The Mata Hari Postmark

I am normally not too surprised by the stamps or covers that cross my desk, but this one caught me flat-footed.

Lurid pictorial cancel, Italy, 1924, announcing a novel by Guido da Verona, a popular Italian writer from the 1920s to the 1940s. Mata Hari had been executed by firing squad in 1917, so she was in no condition to complain about her portrayal in the book.

"Firenze Ferrovia" is a Florence railway cancel.

And why is the Italian government pumping a private novel? I have been unable to put together a sensible translation for the top two lines, "Il Corriere Italiano Pubblica".

Il Corriere Italiano was an Italian newspaper that folded the month after your cancel. I believe it is saying that the newspaper is publishing Mata Hari.

That makes perfect sense, in context - thanks!

The newspaper has a somewhat interesting history. It existed for about exactly one year, and folded when its publisher was arrested.

The paper apparently had ties to Mussolini in some fashion, which might explain why it had the 'pull' to get referenced in a slogan cancel?

By the way, nice cancel and nice cover.