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Desperanto

Published February 13, 2018 Updated July 23, 2022

Desperanto language game by Qui Vive Ltd, c.1990.

1990 United Kingdom Cartamundi Education Card Games

One of a series of ‘Desperanto’ language tuition games published by Qui Vive Ltd, Sandhurst, Kent, c.1990s. The court cards are hand-drawn versions of the standard English pattern. The number cards repeat the same design for each value in a different language (spades are in English, Hearts in French, Diamonds in Spanish and Clubs in German), facilitating learning some basic words from other languages, maybe smalltalk... See the Box

‘Desperanto’ language game by Qui Vive Ltd, c.1990
‘Desperanto’ language game by Qui Vive Ltd, c.1990 Desperanto language game by Qui Vive Ltd, c.1990 Desperanto language game by Qui Vive Ltd, c.1990

Above: ‘Desperanto’ language game published by Qui Vive Ltd, Sandhurst, Kent, c.1990. 52 cards + 2 jokers in box, printed by Carta Mundi.

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By Matt Probert

Member since March 02, 2012

I have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.

Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.

Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.

I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.


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