Incredibly rare signed photograph of the greatest composer that Italy ever pro-duced. Albumen pho-tograph is on original cardboard mount (overall 12.9x8.75"). Photographer's car-touche is of Pagliano E. Ricordi of Milano, Italy. Signed on the mount, "To the Maestro Garparre Villate...August 30, 1885...G. Verdi." He has also added the name of the town in Italy where he signed this, which we cannot make out. The sig-nature and inscription is in rich dark ink and is overall NRMT. The photo has some foxing spots but is strong visually and with excellent contrast. Photo and mount are glued to a board, which can be removed. Verdi wrote operas which are still con-sidered today to be among the very finest in the entire Italian operatic repertoire including Othello and Falstaff. From an important music collection, this is the only time this has been publicly offered.