Archives
2012 • November
Panama Souvenir 1908
-
by Simon Wintle
1st edition of Panama Souvenir playing cards published by U.S. Playing Card Co., 1908
Karl Gerich No.20: Rouennais A
The Aces are decorated with the pip in a central circle and two different figures at each end of the card. The courts are lavishly illustrated.
Fynste Java Speelkaarten
Dondorf's "Fynste Java Speelkaarten No.17" was published to commemorate the second marriage of King William III with Princess Emma of Waldeck-Pyrmont, on January 7, 1879.
Osram Advertising Playing Cards
The court cards feature double-ended light-bulb people (the Kings are repeated in each suit) and the numeral cards have vignettes at each end illustrating how Osram light bulbs lighten the darkness.
Le Jeu de Marseille
Having deconstructed traditional, bourgeois playing card symbolism they produced new, liberated designs expressing their own beliefs and values. The court cards were persons expressing new, revolutionary ideals.
23: Belgian Makers: Mesmaekers
-
by Ken Lodge
Gustaaf Mesmaekers founded his business in 1859 in association with Louis-François Moentack, who left the business in 1862.
Alison McDonald
-
by Simon Wintle
Artwork for The Watersprite Tarot© designed and painted by Alison McDonald.
F.A. Lattmann
After the family printing business had been handed down for several generations, in 1794 Ernst Wilhelm Gottlieb Kircher founded a playing card factory in Goslar am Harz
22: Belgian Makers: Van Genechten
-
by Ken Lodge
Van Genechten started making playing cards in c.1840 and continued until the founding of Carta Mundi in 1970.
Panama Souvenir Playing Cards
-
by Simon Wintle
Several editions of Panama Souvenir Playing Cards were issued by the USPCC between 1908 - 1926. The design of the cards varied between editions, and different 'fact' and map cards were also included.
Luxus Club Karte No.184
Another of Dondorf's masterpieces of chromolithography, the detailed artwork on these cards has multiple tints and highlights giving the figures a brilliant, glossy character.
21: Belgian Makers: Brepols and Biermans
-
by Ken Lodge
Brepols started making playing cards in 1826, although he had been in the printing trade since 1800. In 1833 the firm was called Brepols & Dierckx (the former's son-in-law). Biermans (1875-1970) was a relatively late arrival on the Turnhout playing card scene.
Carnival Playing Cards, 1925
The Carnival Playing Card deck designed by Harry D. Wallace (1892-1977) and first published in 1925.
20: English Card-Makers 1761-1905
-
by Ken Lodge
An initial survey of 19th century playing-card production. More detailed information appears on other pages.
Bosco by A.S.S. for the Estanco de Naipes del Peru
-
by Simon Wintle
‘Bosco’ Playing Cards manufactured by A.S.S. for the Estanco de Naipes del Peru, 1930s.
Masonic Playing Cards
-
by Simon Wintle
A set of playing cards designed by Julien Lebleu, an original work in the history of Freemasonry. Jeu de cartes conçu par Julien Lebleu, oeuvre originale dans l'histoire de la Franc-maçonnerie.