Bolzani e Spagnolo

Published June 08, 2022 Updated June 08, 2022

Stylish monochrome designs by the Archinstudio of Guido Bolzani and Gian-Piero Spagnolo, printed by Masenghini, Bergamo, Italy, 1977.

1977 ItalyBolzani e SpagnoloMasenghini

Artist-designed packs can often be impossible to use but in this case Italian artists Guido Bolzani and Gian-Piero Spagnolo have created designs which are both pleasing and practical while at the same time being unashamedly modern. The red suits are coloured red and white, and the black suits black and white. All the (double-ended) court card figures look straight ahead. Panels of small suit-signs run down each side of every card. Mauve or turquoise patterned backs. Produced in a limited, numbered edition of 2,000 double packs with a leaflet signed by Guido Bolzani. See the leaflet

Modern designs by the Archinstudio of Guido Bolzani and Gian-Piero Spagnolo, printed by Masenghini, Bergamo, Italy, 1977 Modern designs by the Archinstudio of Guido Bolzani and Gian-Piero Spagnolo, printed by Masenghini, Bergamo, Italy, 1977 Modern designs by the Archinstudio of Guido Bolzani and Gian-Piero Spagnolo, printed by Masenghini, Bergamo, Italy, 1977

Above: designs by the Archinstudio of Guido Bolzani and Gian-Piero Spagnolo, printed by Masenghini, Bergamo, Italy, 1977. 2 x 52 cards + 2 Jokers, plus leaflet, in double box (plastic bottom, cardboard top). Size 64 x 90 mm.

avatar
634 Articles

By Roddy Somerville

France • Member since May 31, 2022 • Contact

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.

Related Articles

1870 Late flowering of the Lyon pattern

Late flowering of the Lyon pattern

Faustino Solesio’s late version of the Lyon pattern from about 1870.

1987 Le carte da gioco Arcimboldo

Le carte da gioco Arcimboldo

Courts and suit-signs inspired by the works of the Italian Renaissance painter, Giuseppe Arcimboldo....

1975 Poker Lusso

Poker Lusso

Richly costumed courts on a luxury poker pack from Masenghini.

1989 Il Vostro Destino

Il Vostro Destino

Italian fortune-telling pack produced by Viassone and later by Masenghini.

1978 San Paolo Shakespeare

San Paolo Shakespeare

San Paolo Shakespeare, Italy, 1978

1983 San Paolo Chekhov

San Paolo Chekhov

Characters from Chekhov’s plays designed by Paolo Fresu for San Paolo Istituto Bancario, Italy, c.19...

1978 Carte Osteologiche

Carte Osteologiche

Skulls and bones of all descriptions have become the suits and pips in this 40-card pack from Italy....

1984 Schwarze Katze (or Gioco del Gatto Nero)

Schwarze Katze (or Gioco del Gatto Nero)

Reproduction of a 40-card transformation pack with designs by “WS”, adapted for the game of Black Ca...

1906 Bolognese pattern

Bolognese pattern

Standard Bolognese pattern pack by Murari of Bari.

1970 Italia playing cards

Italia playing cards

Small, narrow cards designed by Osvaldo Menegazzi, bearing a strong resemblance to a Swedish pattern...

1870 Florentine pattern variant

Florentine pattern variant

Non-standard designs by Chiari of Florence with some of the features of a traditional Florentine pat...

1979 Lo Zodiaco

Lo Zodiaco

French-suited fortune-telling pack with distinctive designs by Italian artist Sergio Ruffolo.

1980 Ethiopian playing cards

Ethiopian playing cards

A pack with court cards reflecting different ethnic and cultural groups found in Ethiopia.

1979 Gruppo Perotti playing cards

Gruppo Perotti playing cards

Stunningly beautiful designs by the Japanese artist Tiger Tateishi for Gruppo Perotti.

1980 The Circus

The Circus

“The Circus” playing cards with artwork by Max Dissar and Rita Rielle, published by Masenghini, Berg...

1980 Venetian Tarot

Venetian Tarot

Scenes from the history of Venice on a set of the major arcana.

1977 Il Quinto Seme

Il Quinto Seme

An Italian pack with a fifth suit of “amici” (“friends”).

2020 Sicilia in Acquerello

Sicilia in Acquerello

Souvenir playing cards from Sicily using watercolours rather than photographs.

1986 Fernando Valenti

Fernando Valenti

Designs by Italian artist Fernando Valenti issued to coincide with an exhibition of his work in 1986...

1979 Cuccù

Cuccù

Cuccù or Cucco, an ancient Italian card game, published by Masenghini, 1979.