Playing cards by António

António – or, to give him his full name, António Moreira Antunes (b. 1953) – is a Portuguese political cartoonist whose work has often been controversial. He sparked outrage with a 1993 cartoon ridiculing the pope, while a 2019 cartoon criticising Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu provoked fierce protests. In this pack of elongated cards from 1985, he has caricatured leading Portuguese politicians including the then prime minister (later president) Mário Soares. The non-standard suits (two red and two black) are the symbols or logos of four different political parties in Portugal. Has António depicted himself as the Joker? The coat of arms of Portugal appears centrally on the reverse against a background of red, green and white stripes.

Above: political caricature playing cards by António Moreira Antunes published in Lisbon, Portugal, September 1985. Printer unknown. 52 cards + 2 (identical) Jokers + 1 extra card in tuck box. Size: 60 x 110 mm.

The pack appears to have no name other than that of the caricaturist: the box design features the back pattern plus "CARTAS DE JOGAR" and a reproduction of Antonio's signature. The same signature, the place (Lisboa) and the date (Setembro 1985) appear on the two sides of the box.