Marconi, Guglielmo (1874-1937)
Inscribed photograph of St Peter's Basilica, Rome, c.1930
£252
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 19 June 2024 from 10:00 BST
Description
Gelatin silver print, 9.5 x 20.5cm, inscribed ‘Al Sig. I. S. Munro … Guglielmo Marconi, to the Morning Post’ in dark blue ink, photographer's ink-stamp verso (G. Felici, fotografia pontificia)
Dimensions
Ion Smeaton Munro (1883-1970) was a journalist and decorated army officer of Scottish origin. He served as Rome correspondent of Glasgow's Morning Post from 1922 to 1937, becoming press attaché at the British embassy in 1938, and head of the Italian section at the Ministry of Information on the declaration of war in 1939, before rejoining the army (having served with the Glasgow Territorials in the Great War) in 1941. 'When the invasion of Italy was being prepared he flew to North Africa, later entering Rome with the liberating army in June 1944. He was a chief press officer during the Italian campaign, and when demobilised he became press liaison officer in the Foreign Office conference department specially concerned with UN affairs in London. In the 1946 New Year honours list Lieutenant-Colonel Munro was awarded the OBE (Military) for “gallant and distinguished service in Italy”’ (Duncan Beaton, ‘The Notable Descendants of John Munro’, in A. O. M. Clark, ed., The Kist: The Magazine of the Natural History & Antiquarian Society of Mid-Argyll, no. 45 (Spring 1993), pp. 6-7). Ion Smeaton Munro wrote two books on his Italian experiences, Through Fascism to World Power: A History of the Revolution in Italy (1933), and Beyond the Alps (1934).