South Africa
Protea Playing Card Company, Johannesburg
Protea Playing Card Company, Johannesburg
Above: Railway locomotive playing cards manufactured by Protea Playing Card Company for SA Spoorwegmuseum / SA Railway Museum, Johannesburg, 1970s more →
Above: Double-sided Magic cards by Protea Playing Card Company, Johannesburg.
Above: Bridge size deck with non-standard suit colours, blue diamonds & green clubs by Protea Playing Card Co more →
Above: matching packs (blue or red backs) produced for South African Airways by Protea.
Above: the Little Five Souvenir of Africa by Protea. Image courtesy Matt Probert.
Above: Kruger Park deck manufactured by Protea Playing Card Company, Johannesburg. The joker’s clothes have the colours reversed. Image courtesy Matt Probert.
Above: The Big Five Series Souvwenir pack. Image courtesy Matt Probert.
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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South Africa
Protea Playing Card Company, Johannesburg
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