Four Continents playing cards
made by Fulladosa y Comp of Barcelona
An exotic pack of playing cards created in about 1880 by Fulladosa y Comp of Barcelona, Spain.
Each suit depicts figures from a different continent which is indicated on the ace of that suit. Swords is Europe, Cups is Africa, Clubs is America and Coins is Asia. The cards were designed by Miguel Cabanach and are printed from woodcuts with stencil colouring. The makers name is found on the 4 of cups.
Very similar packs were printed by Daveluy of Bruges, Belgium and Lopez y Comp. of Barcelona, Spain.
Below: the 4 of cups and reverse of the cards.
References: Fournier 452, La Sota 43 No.11-1-47, Cartorama 62 (267)
All cards shown are from the collection of Paul Symons ©
By Paul Symons
Member since February 01, 2016
I'm British but I have now lived in the Netherlands for more than 50 years and am still enjoying every minute of it. I started collecting playing cards in the early 1980’s after speaking with my neighbour who was at that time a croupier in a casino. I started with just collecting jokers, but that soon led me to complete packs of cards and eventually to specialising in old and antique playing cards, particularly those of C.L. Wüst of Frankfurt, Germany. I am presently the Dutch representative of the I.P.C.S. and the auctioneer at the IPCS conventions.
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