Almanacco Universale del Gran Pescatore di Chiaravalle per l'Anno del Signore 1919. [Cover Title: Banca Popolare “Fugazi”]

Genova: Stamperia Casamara, Piazza 5 Lampadi, [1918]. 4 ” x 3”. Stapled printed thin card wrappers. Pp. 40. Very good plus: dust soiling and mild wear throughout; a few minor ink blurs and creases on leaves not affecting readability.

This is an Italian-language almanac with specially issued wrappers for distribution in California. It was sponsored by the Banca Popolare “Fugazi”, with locations in San Francisco, Oakland, and Santa Barbara, California and was likely distributed as a promotion to Italian communities in California.

Giovanni (John) F. Fugazi (1838-1916) was born in Milan, Italy and emigrated to the United States the age of 16. He spent the next several years as an itinerant laborer before settling in San Francisco in 1869. There he founded San Francisco’s first travel agency, Agenzia Fugazi. Before Fugazi's travel agency, Italian immigrants in San Francisco had no way of sending money back to their families. He owned the only vault in North Beach and many Italians asked him to secure their important papers – and their money – for safekeeping. They were then able to make arrangements to transport their families from their homelands. In 1893, Fugazi officially established the Banca Colombo, and after the great earthquake and fire of 1906, he formed his second bank, the Banca Popolare. Though it took many years for San Francisco to be rebuilt, the Italian Colony of North Beach rebounded within a year, thanks in part to Fugazi’s resources.

An artifact of the attempts of a prominent Italian-American businessman and philanthropist in California to bolster his community with feelings of home. Very good +. Item #5806

Price: $250.00