The Lovers playing cards
Reproductions of old postcards with romantic messages for Valentine’s Day.
Greetings cards for Valentine’s Day started to become popular in the early 19th century. By 1841, around 400,000 were being sent every year in Great Britain alone. Postcards, such as the ones reproduced in this pack, became even more popular than greetings cards because they were cheaper to post. Angels, putti, children, hearts and roses figure prominently amongst the 54 different designs. All are in vertical format.
Above: The Lovers playing cards published by Lo Scarabeo, Turin, Italy, 2003. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 title card + 5 extra cards with explanatory text in English, Italian, Spanish, French and German, in tuck box. Size: 58 x 88 mm. © 2003 Lo Scarabeo
The first edition of these cards had a pink back and a pink box. A later edition had a red back and a (slightly smaller) red box. See the boxes►
I'm also including scans of six Valentine's Day postcards from my own collection. These images are not included in the pack but all have playing cards in the design. They date from c1910-12.
By Roddy Somerville
Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
Related Articles
Austrian Tarock by S.D. Modiano
Modiano’s Austrian Tarock with country scenes has been in production for over 100 years.
Le carte da gioco Arcimboldo
Courts and suit-signs inspired by the works of the Italian Renaissance painter, Giuseppe Arcimboldo....
22 Pittori in 22 Arcani
Collaborative Tarot with contributions from 22 different Italian artists including Menegazzi and Tav...
Kazakh Tales
Bold designs by K.K. Karpun and S. Nukenov inspired by Kazakh folk tales.
Justice playing cards
Ethical concepts in a deck produced by Riccardo Conturbia’s Passione Playing Cards Ltd.
Alan Tarot Deck
Reprint of a Tarock pack originally designed by Argio Orell for the Austrian Lloyd shipping company....
Il Tarocco del Mondo Nuovo
Imaginative Tarot card designs by Amerigo Folchi relating to Columbus and the New World.
22 Artisti Liguri in 22 Arcani
Collaborative set of major arcana devoted to Christopher Columbus and his voyages of discovery.
Carte di Colombo
Fully illustrated pack designed by Pier Canosa commemorating the 500th anniversary of the discovery ...
Carte di Natale
Designed by Pier Canosa as a Christmas pack for the Cortina Art Gallery in Milan.
Czech Bohemian style playing cards
Czech Bohemian style playing cards with a charming aesthetic, reflecting the cultural and social lif...
Lyon pattern made in Italy by Pietro de Santi
The Lyon pattern was initially developed in France during the 16th century. As Lyon was a trading hu...
Laurenzo Propagine
Spanish-suited cards made in Italy by Laurenzo Propagine.
Il Tarocco Mitologico
Fully pictorial Tarot designed by Amerigo Folchi with figures mainly from Greek mythology.
Gallia Belgica playing cards
Gallia Belgica playing cards by Cédric Volon presenting a view of Belgian culture and folklore.
Neapolitan pattern by Luigi Pignalosa, Naples
Two versions of the Neapolitan pattern from the British Museum by Luigi Pignalosa, Naples, 1875 & 18...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days
