Carte di Natale
Designed by Pier Canosa as a Christmas pack for the Cortina Art Gallery in Milan.
The Italian artist and sculptor Pier Canosa was born in Vasto in 1940. Among his creations for the Cortina Art Gallery in Milan are an erotic pack and this Christmas pack. It is hard to describe the style of his work. One or more human figures in native or period costume adorn each of the numeral cards, with reversible (or near reversible) characters on the court cards. Three of the 3s show a Virgin and Child or the Holy Family, while the 4s appear to show tradespeople. Musicians and mythological figures are also included. A limited palette range has been used – mainly browns and oranges and shades of blue and green. Are the designs original or are they taken from other works of art? Only a serious art historian can answer that. As the Ace of Spades depicts a baby, do the intertwined initials “JC” at the foot stand for Jesus Christ? The artist has added his name to the Joker and the back design and has also signed the extra card the back of which is plain white • See the box
Above: Carte di Natale published by the Cortina Art Gallery, Milan, Italy, 1983. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 extra card in tuck box. Size: 65 x 90 mm.
There is an error on the 7 of Hearts: one ‘7’ has accidentally been reversed.
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022
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.
Activity for Carte di Natale
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
The ACA Liège Game
A curious art-game from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Liège, issued in 2000.
Emilio Tadini playing cards
Beautiful dreamlike playing card designs by Emilio Tadini.
22 Artisti Liguri in 22 Arcani
Collaborative set of major arcana devoted to Christopher Columbus and his voyages of discovery.
Carte di Colombo
Fully illustrated pack designed by Pier Canosa commemorating the 500th anniversary of the discovery ...
Jeu Boléro
Sweeping, semi-abstract designs by J.L. Jolin in red and black only.
Marcello Morandini
Modern designs by Italian artist Marcello Morandini using the simplest of forms and colours.
Le Jeu d’Issy
Bold designs by Jacques Auriac representing people and enterprises for which the town of Issy-les-Mo...
Ases de la pintura / Masters of painting
Ases de la pintura / Masters of painting playing cards made by Naipes Comas, Spain, c.1990.
Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art playing cards designed by Takenobu Igarashi.
Fernando Valenti
Designs by Italian artist Fernando Valenti issued to coincide with an exhibition of his work in 1986...
Playing cards in Russian life
Playing cards in Russian life - Karty v zhizni Rossii - published by Aleksandr Lutkovskii in 2004.
Transformation Cards for Christmas
Hand-drawn Transformation cards, c.1870.
Liberty
Liberty playing cards designed by Antonella Castelli, published by Lo Scarabeo, 2003.
Baracca & Burattini
Baracca & Burattini puppetry deck printed by Dal Negro, 1998.
Virginie Houdet
Virginie Houdet “Cartes à Jouer” limited edition, 2017.
Japanese Women
Japanese Women playing cards in an idealised and erotic style by Keiichi Takasawa (1914-1984).
Club Bridge
Modiano’s ‘Club Bridge’ is a new edition of a stylish deck originally published in c.1895.
Credito Commerciale
Playing cards designed by Enzo Laurà for Credito Commerciale, 1978.
Löschenkohl’s Botanical Playing Cards
Löschenkohl produced a second copper engraved deck, the Botanical Playing Cards, in 1806. This deck,...
The History of Playing Cards
Playing cards appear in European records in the late 14th century, but their earlier history lies fu...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
Bustercool
10 January 2026, 06:16SavedSaved this article to cool