Queen of Arts
A wide variety of women artists celebrated on cards with illustrations by Laura Callaghan.
At first glance, almost more striking than the splendid green and yellow box and the original illustrations of women artists of all periods by Laura Callaghan is the fact that this is a totally left-handed pack! Each of the women artists featured is depicted in an appropriate environment and in a style reminiscent of their work and each is clearly named. To give the pack some structure, the four suits have been reimagined as Seers (H), Warriors (S), Influencers (D), and Dissenters (C). The extensive accompanying book with text by Lydia Miller contains full biographical details alongside an enlarged image of each card design. The set was designed by Joséphine Grenier • See the box & bookcover
Above: Queen of Arts playing cards published by Thames & Hudson Ltd, London, UK, 2024. Made by Leo Paper Products Ltd, Heshan, China. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 116-page book in slipcase. Size: 63 x 88 mm. Queen of Arts © 2024 Thames & Hudson Ltd, London. Text © 2024 Lydia Miller. Illustrations © 2024 Laura Callaghan. Purchased at the National Portrait Gallery, London, December 2024.
By Roddy Somerville
Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
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