The upcoming Aste Bolaffi “Rare Books and Autographs” auction, featuring 782 lots, will take place on June 22 at Milan's Grand Hotel et de Milan (via Manzoni 29).
The highlights include 83 unpublished letters by the Italian poet Gabriele D'Annunzio and the diary attributed to Italian fascist Roberto Farinacci.
The letters are part of the correspondence between D'Annunzio and Giovanni Rizzo, the prefect who kept an eye on the poet's life and activities on behalf of the Fascist government during the years he spent at Lake Garda. These letters (lot 708, starting price 20,000 euros) have never before been published and hold historical and political value, since the poet used Rizzo to amplify his influence and to convey messages to Prime Minister Benito Mussolini. The signed, typewritten diary attributed to Fascist party secretary Roberto Farinacci (lot 720, starting price 20,000 euros) will be accompanied by copies of newspaper clippings and court documents from a trial that began in 1947, two years after Farinacci was executed by firing squad in Vimercate. At that time his heirs opposed the publication of these documents.
The documents show that Farinacci distanced himself significantly from the position taken by Mussolini.
Playbills and postcards signed by Maria Callas will also be included, as well as one of her private letters written in Rome in 1969 prior to leaving for Turkey, and one in Monte Carlo in 1961 which was addressed to her Bologna-based admirer Paolo Barbieri, who later became a friend (lots 737 and 746, starting price 1,000 euros each).
In the books section, a highlight is lot 501: the most famous atlas of the 16th century with 363 views of 543 cities, “Civitates Orbis Terrarum”, with a starting price of 50,000 euros.
"This is the 'lighthouse' of the auction," Aste Bolaffi Business Developer Cristiano Collari said, "one of the most famous books of this type. It is the most beautiful copy that has ever gone on auction, with a red Morocco leather binding from the 18th century." The works of Giambattista Bodoni from Marche native Lorenzo Solari's collection are another highlight, with 271 lots up for bidding. It is the largest private collection of the works of Bodoni, who is considered one of the most important publishers and printers in Italy and the world between the mid-18th century and the early 19th century.
The collection includes editions with exotic characters, including the 'Manuale Tipografico' from 1818, the result of 40 years of work that was completed by his wife. Bidding will start at 14,000 euros.