Sardinian playing cards
Sardinian playing cards.
Sardinian playing cards manufactured by Balzan Edizione, Sardinia. The cards show Sardinian national dress and cultural objects. Italian style suit symbols.
By Simon Wintle
Spain • Member since February 01, 1996 • Contact
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
Related Articles
Lyon pattern made in Italy by Pietro de Santi
The Lyon pattern was initially developed in France during the 16th century. As Lyon was a trading hu...
Neapolitan pattern by Luigi Pignalosa, Naples
Two versions of the Neapolitan pattern from the British Museum by Luigi Pignalosa, Naples, 1875 & 18...
P. Buscaglia: Spanish-suited cards
Spanish-suited cards published by P. Buscaglia, Mele & Genova.
Natural History Tarocchi
Natural History Tarocchi by Ferdinando Gumppenberg, Milan.
V. F. Solesio Tarot
V. F. Solesio Tarot, Genoa, mid-late 19th century.
Tarocchi di Mantegna, c.1465
The so-called Tarocchi di Mantegna (c.1465) reflect an ideological structure bringing to mind the so...
Gumppenberg of Milan
Fine playing cards made by Gumppenberg of Milan evoking the style of antiquity, c.1830
Mitelli ‘Gioco di Passatempo’
Il Gioco di Passatempo contains 40 figurative playing cards depicting moral virtues and vices, dated...
Etruria Minchiate
The Cavaliers are man/beast creatures. The Valets (or Pages) are male for clubs and swords, and fema...
Giuseppe Cattino
Playing cards manufactured in Italy by Giuseppe Cattino and Paolo Montanar for Spanish markets.
Pedro Bosio, 2
Cards of the Spanish National Pattern manufactured by Pedro Bosio, Genova (Italy) during the 18th ce...
José Martínez de Castro, page 2
The most noteworthy feature of its history is that this design has since been adopted for use in Sar...
XV Century Italian Playing Cards
Cards from a pack of an early form of north Italian playing cards, with the swords back-to-back and ...
Minchiate Fiorentine
The Florentine game of Minchiate is played with a pack of 97 cards. The subjects and arrangements of...
Tarocco Milanesi by Lamperti (Milan) c.1850
Tarocco Milanesi by Lamperti (Milan) c.1850
Sicilian playing cards by Antonio Monasta
"Il Leon" Sicilian playing cards, 40-card pack based on Spanish designs, made in Sicily by Antonio M...
Small Tuscan Pattern
Small Tuscan Pattern
Romagnole pattern by Guglielmo Murari
Romagnole pattern by Guglielmo Murari c.1920
Italian Playing Cards
The first reliable evidence that playing cards were being used in Italy is from 1376, when a game ca...
Playing cards in the Upper Rhine region
Documentary evidence suggests that card playing established itself in Italy in 1376, and then spread...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
