Catalogue of the collection of playing cards bequeathed to the Trustees of the British museum by the late Lady Charlotte Schreiber.

SHEETS: ITALIAN.

195

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SHEETS.
These consist mainly of impressions on paper, as printed from the
original plates or woodblocks, previous to being cut up and mounted to
form packs. In a few instances, in which the cards were to be used
chiefly for purposes of instruction, they were published in sheet form.
ITALIAN.
1. Cards of 1613. One entire sheet and fragment of another, taken
from the binding of an old book; worm-eaten and otherwise
injured. The two sheets contained 24 pieces, viz.-the four aces,
knaves and kings of each suit and eight pip cards of the suit of
swords, the value of each being indicated by letters and numerals
placed at either end, as R. D. (Re Danari), F. D. (Fante Danari),
S. 5, etc. On each ace the suitmark is held by a gryphon. The
2 of swords bears the date 1613.
34 x 1i in. [S. Vol. III, pl. 44.]
2. Roman Tarots. Portions of two sheets, similar in design to the
preceding, and having the values indicated in the same way. One
contains the knaves of swords and clubs, the knights of coins and
clubs, and the 2 and 3 of swords; the other has Nos. 5, 6, 10 and
11 of the atutti, with portions of Nos. 20 and 21. The knave of
swords holds a shield charged with the arms of Colonna, and the
2 of swords is inscribed "Alla Colona in Piazza Nicosia," [Rome].
33 x 24 in. [S. Vol. III, pl. 45.]
3. Minchiate. Florence, 18th century. [Italian PACKS, Nos. 47 -50.] A complete unmounted set of these cards, arranged on two
large sheets, each of which has an engraved border.
4. Mitelli's "Giuoco del Passa Tempo." [Italian PACKS, No.
136.] Complete set, printed on four sheets. Stained and injured.
5. Virtues and Vices; c. 1700. [Italian PACKS, No. 138.] Sheet
containing the first 25 cards of this game.
[S. Vol. III, pl. 29.]
6. Old Testament History; by A. Visentini, 1748. [Italian PACKS,
No. 143.] Complete set on two sheets, as originally published,
with the title "Pel Trattenimento sopra la Storia Cronologica
Sagra e Profana." Each sheet has in the upper corners two
ornamental cartouches, each containing an Italian distich. The
sheets are numbered "Foglio Quarto," and "Foglio Quinto,"
showing that they form part of a series.
o2