Reinholds Kasparsons
Reinholds Kasparsons, a popular Latvian illustrator of the day, designed this pack which was published as The Best Quality Playing cards No.1 in 1932.
Latvian playing cards designed by Reinholds Kasparsons
Above: the tax stamp from the Ace of Hearts.
Above: Reinholds Kasparsons, a popular Latvian illustrator of the day, designed this pack which was published as ‘The Best Quality Playing cards No.1’ in 1932. This was the 3rd pack produced in Latvia. The pack was re-issued during the period of the 1st Russian occupation in 1940/41, with the inscription on the Ace of Hearts replaced by “LPSR” (Latvian Soviet Socialistic Republic).
Left: in the alternative Ace of Hearts, during the period of the 1st Russian occupation in 1940/41, several elements are different: unadorned red cross, different green "wreath", "LPSR", and the tax stamp (different lettering round the red cross) - courtesy Roddy Somerville.
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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