Carte Romane were designed by Giorgio Pessione for Capitol Carta Roma, 1973. The publishers were aiming to establish “Carte Romane” as a distinctive regional pattern for Rome, the most famous of all cities, capital of Italy, which up to that time was missing from card tables. The deck celebrates the ancient history of Rome, founded on an act of love and death. The cards have traditional Hispano-Italian suit symbols, and the courts feature Roman-style warrior-knaves, centurion-knights and emperor-kings. Symbols and allegories such as the Mouth of Truth for coins, Roman daggers, Vesta’s Temple, the Colosseum, Arch of Titus, the letters S.P.Q.R. etc. decorate the cards. Unfortunately they were not successful owing to the greater popularity of the Piacentine pattern.

1971 edition of the "Russian Style" deck, which was designed back in 1911 by the Dondorf's plant for the Russian emperor. The box of this edition is generic and was used to many other different Soviet decks. The name on the box is Souvenirnye (Souvenir Playing Cards). The colors and the detail of the courts is superior compare to the 80's edition.

36 Patience-sized Fairy Tale cards. Vignettes on all pips. First published in 1981.

From the 'World of Playing Cards' : Beautiful court cards and floral backs. The designs have clear outlines which stand out against a tinted background. The two black Jacks carry halberds; the Jack of Clubs reads “B. Dondorf” and “Frankfort a/m”. The other two Jacks are a falconer and an archer. Although the court figures are not an accurate reflection of any historical period, this deck has been nicknamed “Rococo”. The cards are slightly small by contemporary standards, measuring 85x58mm. This pattern was published between 1889-1933, at first with no Joker, which was added in 1906 along with small indices in German or English.

From the 'World of Playing Cards': These fantasy designs imitating late medieval costumes were published by B. Dondorf in Germany in various editions between 1889-1933 as Mittelalter No.150, 151 and 135, as either 36-card Piquet decks or 52-card Whist decks. At first there were no indices, but after 1906 corner indices were added (A, K, D, B). Usually there was no Joker. One or two of the court figures can be recognised from other Dondorf decks, for example the Queen of Diamonds holding a peacock feather or the Jack of Hearts with a falcon. This and other Dondorf packs (e.g. ‘Baronesse’) were imported and sold in England under the name ‘Unique Playing Cards’ by Edward Hamilton, later Hamilton, Hills & Co., London E.C. The designs were also copied by J.J. Nunes of Lisbon as ‘Whist No.32’.

Editions Graphiques Internationales 2nd edition 1969 by Salvador Dali. It comes in a neat plywood box, either birch wood or beech wood. The inside of the top shows a picture of Salvador Dali, the top also contains his wax seal. The cards have a full gold cut and measure 88 x 58mm. The box measures 140 x 100 x 34mm. Each deck is packed in a folded cellophane wrapper which leaves the cornes open. Its closed by a red/blue seal on the back with the text "ÉDITIONS GRAPHIQUES INTERNATIONALES" on it. The court cards show lovely artwork by Dali. The pip cards are also customized. Printed by Draeger, Paris. Each deck contains 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 title card + 1 empty card.

36 French suited cards (plus 1 extra card), but with German corner indexes (Konig, Ober and Unter).

TURUN LINNA Finnish convex playing cards by Esselte Obergs AB Eskilstuna. The court cards feature Kings & Queens of Sweden that have been involved with the castle ‘Åbo slott’ (in Finnish Turun linna). Åbo is the Swedish name of a town in Finland that had been a market place for a long time before the building of a cathedral and a castle (in Swedish: slott) was started in 1280. Finland belonged to Sweden for several hundred years. The castle is shown on the backs of the cards. The deck also comes in light-brown color.

Jugendstil Art Nouveau Playing Cards were first released as a 54-card “Tarock No.1” by Joseph Glanz & Albert Berger in 1906, including 22 trump cards. The set was designed by Ditha Moser in Jugenstil style – the German equivalent of Art Nouveau with its preference for straight lines and simple geometrical forms which in this case resemble stained glass windows. Piatnik re-printed the 12 court cards with a full set of number cards as “Jugendstil Art Nouveau Bridge Nr.2136” in 1980. The Hearts court cards are dressed in Louis XVI period fashion, the Clubs courts appear as crusading knights (German Chivalry), the Diamond court cards are clad in ancient Egyptian style and Spades are inspired by the Edda sagas (Byzantium/early Christendom).

Jugendstil Art Nouveau Playing Cards were first released as a 54-card “Tarock No.1” by Joseph Glanz & Albert Berger in 1906, including 22 trump cards. The set was designed by Ditha Moser in Jugenstil style – the German equivalent of Art Nouveau with its preference for straight lines and simple geometrical forms which in this case resemble stained glass windows. Piatnik re-printed the 12 court cards with a full set of number cards as “Jugendstil Art Nouveau Bridge Nr.2136” in 1980. The Hearts court cards are dressed in Louis XVI period fashion, the Clubs courts appear as crusading knights (German Chivalry), the Diamond court cards are clad in ancient Egyptian style and Spades are inspired by the Edda sagas (Byzantium/early Christendom).

Playing cards showing the influence of ‘Jugendstil’ first manufactured by the Soviet Playing Card Monopoly (U.S.S.R.) in c.1910 and then again in c.1930. This pack is a modern reprint, circa 1980, with 32 cards.

This deck has no seal

This deck is part of 2 decks set with Gold and Silver backs. Each deck has 52 cards + 3 Jokers + 2 side descriptive cards containing info on the 19 painters that contributed design to these cards.

This Silver deck is part of the set of 2 decks with Gold and Silver backs. Each deck has 52 cards + 3 Jokers + 2 side descriptive cards containing info on the 19 painters that contributed design to these cards.

Delightful and slightly risqué cards made by Grimaud, titled“Jeu des Amoureux de Peynet,” featuring the famous designs of Raymond Peynet.

Elegant gold-printed playing cards in a dreamy Jugendstil style designed by Otto Benz for Renault, 1987. Released as a pair of decks with identical backs.

Bridge deck from 1960, in a thick cardboard fleur-de-lys sliding box. Siriol Clarry was an illustrator whose work included book covers and children's books.

Bridge deck from 1960, in a thick cardboard fleur-de-lys sliding box. Siriol Clarry was an illustrator whose work included book covers and children's books.