Il Mercante in Fiera del Solleone
Traditional Italian card game with bold designs by Costante Costantini.
Mercante in Fiera (in English, Merchant at the Fair) is a traditional Italian card game originally played with two packs of 40 cards, each pack having a different back design or colour. The designs on the cards can vary enormously; all 40 cards must be different. In this version with bold designs by the artist Costante Costantini, there are many humorous and some mildly erotic subjects. Each card has a one-word title at the top. The artist’s name appears on two different cards, as does the name of the publisher. Numbered, limited edition of 999 packs. Although the date 1985 appears on the backs of all the cards and also on the wallet, the publication date was probably 1986, as that is the date shown on the card with the rules. See the rules►
Above: Il Mercante in Fiera del Solleone card game published by Edizioni del Solleone, Lissone, Italy, 1986. Made in Italy. 2 x 40 cards + game rules in Italian in cardboard wallet with clear plastic sleeve. Size: 60 x 87 mm. Vito Arienti Editore © 1985/1986.
• See the cardboard wallet►
Extra images from Adam West-Watson
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.
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