Inscribed Photograph of Arturo Toscanini, Christmas 1944

1944. Near Fine. The four line inscription beneath a large photo of the great conductor is written and signed by Arturo Toscanini and dated Natale 1944, which is Christmas, 1944. The photo is large, measuring 19 by 16.5 cm, not counting margins or the space below with the inscription. Including the matting, the object is 37.5 by 28 cm. We don't know to whom the inscription was dedicated, and part of the cursive script is utterly indecipherable to us. The only words entirely clear are the most antiseptic and obvious -- his wishing whomever a most affection good wishes. It is clear to us, though, that the photo wasn't given merely to a fan but rather to someone professional or socially connected to the conductor, and we favor the former as the likelier. The photo is one that was used promotionally at the time, as it is a flattering image of how he looked at his age then. He looks distinguished without appearing the least bit stuffy, and while posed, you can easily imagine that he might be listening to you in a casual conversation. At the time, Toscanini lived in New York. He had fled Italy with the outbreak of the Second World War and in 1944 resumed the leadership of the NBC Symphony Orchestra. He was unquestionably one of the most influential, and famous, conductors of the early to mid-20th Century, having been head conductor of the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, etc., and having also conducted the premiers of countless standard works, among them, "La Boheme" when he was just starting out. The matting is fairly heavily age toned. Otherwise, there are no condition issues.