Panama Souvenir 1908
1st edition of Panama Souvenir playing cards published by U.S. Playing Card Co., 1908
1st edition of Panama Souvenir playing cards published by U.S. Playing Card Co., 1908. The cards depict views of the canal being dug out and built by labourers from different countries, or life in Panama under United States rule, inside oval frames tinted a different colour for each suit, with a caption inside a rectangular box beneath each image. The cards have gold edges and the back has a scene of a road lined with royal palm trees.



Above: 1st edition of Panama Souvenir playing cards published by U.S. Playing Card Co., 1908. 52 cards + joker + map card + fact card in slip box.

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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