I am so delighted to be able to use this painting to celebrate the birth of a New Year, by alluding to the birth of Venus - because a while ago I showed you a card of the same image but recast with Jim Henson`s Muppets, and showcasing the charms of Miss Piggy as Venus. That was our Card of the Day for the 31st of October, 2025.
The Italian Art Exhibition was also born in January, being held from Wednesday January the 1st to Saturday March the 8th, 1930, at The Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly; though the correct title was the "Exhibition of Italian Art 1200-1900". That does make it rather odd though as regards the issue of this set, a whole year after that opening date, and even more strange for the second series of cards, which did not appear until August 1931.
The exhibition had joint patrons, the Kings and Queens of the United Kingdom and Italy. And the Honorary Presidents are almost incredible, being Il Capo del Governo d`Italia, S.E. Cav. Benito Mussolini, The Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. J. Ramsay MacDonald M.P., The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the Rt. Hon. Arthur Henderson M.P., The Rt. Hon. Stanley Baldwin M.P., and the Rt. Hon. Sir Austen Chamberlain K.G. M.P.
Admission was a shilling and sixpence on Monday to Saturday, but, for some reason not Friday, which cost a rather swingeing five shillings. Or you could get a season ticket for one pound one shilling, which included every day of the week, even those more expensive Fridays.
And if you want to read more of the exhibition, it can be viewed online, because the official catalogue has been digitised by the Royal Academy and uploaded to the web. Sadly it is not the illustrated version which was sold in the Galleries as either a paper-back for 5/- or a stiff cover for 7/6d.
The cards in this first series are :
| ITALIAN ART EXHIBITION, 1930 | ||
| 1 | "The Virgin and Child" | - A. Baldovinetti |
| 2 | "Fortuna Inconstans" | - Giovanni Bellini |
| 3 | "The Birth of Venus" | - Botticelli |
| 4 | "The Calumny of Appelles" | - Botticelli |
| 5 | "Madonna and Child" | - Botticelli |
| 6 | "The Lovers" | - Paris Bordone |
| 7 | "The Grand Canal and House of the English Consul, Venice" | - Canaletto |
| 8 | "The Duke of Urbino" | - Piero Della Francesca |
| 9 | "The Duchess of Urbino" | - Piero Della Francesca |
| 10 | "La Bella" | - Titian |
| 11 | "Portrait of a Lady" | - Raphael |
| 12 | "Angelo Doni" | - Raphael |
The sets first appear in our original Churchman reference book RB.10, with a rather lengthy description, of :
- 81. Jan. 1931. 12. ITALIAN ART EXHIBITION, 1930. (titled series). Size 3 5/16" x 1 9/20" or 80 x 62 m/m. Numbered 1-12. Fronts printed by letterpress, 4-colour half tone process. Backs in dark green, with descriptions. Printed by Mardon, Son & Hall.
- 82. Aug. 1931. 12. ITALIAN ART EXHIBITION, 1930. Described "2nd Series of 12". Other detail as item (81), but different subjects.
They next feature in our original World Tobacco Issues Index as :
- ITALIAN ART EXHIBITION, 1930. Lg. Nd. ... C82-59
1. "1st Series of 12"
2. "2nd Series of 12"
And it is further shortened in our updated World Tobacco Issues Index, to a single line, reading :
- ITALIAN ART EXHIBITION, 1930. Lg. Nd. 1. "1st Series of 12" 2. "2nd Series of 12" ... C504-545