The World of Playing Cards Logo

L. P. Holmblad - Denmark

Published March 27, 2008 Updated March 08, 2022

Cards from c.1850 by L. P. Holmblad showing fantasy historical Danish Kings and Queens.

Denmark Holmblad Fantasy Royalty

L. P. Holmblad c.1850

Cards from c.1850 by L. P. Holmblad showing fantasy historical Danish Kings and Queens. The original artwork for the Jack of spades (shown right) shows ‘Holger Danske’ as a young man clad in armour holding a double-handed sword. The four Kings are named: Gorm den Gamle, Knud den Store (1018-1035), Erik Ejegod (1055-1103) and Valdemar Sejr (1202-1241) and their respective Queens: Thyra Danebod, Emma, Bothilde (Bodil) and Dagmar. The Jacks are either mythical or real characters from Danish history: Holger Danske, Palnatoke, Esbern Snare and Uffe hin Spage.

Danish historical playing cards, L. P. Holmblad, c.1850

Above: Holmblad's deck with historical courts, c.1850. The deck has never been reprinted by any of Holmblad's successors.

REFERENCES

Jensen, K. Frank: Royalty on Danish Playing Cards, The Playing-Card vol.32 no.1, IPCS, July-Aug 2003.

avatar
1,465 Articles

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.


Leave a Reply

Default Avatar
Your Name
Just now

Create account to comment Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here.


Related Articles

2022 Damn! Fools by Moon

Damn! Fools by Moon

Damn! Fools playing cards designed by Leo Scherfig, 2022.

1980 Crown Hill playing cards

Crown Hill playing cards

Crown Hill playing cards with illustrations by Corrine Guiney, USA,

2006 Royal Britain

Royal Britain

Pack devised by Pietro Alligo depicting English monarchs from Alfred the Great to Elizabeth II.

Sissi playing cards

Sissi playing cards

produced for the Austrian tourist market.

1675 English cards from the reign of Charles II

English cards from the reign of Charles II

This article explores a historic pack of English playing cards from circa 1675, likely used by King ...

2022 Tarot for Baby

Tarot for Baby

This board book simplifies tarot archetypes into accessible affirmations for young children.

2010 Manara: baraja de poker

Manara: baraja de poker

Exotic illustrations by Italian comic book artist and writer Milo Manara.

2002 Valhalla spillekort

Valhalla spillekort

Characters from the Valhalla comics, designed by Peter Madsen, as commemorated on a Danish stamp.

2010 Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland collector’s edition with illustrations of characters from the film, published by...

1989 Ulysses a Vau-de-Ville

Ulysses a Vau-de-Ville

the James Joyce cards with drawings by Rosita Fanto.

2001 Women by Royo

Women by Royo

‘Women by Royo’ erotic playing cards published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain, 2001.

1981 British Monarchs

British Monarchs

Commemorating the royal wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer on the 29th

1883 Jeu Quatre Empereurs

Jeu Quatre Empereurs

Brazilian scenic aces with emperors of Brazil, Austria and France and other dignitaries on the court...

1870 Kings and Queens of Brazil & Portugal

Kings and Queens of Brazil & Portugal

Historical playing cards by C. L. Wüst depicting monarchs of Brazil and Portugal.

2023 House of Tudor

House of Tudor

Randy Butterfield's House of Tudor playing cards feature detailed art in a high-quality collectible ...

2008 The Journey

The Journey

‘The Journey’ limited edition playing cards produced by Peter Wood, UK, 2008.