A 1p letter in Italian signed by Victor Emmanuel II (1820-1878), King of Italy after 1861, as "Vittorio Emanuele" at lower right. Issued from Rome, Italy on January 1, 1872. The letter is beautifully secretarially inscribed on watermarked bifold royal stationery, decorated with a crown, eagle, and shield emblems at top, and a "VE" monogram vibrantly embossed in red, blue, and gold. The inner pages are blank while the last page is docketed. Expected paper flaws including flattened transmittal folds, else near fine. 7.125" x 9." Accompanied by an engraving of Victor Emmanuel II after the original oil portrait by Alonzo Chappel, ca. 1872, with scattered light foxing. 7.75" x 10.5." Comes with a complete English translation.

King Victor Emmanuel II wrote this message to Lorenzo Gastaldi (1815-1883), the Archbishop of Turin. Gastaldi had been appointed to this powerful ecclesiastical position only a few months earlier, on October 27, 1871. We cannot assume, however, that Gastaldi was unaware of a rather extraordinary circumstance: that Victor Emmanuel had been excommunicated by the Catholic Church twelve years before!

King Victor Emmanuel II wrote, translated in part: "I received with great pleasure the letter with which you expressed your felicitations and New Year's wishes. I bring you, Very Reverent Monseigneur, the most courteous requite, and assure you of my perfect benevolence."

Victor Emmanuel had been officially excommunicated by Pope Pius IX (1792-1878) from the Roman Catholic Church in 1860. His sanction resulted from his participation at the September 18, 1860 Battle of Castelfidardo, when he, then only King of Sardinia, had led pro-national unification forces against troops marshaled by the Papal States. Eighteen years later, in January 1878, the same pope, Pius IX, granted Victor Emmanuel deathbed leniency; united Italy's "Padre della Patria" was permitted to be buried in the Pantheon.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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