This pattern is usually referred to as The Small Tuscan Pattern ("Toscane formato piccolo"). It emerged during the 18th century and gradually replaced earlier designs. The full-length courts are dressed in Venetian rounded costume. Packs usually have 40 cards. The cards shown on this page are from an uncut sheet by Edoardo Pignalosa, Rampe Brancaccio 76, Napoli, c.1946.
Above: Small Tuscan pattern from uncut sheet by Edoardo Pignalosa, Rampe Brancaccio 76, Napoli, c.1946.
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
View ArticlesCurator and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.
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