VINTAGE Italian Playing  Cards - Pignalosa, Napoli

This is a Spanish-suited  deck printed in Italy. The typology of Spanish/Italian playing cards is  fascinating, with regional gaming traditions resulting in a wide variety of  designs - even today. This lithographed sheet, printed on heavy card stock, is  what a deck of 40 playing cards looks like before it is cut into individual  cards. The artwork is from the 19th Century, with much older traditions  stretching back into the 14th Century.

Spanish-suited playing cards  have four suits, and a deck is usually made up of 40, 48, or even 50 cards. It  is categorized as a Latin-suited deck, and has strong similarities with the  Italian-suited deck, and less with the French Aluette deck. Spanish-suited cards  are used in Spain, southern Italy, parts of France, Latin America, North Africa,  and the Philippines. The Italian swords and clubs are often interlaced, whereas  Spanish ones are separated. The interlacing comes from the traditional tarot  suit arrangements, though not all Italian regional patterns have this feature.  This one features upside-down suits, in the French manners.

Size 20.5 x 16.5 inches,  good condition, fresh color, no oxidation of paper.

Suitable for framing.

For questions and  concerns, please contact Jean at 310 994 6009.