Italiani (The Italians)
Milano: Editoriale Domus, 1937. First edition. Softcover. Folio. Unpaginated. (32)pp. (Advertisements in b/w and color); (8)pp. (Text); (99)pp. (full-page photogravures); (25)pp. (Bibliographical notices and advertisements). Original photographic wrappers, with black and white lettering to covers, protected by modern mylar.
The aim of this fascist propaganda work is to celebrate the genius and trigger the exaltation of the Italian people with ninety-nine full-page portraits (all reproduced in b/w offset printing) and biographical sketches of ninety-nine great Italians from Scipione to Mussolini. Striking photographs by Alinari, Anderson, Brogi, Fiorentini, Ballerini, Frattini, etc.. The thirty-two pages of advertisements are beautifully designed in three colors combining the styles of New Objectivity and Social Realism, some of them enhanced with photomontages. They include the Italian companies Servettaz Basevi in Genua (Office Machines), Società Del Linoleum, Avigdor in Turin, Smalteria & Metallurgica Veneta in Milan (Kitchen Products), Krupp in Milan (this with silver overprinting), the ceramic manufacturer Richard Ginori in Milan, the metal tube manufacturer Fabbrica Italiana Tubi Metallica in Turin, and Fiat, among others. All but the first and last ad are double paged. The biographical part at rear also contains full page color and b/w advertisements.
Text in Italian. Moderate and sporadic rubbing along edges of wrappers. Some foxing on inside of covers and first page. Minor and sporadic foxing throughout. Wrappers in overall good+, interior in very good condition. g+ to vg. Item #46735
Price: $450.00