Die Fiat im Vatikan: "Willkommen sei die Fiat!" (Fiat in the Vatican: "Welcome to the Fiat")
Rome: Istituto Geografico De Agostini, 1929. First edition. Softcover. Oblong octavo. [4]pp. text, [22]pp. photographs. Gold-stamped stiff red wrappers with golden decoration string along spine. Illustrated title page. Scarce pictorial account of the delivery and presentation of the Fiat 525 Sedan to Pope Pius XI, in 1929. The car was especially made for the Pope by Fiat. It was armored and for the pope's comfort, manufactured with special leather and silk seats. Metal parts of the interior were made of gold and all wood panels were gold plated. The car was personally delivered to the pope (as documented in this book) by Italian champion race-car driver Felice Nazzaro (1881-1940). This car was truly the first Pope mobile! Illustrated with 26 annotated b/w reproductions of photographs. Some of the photographs show the car driving through the Petersplatz, entering the gate of the Vatican, the Pope admiring his new vehicle, his first ride with Nazzaro, etc. Another image shows the Pope giving blessings to employees of Fiat. Edges of wraps creased and chipped. Minor staining to front cover. Text in German. Very good condition. Scarce pictorial documentation of the first car ever given to a pope. Other cars such as the Isotta-Fraschini and American Graham were presented to the Vatican just a year later. vg. Item #13101
Price: $500.00