The French publishing landscape was transformed after 1923 by an Italian entrepreneur who started his career with a small printing shop in Paris. Cino Del Duca navigated the complexities of the mid-twentieth-century media market, building a transnational empire that spanned magazines, newspapers, book publishing, and film production, while becoming a prominent figure in the French Resistance.
Publishing Empire and Media Expansion
Del Duca built a diverse media portfolio starting with his own printing facilities. In 1947, he launched the magazine Grand Hotel, followed by Franc Tireur in 1949 and the Paris-Journal in 1957. By merging these publications into the morning tabloid Paris-Jour, he captured a significant share of the competitive Parisian market. His company, Les Editions mondiales, managed successful titles like Nous Deux and the 1966 launch Télé Poche. Through his agency Mondial Presse, he secured French rights for popular English-language comic strips, including Tarzan.
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Diversifying beyond print, Del Duca entered the motion picture industry in 1954. Between 1954 and 1962, he financed and produced eight feature films, most notably the 1960 work L'avventura. His interests also included agriculture and sport in Normandy, where he managed a 55-hectare property at Biéville-Quétiéville. His thoroughbred operation, the Haras de Quétiéville racing stable and stud farm, achieved prominence when his stallion, Prince Bio, became France's leading sire in 1951.
Investments and Philanthropy in Italy
Returning to his native Italy in 1951, Del Duca expanded his book publishing operations, translating notable works from French and English into Italian. In April 1956, he partnered with Gaetano Baldacci and Enrico Mattei to establish the newspaper Il Giorno in Milan. His commitment to the Ascoli Piceno region was marked by his 1955 rescue of the A.S. Ascoli football team from bankruptcy. He funded the construction of the Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca in 1962, which served as the team's home venue.
Wartime Service and Lasting Legacy
During World War II, Del Duca served in the French Resistance against the German occupation, an effort that earned him the Croix de Guerre. He was also a recipient of the Legion of Honour. Following his death in 1967, he was buried at the Père Lachaise Cemetery. His widow, Simone, utilized their estate to further their philanthropic goals, creating the Prix mondial Cino Del Duca in 1969 and the Simone and Cino Del Duca Foundation in 1975 to support medical research, the arts, and international literary achievement.
Fast facts
- Born: 1899, Montedinove, Italy
- Died: 1967, Milan, Italy
- Citizenship: Italy and France
- Notable Award: Legion of Honour
- Wartime decoration: Croix de guerre 1939–1945
- Key Publication: Galaxy Science Fiction
- Notable Film: L'avventura (1960)
- Burial place: Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris
Questions readers ask
What was the Simone and Cino Del Duca Foundation?
Established in 1975 by his widow, it manages charitable involvements, including medical research and arts funding.
Did Cino Del Duca serve in the military?
Yes, he served in the French Resistance during World War II and was awarded the Croix de guerre.
Achievements
- Legion of Honour