Dilkhus playing cards for India

Published October 28, 2012 Updated February 05, 2024

Van Genechten was one of the most competent cardmakers in Turnhout and they produced almost every kind of foreign pack for clients all around the world.

1922 Belgium India Van Genechten Art & Design

Manufactured by A. Van Genechten (Turnhout, Belgium)

Dilkhus playing cards were manufactured for Kamala Soap Factory (Calcutta, India) by Etablissement A. Van Genechten S.A. (Turnhout, Belgium) in 1922. The courts depict dignified three-quarter height portraits with extra decorative motifs suggestive of Indian culture. Van Genechten was one of the most competent cardmakers in Turnhout and they produced almost every kind of foreign pack for clients all around the world. Overseas markets included East Asia, Australia, India, North Africa, South America and, of course, Europe. Their cards were familiar to the fingers of players in far-off places!

'Dilkhus' playing cards manufactured by Van Genechten, Belgium, 1922 'Dilkhus' playing cards manufactured by A. Van Genechten, Belgium, 1922

Above & Right: 'Dilkhus' playing cards manufactured by Etablissement Van Genechten, Belgium, 1922. Several alternative back designs and colours are known.

• See lithographic stone from the Turnhout Playing Card Museum

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By Barney Townshend

Member since October 06, 2015

Retired Airline Pilot, interested in: Transformation Playing Cards, Karl Gerich and Elaine Lewis. Secretary of the EPCS. Treasurer of the IPCS.

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