I Trionfi d’Amore
Tarot trumps designed by Juan Ballesta and inspired by 1970s pop culture, promoting Baci chocolates.
Juan Ballesta (born 1935), the Spanish artist who designed these cards, worked in Perugia from 1965 to 1978 so it is not surprising that he created these designs for Baci, a company based in Perugia. The style is inspired by 1970s pop culture and is somewhat reminiscent of the animations in Monty Python’s Flying Circus. A single, strong background colour is used for each card. The titles are in Italian. This limited edition set was never sold separately but rather it was offered to customers buying Baci chocolates. See the box►
Above: I Trionfi d’Amore published for Baci chocolates by Baci Perugina, Perugia, Italy, 1978. Maker unknown. 22 cards + 24-page booklet in Italian, in a side-opening container with a pull-out two-part sleeve (one for the cards and one for the booklet). Size: 80 x 106 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.
Related Articles
Dancing
“Dancing” playing cards manufactured by Nintendo for Torii Dance School, Osaka.
Late flowering of the Lyon pattern
Faustino Solesio’s late version of the Lyon pattern from about 1870.
Tarot Beirut
A beautiful Arabic Tarot : a mystical tool for positive guidance and well-being.
Agent Provocateur
Branded lingerie collection in a pack of pin-up playing cards.
Shin-Tōmei Expressway Opening Commemoration
Promotional playing cards for the Shin-Tōmei Expressway, a major Japanese expressway that opened in ...
Danao Tiāngōng Puke
Children’s playing cards based on the 1961 Chinese animated feature film 大闹天宫 (Havoc in Heaven).
Czech National Patterns by S.D. Modiano
Modiano produced cards with the Prague and Trappola patterns in the early 20th century.
Copechat Paramount Sorting System
Preserving the past: a specimen deck showcasing edge-notched cards and their ingenious sorting syste...
Heartsette by Herbert Fitch & Co, 1893
A glimpse into a busy print and design office in late Victorian London.
Intersigma
A Czech advertising deck for a company dealing with pump technology.
Emilio Tadini playing cards
Beautiful dreamlike playing card designs by Emilio Tadini.
Batman® playing cards
Batman playing cards published by InterCol of London 1989.
Tarot de las Coscojas
Historical playing card design, tarot symbolism and an almost psychedelic medieval surrealism.
Tarot de Valverde de la Vera
A series of 24 surrealist engravings by Mexican artist Claudio Favier in which archetypal Tarot alle...
Austrian Tarock by S.D. Modiano
Modiano’s Austrian Tarock with country scenes has been in production for over 100 years.
Le carte da gioco Arcimboldo
Courts and suit-signs inspired by the works of the Italian Renaissance painter, Giuseppe Arcimboldo....
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days
