79: Goodall in Italy

Goodall's cards seem to have been well-known in continental Europe during the first half of the 20th century. They were known in America as well, but Italy still uses Goodall-derived courts today, so I thought I'd present a brief survey of the designs, nearly all of which have been altered from the original in some way. I have a nice piece of evidence of their presence in Italy before World War I in the form of a sample book by Viassone, which contains samples of Goodall's cards as well, alongside other European makers, such as Piatnik and Dondorf. It dates from c.1912.

Let's start, then, with the originals.

G6, wide, in use from c.1900-30 (after 1922 printed by De La Rue)

G7, Society (bridge) size, in use from c.1910-25

G8, redrawn wide for use in cheaper packs, used from c.1909-35

All the above appear in the Viassone sample book.

After the take-over by De La Rue redrawn versions of the courts were produced.

GD9, c.1923-40 with a revival by Waddington in the 1960s and 1970s.

GD10, bridge size, c.1923-40

GD12, c.1932-40, continued by Waddington, c.1943-75 (GDW12).

I'll now go through the Italian makers and illustrate their versions of the originals.

ARMANINO

Copy of GD9, 1941

BARRO

A very haphazard version of GD10, retaining some original characteristics, c.1940

CAMBISSA

Copy of GD9, c.1970

DAL NEGRO

Copy of GD9;  right-hand QH is the cover of a calendar for 1937. These designs are still in use today.

ITALCARDS

These are a modification of the design with fewer recognizable features; these courts are also used by Maestros Naiperos Españoles. Current

MASENGHINI/MODIANO

These two firms seem to have the same courts. It appears Masenghini was taken over by Modiano at some point.

Copy of GD9, though the KH & JH are altered slightly and are distinctive of these makers.

Modiano also made packs for the Greek market and the AS sometimes has Nina on or EMP (in Greek letters) for the Greek Playing Card Monopoly.

MODA 90

A somewhat crude redrawing of GD9, current

SOLESIO

Not a close copy, but there are a few characteristics of the original such as the queens' crowns and the JS's attribute, 1928

VIASSONE

Copy of GD10, 1924

Copy of GD12 on wide cards, 1943