Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is an extraordinary Italian document detailing the discipline, promotion, and demotion of several Italian Army officers over the course of 1927 and 1928. The bottom of the document is signed by both King Victor Emmanuel III and Prime Minister Benito Mussolini, who would often co-sign official state documents, decrees, and military promotions during the Fascist period (1922-1943). The document has contents from four of the articles of this specific decree, and itself measures 9⅝ x 14½”. The frame measures 19⅛ x 23¼”, the back of which has an official PSA document authenticating the signature of Benito Mussolini.

Royal decrees of this period were formally issued in the name of Victor Emmanuel III, who reigned as King of Italy from 1900 until 1946, and were countersigned by the responsible minister or head of government. During the Fascist period, documents concerning military administration could therefore carry both the King's signature and that of Mussolini in his governmental capacity.

Near the bottom is an official stamp reading “Visto Alla Ragioneria del Ministero della Guerra Roma il (date)”, which translates to “Visaed by the Accounting Department of the Ministry of War, Rome, 2 February 1928(?)”.

The decree lists information from Articles Terro, Quatro, Quinto, and Sesto, or four, five, six, and seven. The soldiers mentioned include Amore Pellegrino, Moccia Vincenzo, Bartolaminelli Giovanni, Carandini Carlo, and Gnecchi Giuseppe.

Lieutenants Amore Pellegrino and Moccia Vincenzo had previously been suspended from rank on January 1st, 1928 for an indefinite period because they were subject to criminal proceedings. Article 3 decrees that their suspension of rank is revoked and considered as never having occurred. This means that they were found innocent and restored to their ranks.

Lieutenant Bartolaminelli Giovanni had previously been suspended from rank on February 27th, 1927 for an indefinite period because he was subject to disciplinary proceedings. Article 4 decrees that his suspension of rank is revoked and considered as never having occurred. This means that he was found innocent and restored to his ranks.

Article 5 decrees that Captain Carandini Carlo is incurred in the loss of rank due to loss of citizenship, pursuant to Article 71 Lett. d of a law mentioned earlier in the document.

Article 6 decrees that Lieutenant Gnecchi Giuseppe is dismissed authoritatively from rank, pursuant to Article 71 lett. D of a law mentioned earlier in the document, due to social position incompatible with the status of an officer. This means that he was caught performing acts unbecoming of an officer and was dismissed of his rank.

The document is dated at the bottom December 20th, 1928 and is signed by both King Victor Emmanuel III and Prime Minister Benito Mussolini.

The Mussolini signature is accompanied on the back of the frame by a PSA authentication document, providing third-party authentication for that autograph. Only Mussolini’s signature is authenticated here, but we have no doubts about the authenticity of Emmanuel’s signature.

This is a particularly compelling interwar Italian document because it combines royal authority, Fascist-era governmental administration, Italian Army personnel law, multiple named officers, and two major signatures from the Italian state in 1928. The decree's contents are also more substantive than a routine promotion certificate, preserving decisions concerning suspension, reinstatement, citizenship, and loss of officer status. Together with the PSA-authenticated Mussolini signature and Victor Emmanuel III autograph, it would make an excellent addition to a collection focused on interwar Italy, Italian military administration, royal decrees, or the institutional history of the Kingdom of Italy under the Fascist government.