Lombardy (or Milanesi) pattern

Published January 24, 2010 • Updated September 30, 2024

The origins of the Lombardy pattern probably lie in the early 19th century when it was a full-length design. It has some affinities with the French Provence and Lyons patterns which are now obsolete.

The origins of the Lombardy pattern, also referred to as Milanesi, probably lie in the early 19th century when it was a full-length design. Nowadays it is invariably double-ended. This pattern is also known in Ticinese in Italian speaking Switzerland which, until 1803, was part of the Duchy of Milan. The cards are French-suited, elongated and narrow, and their design is reminiscent of several used in eighteenth century south and south-eastern France (i.e. Provence and Lyons patterns which are now obsolete).

Above: double-ended Lombard pattern pack by S.D. Modiano, c.1929. 40 cards A - 7, J, Q, K. "Regno D'Italia - Lire Tre" tax stamp "Dic. 1929" on Ace or Hearts.

Above: Lombardy pattern by Modiano, Trieste, c.1981 (essentially unchanged from the example shown above).

Also known as Milanesi pattern

Above: Milanesi pattern by Dal Negro. Images courtesy Rex Pitts.

The pack has never had indices. The example shown below is from an uncut sheet by Edoardo Pignalosa, c.1952.

Lombardy pattern by Edoardo Pignalosa, c.1952

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By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

United Kingdom • Member since January 30, 2009

Rex's main interest was in card games, because, he said, they were cheap and easy to get hold of in his early days of collecting. He is well known for his extensive knowledge of Pepys games and his book is on the bookshelves of many. His other interest was non-standard playing cards. He also had collections of sheet music, music CDs, models of London buses, London Transport timetables and maps and other objects that intrigued him.

Rex had a chequered career at school. He was expelled twice, on one occasion for smoking! Despite this he trained as a radio engineer and worked for the BBC in the World Service. Later he moved into sales and worked for a firm that made all kinds of packaging, a job he enjoyed until his retirement. He became an expert on boxes and would always investigate those that held his cards. He could always recognize a box made for Pepys, which were the same as those of Alf Cooke’s Universal Playing Card Company, who printed the card games. This interest changed into an ability to make and mend boxes, which he did with great dexterity. He loved this kind of handicraft work.

His dexterity of hand and eye soon led to his making card games of his own design. He spent hours and hours carefully cutting them out and colouring them by hand.