Max Velthuijs for KLM
Playing cards designed by Max Velthuijs for KLM airlines first published c.1964
Playing cards designed by Max Velthuijs (1923-2005) for KLM airlines first published c.1964 and republished several times. Max Velthuijs was a famous children’s illustrator in the Netherlands. During World War II he sometimes assisted in forging stamps for the Dutch resistance in identity papers for people in hiding.


Above: playing cards designed by Max Velthuijs for KLM airlines first published c.1964, this edition published in 1970s and printed by Carta Mundi.


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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