Romanian playing cards by Alf Cooke
Romanian playing cards, manufactured and exported by the Universal Playing Card Co., Leeds, in the 1930s.
Romanian playing cards by Alf Cooke, 1930s
Universal Playing Card Co produced a variety of elegant non-standard packs for export to Scandinavian countries and this one for Romania during the 1930s.
Above: 'Romanian' playing cards, manufactured and exported by the Universal Playing Card Co., Leeds, in the 1930s. French indices R, D, V on the courts and '1' on the aces.
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
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