Description:

THE GUESTBOOK OF ITALIAN ADMIRAL AND POLAR EXPLORER UMBERTO CAGNI
A very interesting guestbook, 88pp. oblong folio, maintained by notable Italian admiral and polar explorer UMBERTO CAGNI (1863-1932), from May of 1917 through September of 1921. The book bears approx. 500 signatures and inscriptions by Cagni's social callers and guests, centering on his tenure as commandant of the port city of Pola (now Pula, Croatia), which served as the primary Austro-Hungarian naval base during World War I but which became Italian territory at the war's end. The date on which the city was transferred to Italy and Cagni assumed command of the port, November 3, 1918, is memorialized in the guestbook with the inscriptions ‘V V [Viva] l'Italia Trento e Trieste nostri' and ‘Verso Pola… per Ferrovia!' (Towards Pola… by rail!'). Of particular importance to this moment in Italian history is the signature of Lt. Col. RAFFAELE ROSSETTI (1881-1951), the Italian frogman who led a raid on Pola and sank the battleship SMS VIRIBUS UNITIS with a manned torpedo and limpet mines. He executes his signature ca. December, 1918. Other important Italian military signers include: Admiral FERDINANDO DI SAVOIA (1884-1963), Admiral PAOLO THAON DI REVEL (1859-1948), Admiral MANLIO TARANTINI (1887-1963), Admiral GUSTAVO NICASTRO (1869-1940), Admiral ANGELO IACHINO (1889-1976), Admiral MARIO FALANGOLA (1880-1967), Admiral ALBERTO DA ZARA (1889-1951), Admiral LUIGI SANSONETTI (1888-1959), Admiral MARENCO DI MORIONDO (1889-1958), Admiral EMILIO SOLARI (1864-1954), General FRANCESCO GRAZIOLI (1869-1951), General GUGLIELMO NASI (1879-1971), General GIOVANNI BATTISTA ZENATI (b. 1886) Naval Captain MARCO NOTARBARTOLO DI SCIARA (1902-1985), pioneering submariner ANGELO BELLONI (1882-1957), nurse and army officer MARGHERITA INCISA DI CAMERANA (1879-1964), flying ace FULCO RUFFO DI CALABRIA (1884-1946), and aviator LEONE COLA DE RENZIS (1887-1964). A number of foreign military officers are also among Cagni's guests, including Japanese Admiral HIROHARU KATO (1870-1939), officers of the British cruiser HMS LIVERPOOL, officers of the American destroyer USS BELKNAP, and Chinese General T'ANG TSAI-LI (b. 1882). Of particular interest are the signatures of a number of Cagni's civilian and political callers, including inventor GUGLIELMO MARCONI (1874-1937); Prince AIMONE DI SAVOIA, who held the position of King of Croatia during World War II as TOMISLAV II; composer PIETRO MASCAGNI (1863-1945) and his wife, Lina; philanthropist WILLIAM PERCY COCHRANE (1860-1937) and his wife, painter HELEN LAVINIA COCHRANE (1868-1946), who sign on multiple occasions; ROBERTO MONACO, DUKE OF LONGANO (1871-1936); diplomat MANFREDI GRAVINA (1893-1932); socialite and art patron ANNINA MOROSINI (1864-1954); author and charitable activist Father GIOVANNI SEMERIA (1867-1931); psychologist and Fascist politician PAOLO ORANO (1875-1945); painter AMALIA BESSO (1856-1929); playwright and essayist SEM BENELLI (1877-1949); politician PIERINO NEGROTTO CAMBIASO (1867-1925); industrialist EDOARDO AGNELLI (1892-1935) and his wife, VIRGINIA BOURBON DEL MONTE (1899-1945); Fascist writer ELENA BACALOGLU (1878-1949); Olympic yachtsman CARLO NASI (1877-1935), his wife TINA NASI AGNELLI, and many other members of their families; and illustrator GIORGIO TABET (1904-2002). Many other individuals sign besides, many adding inscriptions that memorialize the occasion. Worthy of further research! The guestbook is bound in brown leather boards with gilt decorations, showing notable wear and with a section of the spine detached but present, and with the pages evenly toned. It is accompanied by a printout of the digitized guestbook, highlighting many of the signers listed above and providing their biographies (in Italian), as well as a biography of Umberto Cagni, also in Italian.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, COD (cash on delivery), Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

*SEE ADITTIONAL SHIPPING ABOVE* -Shipments are sent via FedEx and DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option. We will ship with USPS Priority Mail only if the buyer submits their request to us in writing and accepts responsibility for delayed shipments. Signature is always required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling and shipping charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyers should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. International shipments are invoiced by DIMENSIONAL weight, not the item weight. Please contact us for an estimate before bidding NOTE: Large, heavy or bulky items may not be shipped by the auctioneer - arrangements for shipping of these items via a third-party shipper may be arranged through the auction house. Customers who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee. Please allow 2-3 weeks for shipments after receipt of payment due to the high volume of packages being shipped.

March 27, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000