Umberto di Savoia Italian Royal Family Signed Fan.

Rare Royal paper fan signed by the Italian Royal Family of Umberto di Savoia. Mounted on wooden spokes, the fan is signed by the final King of Italy, Umberto di Savoia and six other members of the Royal family including his mother, Princess Elena of Montenegro, and father, Victor Emmanuel III of Italy. Mounted on blue velvet, the entire piece measures 12.75 inches by 16.75 inches. In near fine condition. The only son among the five children of King Victor Emmanuel III and Queen Elena, Umberto II of Italy reigned for 34 days although he had been de facto head of state since 1944. In an effort to repair the monarchy's image after the fall of Benito Mussolini's regime, Victor Emmanuel transferred his powers to Umberto in 1944 while retaining the title of king. As a referendum was in preparation on the abolition of the monarchy in 1946, Victor Emmanuel abdicated his throne in favour of Umberto in the hope that his exit might bolster the monarchy. But the referendum passed, Italy was declared a republic, and Umberto lived out the rest of his life in exile in Cascais, on the Portuguese Riviera.