Lo Scarabeo from Italy - Playing Card Collection.

The most famous story written by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (better known by his pseudonym of Lewis Carroll). Published in 1865, it is considered one of the masterpieces of children's literature. The adventures lived by the protagonist, Alice, are suggestively illustrated in this deck by Jesus Blasco.

The mysterious fascination of Ancient Egypt has pervaded western culture for centuries, which seems to search for it's own roots in the people of the Great River. Archeological discoveries renewed interest in this fascinating civilization, as this deck, beautifully illustrated by Silvana Alasia demonstrates.

This deck of cards evokes two famous classical poems from Greek mythology: "The Argonauts" (Appollinio Rodin, 250 A.C. approx.) and "Iphigenia in Aulide" (Euripides, 450 A.C.). The illustrations of the painter Severino Baraldi bring these tragedies to life.

In 1857 the French poet Charles Baudelaire was condemned for his collection of poems entitled "The Flowers of Evil", accused of insulting public morals and decency. The illustrations by Riche suggest the ingenious anticonformism of that "damned poet".

Birds represent the desire to fly free elsewhere, imagined as beautiful and light like the fluttering of wings. The animals are depicted in the cards with great artistry and precision, in a universe of feathers and colors.

The illustrations of this deck are taken from the famous "Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle", published in Paris in 1849. Created by Charles d'Orbigny, the dictionary gives life to a fascinating gallery dedicated to the beauty, colors, and perfection of butterflies.

The thousand and one masks of the Venetian Carnival wink and laugh, following each other in a minuet of colours, whirling dances and sensual music. The mysterious fascination of a covered face, of dressing-up and of sweet deception connects the human spirit to a primordial rite that only Carnival is able to evoke again.

"Nature's masterpiece", as defined by the great scientist Leonardo da Vinci, is the cat. This deck, elegantly designed by Angelo Giannini who depicted the breeds and poses, is dedicated to the cat.

With the celebrated caravels (Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria), Christopher Columbus changed the history of mankind, discovering the New World in 1492. This deck pays homage to the extraordinary adventures of the Great Admiral, depicting his life and times.

Clowns, trapeze artists, lion tamers and other circus characters bring the greatest show on earth to life. This deck reproduces the hand-coloured incisions by Jules Garnier from the 19th century. It is a tribute to Buffalo Bill and his Wild West Circus.

A deck dedicated to one of the most extraordinary creations by man; the Coliseum, King of the arenas, jewel of Rome. The cards relate through the images, the planning of this monumental opera, the bloody battles between gladiators, and includes the actual naval battle that occurred within the Coliseum. Myrmidon's and retiarius's, Christian martyrs and ferocious beasts, comics and musicians, all take part in this extraordinary game that the Roman Emperors provided for the people. 54 Coloured playing cards of a legend

Man's best friend has many faces: he is faithful, courageous and affectionate, but also playful, aggressive, lazy and greedy. Each breed has its characteristics, both physical and temperamental. These cards are dedicated to that indissoluble bond that binds every dog lover with his very own four-legged friend.

In the arena of Ancient Rome the gladiators faced each other in mortal combat for public entertainment. The 54 cards illustrate aspects of the life of the gladiator, the various weapons used in the duels, the animals, the personalities, the clothing and the more unusual aspects of this fascinating and bloodthirsty profession.

Designed by Jesus Blasco, this deck was inspired by the famous book "Gulliver's Travels" by the Irish writer Jonathan Swift and published in 1726 in London. It recounts the marvelous adventures experienced by Doctor Gulliver.

On December 17th 1903 at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina, USA, the first motorized biplane left the ground: it was planned and constructed by the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright, owners of a bicycle shop. The dream of flying had finally taken off!

The horse is a symbol of intelligence and freedom, of Eros and adventure. It is maintained that the progenitors of these extraordinary animals are the Hyracotherium in Europe and the Eohippus in North America. From them came the breeds that we know today, the more famous of which are illustrated in this deck.

The research and the desire by man to be able to fly has traversed centuries since when, on the 5th of June 1793 the Mongolfiers managed to lift off a balloon in a field in Annonay in France. This deck tells the story from a dream Leonardo had up until the present day, via airships and balloons.

These cards are dedicated to Hugo Pratt, poet of adventure. Here you will find a gallery of watercolours realised over the past 25 years that mark and give rhythm to the evolution of his artistic career. An exposition worthy of a museum that you can admire calmly from an armchair at home.

The German Emperor William II (1859-1941) became known in history as "the Kaiser". To satisfy his passion for card-playing, this beautiful deck was produced. The figures depict personalities from the German nobility, from the medieval to the 1800's.

A faithful reproduction of an antique Indian deck of cards in which the aphorisms of love described in the celebrated text of Vatsyayana Mallanaga, who lived between the 4th and 7th centuries, come to life. A work from the Trivarga doctrine that has a definite erotic character, but that is also of great spiritual value.

A seventeenth century French academic, poet and novelist, Jean de la Fontaine was the author of some of the most beautiful fairy tales known to the literary world. The artist Dante Moglisi has interpreted some of the more well-known stories, giving life to an interesting and original deck of cards.

The art and genius of Leonardo Da Vinci is revealed in these illustrated cards. Leonardo was a painter a sculptor, an engineer, an anatomist, a writer, a musician, an esoteric and an inventor. His eclectic abilities and genius left a deep mark on the culture of the time and his fame continued into our times.

The illustrations from this deck come from the works of the French illustrator and caricaturist J.J. Grandville (pseudonym for Jean Ignace Isidore Gerard), considered one of the most important precursors of the surrealists for his imaginative and magnificent artwork: here the flowers and the plants are personified and assume social significance.

