Royal Britain
Pack devised by Pietro Alligo depicting English monarchs from Alfred the Great to Elizabeth II.
Despite being called “Royal Britain”, this pack essentially shows English monarchs. Trying to depict a run of these monarchs in chronological order (as here) is an exercise fraught with difficulty. In this set, devised by Pietro Alligo, Edward VIII has been left out but Mary Stuart (wrongly spelt “Stuard”) has strangely been included. Each monarch is named, with the dates when they reigned alongside. Some of the likenesses are more recognisable than others. On the back is the St. Edward’s Crown, also shown on one of the Jokers. The extra cards in 5 languages provide a brief historical background. See the box
Above: Royal Britain playing cards published by Lo Scarabeo, Turin, Italy, 2006. 52 cards + 3 Jokers + 5 extra cards with text in Italian, English, French, German and Spanish, in tuck box. Size: 58 x 88 mm. © 2006 Lo Scarabeo
I have some of these packs available for sale.
By Roddy Somerville
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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