4to. 2 portraits, 2 pp. facsimile letter from Mussolini;  4 double-page, 9 full-page and 14 smaller illustrations. Original vellum gilt (loss to head of spine, joints separating at ends, some soiling). Provenance: Claire Booth Luce (1903-1987) American author and politician (bookplate, blind stamp); the Library of Congress ("Surplus Duplicate" stamp, note and stamp title verso).

LIMITED EDITION, one of 3,000 unnumbered copies on hand-made watermarked P. M. Fabriano paper.  The Esposizione Universale di Roma, dubbed E42, was scheduled to open in 1942; it was never completed, and was cancelled after the beginning of World War II. 

Claire Booth Luce was the first American woman appointed to a major ambassadorial post abroad. She was appointed ambassador to Italy by President Eisenhower, and was confirmed by the Senate in March 1953. She later served as Ambassador to Brazil.