Giuseppe Mazzini | The Statutes of Giovine Italia with the oath of its members, signed manuscript copy, c.1831

Giuseppe Mazzini

Manuscript copy of the Statutes of Giovine Italia with the oath of its members

signed and attested by Mazzini at the head of the first page, the text in the hand of an amanuensis, possibly Sig. Bezzi, composed 1831, 12 pages, 4to, slightly browned

[with:] Note of provenance, written on the verso of a printed circular headed 'our date pad, 1940' stating that it was transcribed by Sig. Bezzi, an assistant to Lanzia (i.e. Landseer), who modelled the Trafalgar Square Lions and husband to 'Katerina' Hill

The importance of Mazzini's secret society in the history of the Unification of Italy, and of Europe in the nineteenth century, is indisputable. Founded in Marseille in 1831 as a political group, its principles were published in a periodical of the same name. Defined by the goals of freedom, independence and unity, it was eventually dissolved by Mazzini in 1848 and replaced by the Italian National Association.

PROVENANCE:

Sotheby's London, 14-15 April 1982, lot 388