Papa Pio XII (Eugenio Pacelli) - Fotografia d'epoca con...

A rare vintage photograph of Pope Pius XII (1939) with Apostolic Blessing and his autograph on Mons. Gioacchino Bonardi Description: Splendid and rare historical document dating from the very early months of Pope Pius XII’s pontificate (Eugenio Pacelli), elected to the papal throne in March 1939. The lot consists of a framed vintage black-and-white photographic portrait (silver gelatin print) depicting the Pontiff in profile, classifiable as a documentary photograph and historical portrait. At the bottom of the card is the contemporaneous Apostolic Blessing written by hand by the Vatican Secretariat and addressed to a prominent Italian ecclesiastical figure. At the bottom right stands the handwritten autograph of Pope Pius XII, laid down with clear and fluid pen strokes. The text reads: "To Our Venerable Brother Gioacchino Bonardi, Titular Bishop of Bergamo [Pergamo], we wholeheartedly impart the Apostolic Blessing. 14 July 1939. Pius pp. XII" Monsignor Gioacchino Bonardi (1866–1941) was an important Italian Catholic bishop, auxiliary of Florence and Titular Bishop of Pergamo. The recipient’s solemnity makes this document a high‑level collectible for the Vatican Memorabilia and Fine Historical Autographs section. Details of the frame and authenticity: The document is kept inside its splendid original antique wooden frame with protective glass. The back of the closing panel bears the rare and crisp hot-stamp imprint of the famous Tuscan art workshop: "Corsi Corsino - Lavorazione Oggetti Artistici in Legno - SIGNA (Firenze)", showing the date stamped 28 AUG. 1939 - Year XVII (fascist era). The precise temporal coincidence between the blessing’s date (July 1939) and the frame’s workshop stamp (August 1939) ensures absolute integrity, originality, and provenance of the lot, never altered over the decades.

Estimate:$168.49

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