Tarocco Piemontese by Giovanni Rossi

An Italian-suited 78-card, single-ended Piemontese tarot pack produced by Giovanni Rossi, Turin, containing four suits of 14 (ace, king, queen, knight, jack and 2-10) plus 22 trumps. No turnover edges.

The courts and numeral cards

An inscription on the font-like ace of cups reads “Rossi Torino” on the 2 “Fabrica di Rossi in Torino”. On the aces of swords and clubs can be read “Rossi Gioni. conda. [?contra] dei Peliciai Porta No. 8 Torino”, and on the ace of coins “Rossi”. The names of the court cards and trumps are in Italian. The coins numeral cards (danari) have their values in the centre of each coin.

Above: Piedmont Tarot by Giovanni Rossi, Turin. 78 cards, hand-coloured woodcuts, backs printed with a check pattern in blue and white. 18th c. In original leather box lined with decorative paper. © The Trustees of the British Museum • Museum number 1896,0501.4►

See the leather case►

References

O’Donoghue, Freeman M: Catalogue of the collection of playing cards bequeathed by Lady Charlotte Schreiber, (Italian 21), Trustees of the British Museum, London, 1901 [digital version here]