Portuguese Type Cards made in Belgium

Published July 03, 1996 Updated June 17, 2023

Portuguese Type Playing Cards made in Belgium, c.1878.

1878 Belgium Portugal Biermans Portugaises History Patterns and Suit Types Portuguese Pattern

Later Portuguese Type - made in Belgium for export to Brazil

Ace of swords King of swords 8 of swords Cavalier of clubs Cavalier of coins
2 of coins Cavalier of swords 6 of cups with royal crown Maid of cups King of cups
Maid of coins with small chest 4 of coins 2 of clubs Maid of clubs Ace of clubs

Above: 15 cards from later Portuguese type pack with 'dragon' aces, made in Belgium by Léonard Biermans, Turnhout, c.1878. There is a Brazilian Real Fabrica insignia on the wrapper. 48 cards, size: 81 x 59 mm; lithographed. The dog has disappeared from the Maid of clubs but the Maid of coins holds a small chest as in earlier types. Click here to see more.


Cartas Portuguezas N°2

Portuguezas N°2, Léonard Biermans, 1878, National Playing Card Museum, Turnhout

Above: Portuguezas N°2, Léonard Biermans, 1878, National Playing Card Museum, Turnhout.

modern reprint of the obsolete Portuguese pattern, National Playing Card Museum, Turnhout

Above: modern partly-coloured reprint of the obsolete Portuguese pattern, courtesy the National Playing Card Museum, Turnhout.

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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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