Carte di Colombo
Fully illustrated pack designed by Pier Canosa commemorating the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America.
This is one of several packs issued around 1992 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America and the part that Christopher Columbus played in that discovery. The style of design is recognisably that of Pier Canosa, the Italian artist born in Vasto in 1940. Each card is fully illustrated, with at least two different elements per card, including one upright and one reversed. Subjects include buildings, historical and mythological figures, ships, etc., all depicted in a range of soft colours (mainly pinks, blues and yellows). Those colours extend to the edge of the numeral cards, whereas the backgrounds are left plain white on the court cards, aces and Jokers. There is a matt finish on the front and a glossy finish on the reverse. Pier Canosa’s signature can be found on one of the extra cards. This was a limited edition, with the plates scheduled for destruction on 12th October 1992.
Above: Carte di Colombo designed by Pier Canosa and printed by Piemme Graphic Typography, Chiavari (GE), Italy, 1992. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 2 extra cards. Size: 65 x 91 mm. Limited edition. Copyright reserved to A.P. CONSULT SERVICE
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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