Portuguese Type Cards made in Belgium
Portuguese Type Playing Cards made in Belgium, c.1878.
Later Portuguese Type - made in Belgium for export to Brazil |
||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
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

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

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

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.
Related Articles

French Revolutionary cards by Pinaut
Seven cards from a French Revolutionary pack by Pinaut featuring characters from classical antiquity...

An Anonymous Belgian Transformation Pack
Anonymous Belgian transformation pack borrowing many images from earlier designs by Braun & Schneide...

Blake et Mortimer – La Marque Jaune
Blake and Mortimer comic strip characters created by Edgar P. Jacobs.

Santo Mexico playing cards
Santo Mexico playing cards designed by Cédric Volon with Mexico-associated symbols.

Portuguese pattern by Real Fábrica
Later Portuguese pattern by Impressão Règia, Real Fábrica de Lisboa.

Gallia Belgica playing cards
Gallia Belgica playing cards by Cédric Volon presenting a view of Belgian culture and folklore.

Historical Characters
Double-ended deck with historical characters and jacks as jesters by Daveluy, c.1850.

Mademoiselle Lenormand
XIX century ‘Mlle Lenormand’ cartomancy deck by Daveluy, Bruges.

Rouen Pattern - Portrait Rouennais
An attractive XV century French-suited design from Rouen became the standard English & Anglo-America...

Printing Presses
Antique printing presses from the Turnhout Playing Card Museum collection.

Ganjifa - Playing Cards from India
Indian playing cards, known as Ganjifa, feature intricate designs with twelve suits and are traditio...

Moguls, Highlanders and Merry Andrews
Discover the historic origins and evolution of card naming and quality designations like ‘Moguls’ an...

The Henry Hart Puzzle
Explore the intricate history and unique design variations of Henry Hart's playing cards, tracing th...

Sevilla 1647 reproduction
Facsimile of Spanish-suited pack produced in Sevilla, Spain, 1647.

Why our playing-cards look the way they do
Analysis of early playing card designs: origins, suit differences, standardization, technological ad...

Introduction to Collecting Themes
Playing cards can be broadly categorised into standard and non-standard designs, with collectors app...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days