Q: This brochure commemorates the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal. It says “Published as a tribute to the genius of the Builders of the Panama Canal” and “Copyright 1939 by Prof. G DeAgostini, Milano.” I can’t find any references to it anywhere online. Any idea of rarity or value? It’s partially torn at the center fold.

 

A: Giovanni de Agostini (1863–1941) was a cartographer (map maker). He founded the Istituto Geografico De Agostini (Geographical Institute of Agostini), a printing and publishing company, in Rome in 1901. The first book the company published was a school atlas. The company moved its offices to Novara, Italy, in 1908. De Agostini is now in an international group of companies involved in publishing, media and communications, gaming and financial services. This commemorative booklet with pictures of the building of the Panama Canal might be of interest to ephemera collectors. The tear would reduce the value. It might sell for $10 to $25.