'He was one of the best among us…'

MUSSOLINI BENITO: (1883-1945) Italian Fascist Dictator of World War II who served as Prime Minister of Italy from 1922-43.

Autograph Manuscript signed, Mussolini, three pages, 4to, n.p., n.d. (February 1930), in Italian. The manuscript is the text for a speech Mussolini made on the death of Michele Bianchi and states, in part, 'Black Shirts of Italy! Michele Bianchi, Quadrumvir of the Republic, has died. With profound sadness, I announce this to you. He was one of the best among us….[he] was among the founders of the Fasci di Combattimento in 1919; secretary of the party in 1922; Quadrumvir during the decisive days of the March on Rome; honoured corporal of the Voluntary Militia for National Security; State Councillor; Fascist Minister; he tirelessly served the cause of the Fatherland and of Fascism for fifteen years….he took from his native land of Calabria his intelligence, his silent perseverance, his active faith….Faithful to his orders, he died fulfilling his duty until his last moments. Black Shirts of Italy, raise your flag to half mast, and honour the memory of this comrade of our first epic vigil, faithful warrior - ready at any time and in any event - of our Revolution'. Signed by Mussolini at the conclusion. Written to the verso of pages of a printed proof of an Italian book entitled Il Dramma di Cannes Mussolini has made a number of corrections to his text. A good, historic manuscript. A few small pinholes to the edges and corners of each page and a couple of small areas of paper loss to the first page, not affecting the text or signature, about VG

Michele Bianchi (1883-1930) Italian Revolutionary Leader, one of the founding members of the Fascist movement. As referred to in Mussolini's manuscript, Bianchi was one of the four leaders (Quadrumvirs) that led Mussolini's March on Rome in October 1922.

Known as Il Duce, Mussolini was the founder of Italian Fascism and leader of the National Fascist Party. He ruled Italy as Prime Minister constitutionally from 1922 until 1925 at which point he abandoned all pretence of democracy and formed a legal dictatorship. Mussolini's National Fascist Party was outlawed by the post war Constitution of Italy in 1947.