Carte Giganti Siciliane
Gigantic souvenir pack combining traditional Sicilian pattern cards with photographic views.
One might consider it a rather crazy idea to combine traditional Sicilian pattern cards (above) with colour photographic views of Sicily (beneath) but that is exactly what has been done here. Even the little extra decorative elements found on Sicilian pattern cards have been retained. The views are largely of Palermo and the surrounding area. One wonders what the market for such strange, oversized cards was thought to be. They were probably not a commercial success, as the manufacturer Muoio of Naples appears not to exist anymore. See the box►
Above: Carte Giganti Siciliane produced by Muoio of Naples for Zingarello of Palermo, Italy, c.2010 (?). 40 cards in tuck box. Size: 104 x 190 mm. Purchased in Palermo, September 2022.
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.
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