Gumppenberg of Milan
Fine playing cards made by Gumppenberg of Milan evoking the style of antiquity, c.1830
Gumppenberg of Milan
c.1830
Ferdinando Gumppenberg (active 1809-c.1846) was a major card designer and manufacturer in the early 19th century. Arriving in Milan in 1809 from Munich, he introduced German technical innovation and taste into Italy¹. He is best known for a great range of tarot packs, especially the very successful “Della Rocca” tarot, c.1830 and the non-standard “Corona Ferrea” pack having episodes in the history of the Lombard Iron Crown on the trumps.
Playing cards were also produced at Gumppenberg’s Fabbrica in Milano. Many of his original designs were copied by other manufacturers (eg Edoardo Dotti). The court cards in this example are stencil-coloured woodcuts, with vibrant imperial-style costumes evoking antiquity but perhaps lacking in facial expressions.
Above: the tax stamp on the Jack of clubs was used in the Kingdom of Lombardy between 1823-1840. more→
Above: playing cards by Ferdinando Gumppenberg, Milan, c.1830. The reverse has a repeating pattern of red dots on plain white. Images courtesy Siobhan Johnson.
¹ According to the publisher Osvaldo Menegazzi: “Ferdinando Gumppenberg is one of the greatest innovators and inventors, ingenious in the field of playing card production during the 19th century. When he arrived in Milan in 1809 from Munich, he brought German technology along with a trunk full of experience to share with Italy. He had studied with J. Fetscher and also brought with him the news, taste, fashion and trends that were of contemporary Germany and Austria during the 2nd half of the 1700s.” See also: Gumppenberg en Dellarocca→
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
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