Sicilia in Acquerello
Souvenir playing cards from Sicily using watercolours rather than photographs.
It is always nice to come across a souvenir pack which uses something other than photographic images. In this instance, watercolours convey the message, albeit only 19 different ones, with a lot of random repetition. Each view is named beneath the image. The Joker features the three-legged emblem of Sicily (triskele). The cards have a glossy finish. The attractive tuck box shows an old map of the island with the principal sights marked on it. See the box►
Above: souvenir playing cards from Sicily printed by Stampa GMC, Settimo Milanese, for Smeraldi Edizioni, Palermo, Italy, c2020 (or earlier). 52 cards + 2 Jokers in tuck box. Size: 63 x 87 mm. Purchased in Palermo, September 2022.
By Roddy Somerville
France • 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.
Activity for Sicilia in Acquerello
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Late flowering of the Lyon pattern
Faustino Solesio’s late version of the Lyon pattern from about 1870.
Le carte da gioco Arcimboldo
Courts and suit-signs inspired by the works of the Italian Renaissance painter, Giuseppe Arcimboldo....
English Heritage
52 different colour photos of historic sites managed by English Heritage.
Royal Britain
Pack devised by Pietro Alligo depicting English monarchs from Alfred the Great to Elizabeth II.
Il Vostro Destino
Italian fortune-telling pack produced by Viassone and later by Masenghini.
Carte Osteologiche
Skulls and bones of all descriptions have become the suits and pips in this 40-card pack from Italy....
Marlow playing cards
Visitor attractions and businesses to be found in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico
Promotional pack for Chianti Classico wine, with designs by Costante Costantini.
Florentine pattern variant
Non-standard designs by Chiari of Florence with some of the features of a traditional Florentine pat...
Das Tübinger Skatspiel
Pack devised by Volker Scheub depicting characters associated with the city of Tübingen.
Ethiopian playing cards
A pack with court cards reflecting different ethnic and cultural groups found in Ethiopia.
Salzburg Souvenir
A souvenir pack with just one view – on the back!
Venetian Tarot
Scenes from the history of Venice on a set of the major arcana.
Carte Giganti Siciliane
Gigantic souvenir pack combining traditional Sicilian pattern cards with photographic views.
Scenic Views of New Zealand
A ‘Rangitira’ souvenir showing 52 different scenic views of the North and South Islands of New Zeala...
Luxembourg Souvenir
54 scenic views of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Fernando Valenti
Designs by Italian artist Fernando Valenti issued to coincide with an exhibition of his work in 1986...
Bolzani e Spagnolo
Stylish monochrome designs by the Archinstudio of Guido Bolzani and Gian-Piero Spagnolo, printed by ...
San Marino Souvenir
San Marino stamp designs combined with photographic views by La Fotometalgrafica Emiliana, c.1975.
Annapurna
Annapurna playing cards produced and published by Himalayan MapHouse, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
Jenean Lindley
20 July 2023, 18:20Hi Roddy, I recently purchased a deck of these playing cards while in Palermo. I regret not buying more, as I have more people that I'd like to gift a set. I'll be back in Sicily but not for another year. Do you know where I could purchase more decks to have shipped to the United States? Many thanks, Jenean
Simon Wintle
21 July 2023, 19:17The publisher's mail order website = https://www.souvenirsmeraldishop.it/prodotto/carte-poker-c-immagini-acquerello-cod/