Philately - The Fiction Connection
The Mystery Box book is the proud winner of a Silver Medal awarded by the Chicago Philatelic Society CHICAGOPEX Literature Exhibit
Read the Book Review by Barbara Kinne of the APS American Philatelist
This 1920 issue from FIUME shows the typographed bust of what famous Italian?
a. Benito Mussolini
b. Julius Caesar
c. Garibaldi
d. Gabriele D’Annunzio
Answer If you answered (a) Mussolini you were wrong, but not too far off the mark.
The Italian dictator “Il Duce” drew inspiration from another Italian patriot and fascist, the poet Gabriele d’Annunzio who seized the key port of Fiume, formerly Hungarian, following the First World War in the name of Italy.
In fact the likeness between the two men is remarkable. One might go so far as to say that after d’Annunzio, shaved heads, jutting jaws, and black shirts were all the rage among Italian fascists of the period.
Prior to d’Annunzio’s administration, Fiume postage stamps were issued by a number contending local posts. D’Annunzio had in mind the glories of ancient Rome and postage stamps of his administration reflect this imperial nostalgia.
The Latin inscription is evidence of this, and translates: “Here we will stay, quite happily.” D’Annunzio’s imperial happiness was short-lived, however, for he was ousted by Italian troops in 1921. Fiume has since changed hands and is now the Croatian port of Rijeka.
