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