Bombastic Italian dictator, known as 'Il Duce.' Mussolini styled himself in the mold of Roman emperors and had ambitions to match. In the end, he met with the same bloody fate as some of his ancient predecessors, captured and killed by Italian partisans and hung upside down from the girder of a filling station. ALS in Italian, signed 'Mussolini,' two pages on two adjoining sheets, 8 x 10, Ministry of Foreign Affairs letterhead, no date. Letter to an unknown recipient. Mussolini writes that the ceremony has prevented him from answering sooner. In part, 'If the times favor a new direction one must await for certain parliamentary results. Today you will not easily understand the motives. One must understand the sharpest elements of the left.' In fine condition, with a light shade of toning to pages. COA John Reznikoff/University Archives and RRAuction COA.
