Nationaal Speelkaart Nº 165
Wüst: Nationaal Speelkaart Nº 165 issued for the Dutch market
This special deck was first issued by C. L. Wüst for the Dutch market in 1890 to celebrate Queen Wilhelmina’s ascension to the throne (only 10 years old). It was published again in 1898 when she was crowned queen of the Netherlands. The first has a box showing a picture of the child Wilhelmina and the second a picture of her as a young woman (click here to view image). Both these editions have a queen of spades showing a Javan woman, and a queen of hearts representing the Netherlands (the Dutch Virgin). The 3rd edition, shown here, is from c.1905 and contains different queens of spades and hearts, both in regional costume. The Aces display views of Dutch cities (or colonies). The Kings depict Dutch rulers, the Jacks are soldiers and the Queens show traditional costumes.





Above: C. L. Wüst's Nationaal Speelkaart Nº 165, first published in 1890, again in 1898, and this edition in 1905 as a souvenir deck. Images courtesy Elizabeth Richmond.
REFERENCES
Shaw, Martin & Symons, Paul: Playing cards from the factory C.L.Wüst, Frankfurt, Germany (1811-1927), Catalogue of the exhibition held at the Nationaal Museum van de Speelkaart, Turnhout, Belgium, 23 September-31 December 2005.

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

New Altenburg Skat cards – German DDR Pattern
Authentic Altenburger Skat cards with German suits (Acorns, Hearts, Leaves, Bells).

German Travel Cards
A travel-themed educational deck helping American tourists visiting Germany.

Briefmarken-Quartett
Quartet game featuring postage stamps from the Zones of Occupation in post-WWII Germany.

Sannois dans les étoiles
Celebrities and buildings associated with Sannois, a commune in the suburbs of Paris.

Visite Mexico
Promoting Mexican tourism with 54 different photographs in full colour.

Le Globe Céleste
Views and plans of five international exhibitions held in Paris between 1855 and 1900.

IG Chemie Papier Keramik
Promotional pack designed by Karl-Heinz Schroers for a German trade union with comical bears on the ...

Baraja de Juan Martín Zamorano
Deck inspired by El Pendón de los Zamorano, a military pennant dating from 1501, published by Priego...

2011 Worshipful Company Pack
Celebrating the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Dickens, with characters adapted from drawings b...

Carte di Colombo
Fully illustrated pack designed by Pier Canosa commemorating the 500th anniversary of the discovery ...

Barok
Dutch pack from the 1950s with colourful Baroque courts, reprinted in 1983.

Seminole Wars deck
Seminole Wars deck by J. Y. Humphreys, Philadelphia, c.1819.

Engel-Tarot
Set of major arcana designed by Alois Hanslian depicting angels throughout.

Virgil Solis
Remarkable pack of 52 animal-suited playing-cards designed and etched by Virgil Solis.

The Glasgow Pack
Issued to celebrate Glasgow’s reign as European City of Culture in 1990, with city views and works o...

Verkeers Kwartet
A helpful quartet game celebrating the 75th anniversary of road safety exams making traffic safer.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days