Bolognese pattern
Standard Bolognese pattern pack by Murari of Bari.
These are standard Bolognese designs by the well-known maker Murari of Bari. They closely resemble those of the Tarocco Bolognese. The King of Cups in this pack is in fact a strange amalgamation of the King and Queen of Cups from the Tarocco Bolognese, with elements from both cards. Note, too, the almost closed eyes of the Jack (or Fante) of Batons (his eyes are wide open on more modern packs). The maker’s name appears on the Ace of Coins and again on the 4 of Coins. Also on the Ace of Coins are two stamps: the first is a date stamp (14 DIC. 906), while the second is a tax stamp (this one was in use from 1883 to 1914).
At this time (1906), turn-over edges were still being used, as this gave the cards added durability: this means that the back paper was folded over onto the front of the card on all four sides, sometimes obscuring part of the design on the front (see, for instance, the Jack of Cups, part of whose headgear and feather is covered by the turn-over edge).
Above: Bolognese pattern or Primiera Bolognese made by Cav. Guglielmo Murari, Bari, Italy, 1906. 40 cards. Size: 49 x 103 mm.
By Roddy Somerville
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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