Chocolate heroes

The Maker

While the present deck has been attributed to a printing company based in Valencia, there is no solid evidence for the manufacturer. It has been suggested that the deck is an example of the ‘chocolate cards’ popular in Spain at the time. Chocolate companies would insert their cards into packages of their products to encourage the consumer to complete the deck by purchasing more.

The Cards

Using the traditional Spanish system, in which suits are categorised as Coins, Cups, Clubs and Swords, the symbols, in this deck, for these suits are incorporated into the design of each image, meaning that the cards can be considered a “transformation deck”.

The court cards depict male icons from the 1920s, all portrayed in the contemporary art-deco style. They include movie stars such as Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks, explorer Roald Amundsen, aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh, motorcycle racer Vincente Riera, as well as famous sportsmen. The pip cards show a variety of sports, such as polo, football, cycling, rowing, boxing, skiing and tennis.

On the back of each card is a numbered image.When viewed quickly, one after another, they form a so-called “flick-book”, an artificial “movie” starring a cat and several mice.

Speelkaartenfabriek Nederland

[Dutch Castles].

Publication [Amsterdam, 1930].

Description

52 chromolithograph playing cards with one joker, brown printed pattern to versos.

Dimensions 93 by 67mm (3.75 by 2.75 inches).

References

Van den Bergh p55.

Dutch Castles

The Maker

Speelkaartenfabriel Nederlands was established in 1870 and traded from various locations in Amsterdam. It was bought by Van Genechten (now Carta Mundi) in Turnhout in 1970.

The Cards

Playing cards with two Dutch Castles on each ace, together with the publisher’s details.

Hearts - Muiderslot Muiden & Kasteel Stapalen bij Boxtel

Diamonds - Kasteel de Doorwerth & Kasteel Croy

Clubs - Kateel Horn & Kasteel Helmond

Spades - Slot Henkenshage & Kasteel Rechteren

Elsner & Co.

National-karte.

Publication

Görlitz, Elsner & Co., 1933.

Description

36 lithograph playing cards, art deco pattern and two eagles to versos.

Dimensions 100 by 56mm (4 by 2.25 inches).

References Van den Bergh pp.122-23; Yale 2797/ GER394.