Playing Cards from Around the World

Adolfo Matarelli Transformation

Matarelli was a well known caricaturist who first illustrated Carlo Collodi's famous Pinocchio story. He was also a collaborator in the satirical magazine “Il Lampione”, founded by Collodi.

Agostino Bergallo

Agostino Bergallo Spanish pattern made for South American countries

Alice

Alice with artwork by Jesús Blasco, published by Lo Scarabeo, 2003.

Alitalia

Alitalia advertising deck produced by Premier Portfolio International Ltd.

Austrian Lloyd Steamship Company

Possibly one of the most beautiful decks produced for commercial purposes, this was printed by Modiano for the Austrian Lloyd Steamship Company of Trieste in c.1895

Baracca & Burattini

Baracca & Burattini puppetry deck printed by Dal Negro, 1998.

Bergamasche Pattern

Bergamasche Pattern by Modiano, 1970s.

Brescia pattern

The Brescia pattern contains elements which come from a past age.

Carte per Signora

“Carte per Signora” patience pack was produced by Fratelli Armanino, Genova, in c.1897

Carte Romane

“Carte Romane” designed by Giorgio Pessione, 1973, celebrating the history of Rome.

Cities of Art - Naples

Striking views of Naples, photography by Cesare Gerolimetto, produced by Dal Negro

Club Bridge

Modiano’s ‘Club Bridge’ is a new edition of a stylish deck originally published in c.1895

Corona Ferrea

Trumps depict historical scenes primarily of the political period known as the Holy Roman Empire from the 6th to 16th century.

Credito Commerciale

Playing cards designed by Enzo Laurà for Credito Commerciale, 1978.

Cuccù

Cuccù or Cucco, an ancient Italian card game, published by Masenghini, 1979.

Dal Negro Bridge set

Dal Negro Bridge set featuring old Vienna pattern courts.

Etruria Minchiate

The Cavaliers are man/beast creatures. The Valets (or Pages) are male for clubs and swords, and female for cups and coins.

Fantasy Italian style

Fantasy latin-suited pack with court figures in pseudo-medieval style, Fratelli Armanino, Genova, c.1890s

Florentine Pattern

Originally one of several designs which emerged during the nineteenth century, the Florentine pattern has several distinctive features.

Genovesi Pattern

Genoese pattern from Italy.

Giuseppe Cattino

Playing cards manufactured in Italy by Giuseppe Cattino and Paolo Montanar for Spanish markets.

Gumppenberg of Milan

Fine playing cards made by Gumppenberg of Milan evoking the style of antiquity, c.1830

Hand-Painted Tarocchi Cards

Hand-Painted Tarocchi Cards

Hermanos Solesi

“Money Bag” pattern by Hermanos Solesi, late 18th c.

History of Flight

“History of Aviation” playing cards published by Lo Scarabeo (2003) in which every card carries a painting representing an aspect of the history of powered flight

Il Circo

Il Circo illustrated by Jules Garnier, published by Lo Scarabeo, 2004.

Il Destino Svelato Dal Tarocco

The Cagliostro Tarot was first published in 1912 as “Il Destino Svelato Dal Tarocco”.

Italian Playing Cards

The first reliable evidence that playing cards were being used in Italy is from 1376, when a game called 'naibbe' is forbidden in a decree, with the implication that the game had only recently been introduced there.

Italian tarot cards, Lamperti (Milan) c.1850

Italian tarot cards, Lamperti (Milan) c.1850

Jeu Grotesque

Jeu Grotesque was first published in France c.1800.

Kingdom of Playing Cards by Francesco Faggiano

L’Utile col Diletto

Geographical and Heraldic Tarocchi cards from Bologna, 1725

Le Avventure di Pinocchio

Avventure di Pinocchio by Dal Negro, based on Carlo Collodi’s famous 1883 novel “The Adventures of Pinocchio”.

Le Jeu de la Guerre

Facsimile of “Le Jeu de la Guerre” designed by Gilles de la Boissière in 1698.

Liberty

Liberty playing cards designed by Antonella Castelli, published by Lo Scarabeo, 2003.

Lombardy (or Milanesi) pattern

The origins of the Lombardy pattern probably lie in the early 19th century when it was a full-length design. It has some affinities with the French Provence and Lyons patterns which are now obsolete.

Martin Mystère

Martin Mystère based on the comic book by Alfredo Castelli. The cards were designed by Giancarlo Alessandrini.

Minchiate Fiorentine

The Florentine game of Minchiate is played with a pack of 97 cards. The subjects and arrangements of the trumps are slightly varied and their number increased to 41 by the addition of the three theological virtues, one of the cardinal virtues (Prudence), the 4 elements and the 12 signs of the zodiac.

Minchiate Fiorentine, 17th C.

17th century Minchiate cards reprinted from the original woodblocks

Mitelli ‘Gioco di Passatempo’

Il Gioco di Passatempo contains 40 figurative playing cards depicting moral virtues and vices, dated 1690