Benito Mussolini Signature with Vittorio Emanuele III – Certified Autographs, 8 July 1937 (Rosco)

Description

The original signature of Benito Mussolini, signed in ink and certified as authentic, countersigned beneath that of King Vittorio Emanuele III on an Italian royal decree of 8 July 1937 concerning the retirement of an artillery major.

An original Italian royal decree dated at San Rossore on 8 July 1937, signed in ink by King Vittorio Emanuele III and countersigned by Benito Mussolini as Head of Government and Minister for War. The two signatures are exceptionally large and stand in open space on the lower half of the sheet, making this one of the most striking examples for display. The decree retains its Ministry of War and Corte dei Conti registrations, and both signatures are certified as authentic.

What does the decree say?

The printed heading gives the King’s style at the time: Vittorio Emanuele III, per Grazia di Dio e per Volontà della Nazione, Re d’Italia, Imperatore d’Etiopia. Issued “on the proposal of the Head of Government, Prime Minister Secretary of State and Minister Secretary of State for War”, the manuscript operative text concerns an artillery major in the auxiliary category, recorded in the Italian manner, surname first, as Rosco Illario.

It places him in retirement (collocato a riposo) from 1 September 1937, with a seniority date of 26 February 1930. The minister is charged with its execution and the decree is to be registered with the Corte dei Conti. It closes Dato a San Rossore, addì 8 luglio 1937 – Anno XV.

A routine personnel act, it shows the two signatures doing exactly what they were for: authorising the ordinary business of the Italian state.

Why are both signatures on one decree?

Royal decrees were issued in the King’s name and countersigned by the responsible minister. Here that minister was Mussolini, who held the War portfolio in addition to heading the government. The King’s title “Emperor of Ethiopia”, assumed after the conquest of 1936, dates the document firmly to the period of the Italian empire.

The signatures

The King’s “Vittorio Emanuele” runs almost the full width of the lower section in a large, flowing hand. Mussolini’s “Mussolini” sits beneath it, dark, clean and fully legible. Neither overlaps stamps or text. The reverse records a Ministero della Guerra – Ragioneria Centrale entry dated Rome, 23 September 1937, and registration with the Corte dei Conti dated 30 September 1937.

Authenticity

Both signatures have been examined and certified as authentic by Juan García Nicolás, qualified graphologist and handwriting examiner (perito calígrafo, trained at Ipsigrap) and editor of Autographs & Militaria. The certification rests on a consistent set of features rather than any single indicator: the handwriting characteristics of each signature compared with documented examples, the ink and writing pressure on the paper, and the coherence of the whole document, from its printed royal heading and manuscript text to the contemporary Ministry of War and Corte dei Conti registrations.

Why collect it?

Documents signed by both Vittorio Emanuele III and Mussolini are a recognised field in twentieth-century autograph collecting. DOC188 stands out for the size and clarity of its two signatures. Two further decrees from the same summer are also available: 1 July 1937 (DOC186) and 25 June 1937 (DOC187).

Also available: certified signatures on the decree of 25 June 1937 (DOC189).

See also the certified Mussolini signature on the decree concerning General Luca de Luca (DOC190).

Condition

Good condition for an official document of 1937:

• Age toning, scattered staining, minor creasing and handling.
• Small binding holes and minor marginal wear and losses.
• Period filing annotations and registration marks.
• Both signatures large, dark and clear.

All photographs show the actual document offered and form part of this condition description.

Frequently asked questions

Who signed the document?
King Vittorio Emanuele III and Benito Mussolini, both in ink.

Are the signatures certified?
Yes. Both have been examined and certified as authentic by Juan García Nicolás, qualified handwriting examiner.

When and where was it issued?
At San Rossore, 8 July 1937 (Anno XV).

What did it decide?
The retirement of an artillery major from 1 September 1937.

Historical Responsibility Notice

This document is offered exclusively as a historical artefact for collecting, preservation, education and research. Its association with Fascist Italy forms part of its original historical context. Autographs & Militaria does not endorse or glorify fascism or the political system it represents.

References & Further Reading

• Normattiva, Legge 18 maggio 1936, n. 867 – conversion of R.D.-L. 9 maggio 1936, n. 754, on Italian sovereignty over Ethiopia and the King’s assumption of the title Imperatore d’Etiopia.