Carte Bolognesi
New designs reinforcing Bologna’s reputation as the gastronomic capital of Italy.
Don’t be fooled by the title or the writing on the box – this is not a Bolognese pattern pack! Far from it. First and foremost, it celebrates Bolognese people and their culinary traditions. The suits are tortellini, calici di rosso Bolognese (goblets of the local red wine), coltelline (knives), and mattarelli (rolling pins). All the courts in the suits of tortellini and mattarelli represent female figures in honour of their contribution to Bolognese cooking. The only element remaining from a traditional Bolognese pattern pack is the double-ended tassel on the 2 of tortellini. Otherwise, this pack has many of the elements of a Piacentine pattern – a bird (a cock rather than an eagle) on the Ace of tortellini, a Cupid on the Ace of tortellini, and a tree stump on the Ace of mattarelli. Even the size is that of a Piacentine pattern pack. The motto on the Ace of tortellini is amusing – “In brodo we trust” (“In broth we trust”)!
Above: ‘Carte Bolognesi’ made by T. Dal Negro, Treviso, for Boh! Edizioni, Bologna, Italy, c2023 (or earlier). 40 cards in tuck box. Size: 51 x 91 mm. Purchased in Bologna, June 2023.
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022 • Contact
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
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