Dreamt about, portrayed and even searched for by adventurers of every age, the Sirens confirm their ancient appeal. The illustrations of Mauro De Luca show us the seductive marine creatures that poets, philosophers, painters and film makers have dreamt about.

The Middle Ages: an era of warriors and monks, princesses and kings. For historians it was the epoch in which the idea of Europe was formed. Each card illustrates the customs, the armoury, the fashions and the characters of the Medieval courts from England to Russia, passing through the French, the Turks, the Crusaders and the Holy Roman Empire.

This deck, which illustrates the neoclassical taste of the Napoleonic era, was made by the engraver Gatteaux and published in 1811 by Dubois. Napoleon himself is depicted in the role of Cesare, at whose feet can be seen the shield with his imperial symbol.

This is the most famous, immortal and universal fable, from which thousands of literary, musical, theatrical, choreographical, cinematographic and comic versions have derived. Written by Carlo Lorenzini (under his pseudonym of Collodi), and published in 1883, this fable had an immediate extraordinary success that continues today.

Pompeii is one of the most famous and suggestive archeological sites in the world. It is an exceptional “window” to view the life of an important Roman city, which has remained unchanged throughout the centuries under a blanket of ash and lapillus from the most famous volcanic eruption of Vesuvius, in 79 a.c. In these cards the objects, the houses and the works that Pompeii has conserved can be seen.

The Renaissance, the era of maximum splendour of the arts, the humanities and the joy of living that was manifested not only in paintings but also in the customs and personalities of the time. This deck is a great coloured living fresco of a fertile and lively epoch that takes us to the French and Venetian courts via Cyprus, Castile, Germany and England.

These Russian fairy tales (skazka), collected and organised by Aleksandr Nikolaevic Afanasjev, are an expression of a secular culture, recounting heroic stories of simple common folk or of princes; dramas of young maidens persecuted by step-mothers; animals who save farmers. A world to be discovered through these delightful cards.

Shells evoke far-off emotions and places: dreams and fantasies may be pursued listening to the sounds that come from them. Each colorful card depicts the most beautiful shells that nature has sculpted in the sea.

An interesting deck printed in 1860. These cards reproduce musical scores and illustrations referring to the popular music of the time. The Strauss family of Vienna, a dynasty of authors and active executors for more than a century, have made balls and dances universal, above all the celebrated waltz and polka.

Passion and seduction are the key to this Tarot. Casanova, a great lover and irresistible seductor, uses body language, sensuality, and desire to describe the link between human beings, while a mask covers his face in a game of fiction and flirting.

What better way to celebrate the sport and the attraction of the Winter Olympics in Turin? Bears in the snow that jump, ski, and try all of the most spectacular and acrobatic competitions. This is the true nature of sport: not to have limits. The cards illustrate all of the sports represented at the Winter Olympics.

The Venetian master Leone Frollo pays homage to feminine beauty: this deck is a magnificent and fascinating kaleidoscope of portrait figures evoked from the delicate art of this painter, renowned as a refined interpreter of eroticism.

Through the wonderful images drawn by Antonio Lupatelli, taken from the famous book of the 19th century "Fairy Tales", we enter the magic world of fairies, spirit creatures that bring the forests alive with their jokes and their euphoria. Sly and disrespectful, they organize pranks and tricks in the woods where they live with their Emperor, whom they pretend to obey.

The cards in this deck are a selection of original "Valentines", the romantic messages of lovers. This custom is widespread throughout the world, above all on Saint Valentines' Day, the patron of lovers, celebrated on the 14th February.

The story in pictures of the fascinating challenge of Space: from the first astronauts, the Russians Yuri Gagarin and Valentina Tereshkova, to the landing on the moon in 1969 with the Americans Neil Armstrong, Edward Aldrin and Michael Colllins.

The publication in 1863 of "The Water Babies", by the English writer Charles Kingsley, was extremely popular in the Anglo-Saxon world, and narrates the story of a little chimney sweep who dreams of escaping from his master and diving into the sea to live freely in the company of fish and other friends. Beautiful drawings by Jesus Blasco.

The Leonardo Da Vinci Tarot combines the art and genius of Da Vinci with the powerful insights or traditional Tarot. The result is a hauntingly beautiful beautiful deck of cards suitable for meditation, inspiration, and divination.

Boccaccio's famous novels inspired Guadenzi to create a titillating goliardic "game" based on classic Tarot depictions. Here the Arcana have almost become an erotic manual: descriptions of multiple approaches to imaginative and "burning" sexuality, without false modesty .

The master of erotic drawing transports us into an exciting dimension of ourselves and our bodies. Disturbing, explicit, and poignant scenes tell about the many joys of sex and love, secret dreams, and the most unmentionable desires. The cards also contain planetary and zodiac symbols as well as those of the four elements, useful for discovering astrological answers .

The acknowledged master of erotic drawing, Manara transports us into a dreamlike, carnal dimension reconstructed from dreams, desires, nightmares and daily life events. Manra's well-known sensual art pays homage to the female body, a symbol of the universe. Providing additional guidance from the stars, these striking cards also feature symbols of the planets, zodiac signs and the four elements.

Erotic art interrogates the body and senses. 78 Tarot cards illustrated by Milo Manara, with divinatory instructions. 85mm x 47mm approx.

A Gothic deck, dark, romantic. Fear and mystery, but also romanticism, sensuality. The Vampires in these cards are not monsters but dark and damned protagonists that live in our times, in technological and desolate urban landscapes. They move between their human and their supernatural nature, ungodly and alien.

The Kama is the pleasure attained through the five senses, aided by the spirit in union with the soul. Kamasutra signifies “aphorisms of love”. According to legend, the Kamasutra was created by the Indian god Shiva who, overwhelmed by the joys of sexual experience, dictated to a servant a treatise on erotic art, in order to make known and render eternal the amorous practices that he himself had experimented.