52 Carte rare Italiane di Trasformazione
(52 rare Italian 'Transformation' Playing Cards)
Artwork: Adolfo Matarelli, 1850
A Limited, Numbered Edition of 1000
A Reprint of the Highest Quality
Publisher: Il Meneghello, 1996
Price: € 40.00

The phenomenon known as Transformation cards, began to emerge at the onset of the 19th century. A signature of Transformation cards, was that the suit symbols were incorporated into the shapes of the pips or courts and were often an essential element to the design or theme of the cards.

According to the publisher Osvaldo Menegazzi: Adolfo Materelli was considered among the best draftsmen and caricaturists of Italy during his lifetime. He was born in Florence in 1832 and died in S. Gregorio Bergamasco in 1877.