Romania playing cards
Romanian voivodes and their wives from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Voivode is a title of Slavic origin indicating a military leader or warlord. The name was used to refer to the medieval rulers of Romanian-inhabited states such as Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania. Famous voivodes include Michael the Brave (KS) and Vlad the Impaler (KH). On the reverse is the seal of Michael the Brave during his short-lived personal union of Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania in 1599-1600. It states on the box lid that the characters depicted are Romanian voivodes of the “14th and 15th Century” but they are in fact from the 15th and 16th centuries. Piatnik No. 217548.
Above: Romania playing cards made by Piatnik, Vienna, Austria, 2000. 2 x 52 cards + 3 Jokers in drop-lid box; two matching backs. Size: 58 x 89 mm.
It states on the box lid that the characters depicted are Romanian voivodes of the “14th and 15th Century” but they are in fact from the 15th and 16th centuries. • See the box►
By Roddy Somerville
Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
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