENTO DI MELAZZO' (20 Luglio 1860). F. Vittosi dis. Lit. A Vallardi 24" x 20"

1854 Engraving of Gen. Garibaldi at the Siege of Rome 1849. The Illustrated London News, July 1, 1854. 16" x 12"

1860 Engraving of Gen. Garibaldi. Harper's Weekly, June 9, 1860. 15 1/2" x 11"

1882 Engraving of Gen. Giuseppe Garibaldi. Published as a supplement to 'The Graphic', June 10, 1882, 8 days after his death on June 2nd. 12" x 16"

King Victor Emmanuel II. Rare Hand colored Music Sheet Cover. 1850. 10 1/2" x 13 1/2"

Hand Colored Sheet Music titled the, 'GARIBALDI GRAND MARCH' (Arranged from the National Hymn "Viva Italia"), by Florian Agosty, Boston. 10 1/2" x 13 1/2", 8 pages

Hand Colored Sheet Music titled the, 'THE GARIBALDI MARCH' , by W Smallwood, London. 10 1/2" x 13 1/2", 1860.

Hand Colored Sheet Music titled the, 'GARIBALDI GALOP' , by G. J. Apps , London. 10 1/2" x 13 1/2", 1860.

Sheet Music titled the, 'GARIBALDI THE TRUE' , by James Hatton, London. 10 1/2" x 13 1/2", ca. 1865

Sheet Music titled the, 'ALL FORWARD!: GARIBALDI'S HYMN' , "Arranged and Published FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SOLDIERS, WHO HAVE BEEN WOUNDED IN FIGHTING FOR THE AMERICAN UNION", P. Rondinella. 10 1/2" x 13 1/2", 1863.

1859 Sheet Music titled, 'GEN. GARIBALDI'S GALOP: (After The Austrians)', Composed by A. Silex, Publ. by Oliver Ditson, Boston. 10 1/2" x 13 1/2", 6 pages

General Garibaldi, (1807-1882). Chromolithograph, ca. 1880. From a photograph by Mess., Maull & Co. London. 8" x 10 1/2"

King Umberto I [Humbert], (1844-1900). Chromolithograph, ca. 1880. From a photograph by the London Stereoscopic Co. Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co. Lith. London. T. Guffrey, 8" x 10 1/2"/h3>

Silk of Gen. Garibaldi. Made in 1860 and so dated, by F. Weber. Trudinger & Co., a Bale', 6" x 4".

Silk bookmark of Gen. Garibaldi. Incribed, 'ROME OR DEATH'. 19th Century. 9"x1 1/2".

Extremely rare and historical, personal prayer book carried by Col. John Whitehead Peard, known as 'Garibaldi's Englishman'. This English Book of Common Prayer, printed in London in 1720, bears Peard's signed autograph on the first page of prayer, and his personal heraldic armorial book-plate (inside front cover) showing a dragon with an arrow through it's neck, above two war dogs, bearing their teeth, and on the attack. Original covers, binding and interior pages in excellent condition. 6-1/2" x 4", 486 pgs, Latin. John Whitehead Peard, born in 1811, was the son of vice-admiral Shuldham. In Italy in 1860 Colonel Peard was entrusted with the Garibaldi fund and with the organisation of the British legion that joined the Expedition of the Thousand". He commanded the legion during Garibaldi s advance on Naples. Later he was awarded the Military Cross by Victor Emanuel. One of the most remarkable of the English Garibaldini - according to Henry Elliot s diplomatic report from Naples - everywhere he was known as Garibaldi s Englishman: a man of tall figure and commanding presence, with fine full beard. John Peard first met the legendary Italian patriot Giuseppe Garibaldi on the field of battle. During their introduction, a movement in the Austrian lines attracted Peard's attention. "Pardon me, but there's a devil of an Austrian over there who's catching my eye," he declared. He then insouciantly raised his rifle and fired a shot. Every member of Garibaldi's entourage trained his field glasses on the Austrian, who took a few stumbling paces before falling face down in the dirt. Peard then nodded with satisfaction and held out his hand to Garibaldi: "Good day, general. I hope I see you well."

Signed letter by General Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-1882), Rome 2/15/1876, discussing the political and military situation of the Balkan states. 8 1/2" x 10 1/2", 1 page

Signed letter by Ricciotti Garibaldi. Son of Gen. Garibaldi & Anna Maria de Jesus da Silva (a.k.a., "Anita" Garibaldi) 4 1/2" x 7", 1 page

Signed letter by Alessandro Gavazzi (1809-1889) The Army Chaplain to the Thousand Red Shirt Volunteers. He was twice General Garibaldi's personal chaplain (1860 & 1866). 7" x 9", 2 pages

Signed letter by Giuseppe Mazzini (1805-1872) Italian patriot and founding revolutionary of the Risorgimento. 3 1/2" x 4 1/2", 1 page

Signed mourning letter by Felice Cavallotti (1842-1898). Italian politician, author, and patriotic soldier of the Thousand Red Shirts. Rome, 6/6/1883. Killed in his 33rd duel on March 6th 1898, "run through" by the saber of Ferrucio Macola, director of the "Gazette of Venice", at one time his fervent admirer. 5 1/2" x 4 1/2", 2 pages

Signed letter by Baron Sidney Sonnino (1847-1922) Early politician of Italian Unification, author, and Italy's Foreign Minister during the Great War of 1915-1918. Firenze, 12/27/1877. 7" x 4 1/2", 2 pages

Signed letter by Tommaso Salvini (1829-1915) World Famous Italian Actor. He won international recognition for his portrayal of great tragic heroes. He was best known for the role of Shakespeare's 'Othello'. At 20 he became a soldier and fought in the Revolution for Italian Independence in 1849. He took an active part in the war and became the friend of Mazzini, Garibaldi and Saffi, and together with them was taken prisoner at Genoa. He was rewarded for his courage by a gold medal and the title of officer, and in the diploma given him by General Avezzana, received honorable mention for his patriotic zeal and valiant conduct. Lille, France, 2/3/1878. Great content. 8" x 5 1/2", 8 pages, Personal stationary.

Ebay Member since Saturday, Dec 20, 1997
Monte Grappa...................

monte conino...................

ponti bassano...................

Leggenda dell Piave........

Monte Pasubio................

Fratelli d'Italia................

Bersagliere ha Cento Penne...........

Bandiera Tricolore...........

Nessun Dorma (Puccini).......

Non Ti Scordar Di Me...........

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