The World of Playing Cards Logo

Mercante in Fiera di Jacovitti

Published September 24, 2023 Updated September 24, 2023

Traditional Italian card game with comic designs by Benito Jacovitti.

1975 Italy Modiano Benito Jacovitti Cartoon Humour Mercante in Fiera

The traditional Italian card game Mercante in Fiera (in English, Merchant at the Fair) uses two packs of 40 cards, each with a different back colour or design. In this set, the famous Italian comic artist Benito Jacovitti (1923-1997) has created humorous, sometimes crazy designs, often playing on or distorting Italian words for comic effect. Each image is set against a strong background colour. The cards are numbered 1 to 40, each with a title in Italian. The accompanying rules are in Italian only. See the rules leaflet

‘Mercante in Fiera di Jacovitti’ card game printed and published by Modiano, Trieste, Italy, c1975 ‘Mercante in Fiera di Jacovitti’ card game printed and published by Modiano, Trieste, Italy, c1975

Above: ‘Mercante in Fiera di Jacovitti’ card game printed and published by Modiano, Trieste, Italy, c1975. 2 x 40 cards + leaflet with rules in Italian in tuck box. Size: 63.5 x 88 mm.

• See the box

avatar
532 Articles

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.


Leave a Reply

Default Avatar
Your Name
Just now

Create account to comment Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here.


Related Articles

1998 Scruffy Mutts

Scruffy Mutts

‘Scruffy Mutts’ dog-themed playing cards, United Kingdom, c.1998.

1995 Dylan Dog

Dylan Dog

Characters and objects from the Italian comic book series Dylan Dog, written by Tiziano Sciavi and d...

2006 Royal Britain

Royal Britain

Pack devised by Pietro Alligo depicting English monarchs from Alfred the Great to Elizabeth II.

1996 Unimog UX 100

Unimog UX 100

Cartoons promoting the Unimog UX 100, a small truck produced by Mercedes-Benz.

1984 Opernkarte I

Opernkarte I

Humorous designs by Peter Becker on the theme of the Opera.

2021 Le Monde Primitif Tarot

Le Monde Primitif Tarot

Facsimile edition produced by Morena Poltronieri & Ernesto Fazioli of Museo Internazionale dei Taroc...

1996 I Tarocchi del Buongustaio

I Tarocchi del Buongustaio

A less-than-serious set of major arcana on a gourmet theme, with designs by Cosimo Musio.

1975 Poker Lusso

Poker Lusso

Richly costumed courts on a luxury poker pack from Masenghini.

1980 Club Soft Drinks

Club Soft Drinks

Promotional pack for Club soft drinks with amusing illustrations of different kinds of ‘club’.

1984 Mit Rhino auftrumpfen

Mit Rhino auftrumpfen

Black rhinos on a publicity pack for Armstrong, a flooring company, with comic designs by Pit Flick....

2018 Marmite

Marmite

Fifty-Four images celebrating a UK savoury spread, that has been around one hundred and twenty two y...

1997 Pinocchio playing cards

Pinocchio playing cards

Comic book drawings inspired by Carlo Collodi’s children’s classic, Pinocchio.

1980 Le Ore playing cards

Le Ore playing cards

Caricatures of famous personalities from the late 1970s for the Italian magazine Le Ore.

1984 Carte Romantiche Italiane

Carte Romantiche Italiane

Scenes of life and the theatre in Milan towards the second half of the 19th century.

1995 Guanlangaoshou / Slam Dunk playing cards

Guanlangaoshou / Slam Dunk playing cards

Basketball-themed manga animated playing cards from Japan.

1984 Le Jeu des Musiciens

Le Jeu des Musiciens

Artist Silvia Maddonni’s gently humorous take on musicians and their instruments.