Souvenir Playing Cards
Tourist souvenir playing cards depict the aesthetic, political, social and economic conceptions of the countries to which they belong. They feature beauty spots, local customs, gastronomy, historic ruins or other attractions.
Souvenir Playing Cards
Although the first printed and illustrated travel book was published in Mainz in 1486, it was a guide for pilgrims to the Holy land. Until relatively recently the pleasure and profit of foreign travel was dangerous and risky, with highway robbers and outlaws waiting in ambush. Improved road surfaces and speedier means of transport increased the volume of traffic during the 18th century. The 19th century saw the rise of European tourism, especially in Switzerland.
Müller, together with Wüst and Dondorf, were in the forefront of the manufacture of packs featuring costumes of Swiss cantons with Swiss scenes on the aces, or simply a standard pattern with aces depicting Swiss scenes. Other German manufacturers simply modified existing designs to include vignettes depicting local scenes on the numeral cards see example →. Belgian manufacturers toward the end of the nineteenth century were also alert to this new trend. The genre has evolved, so that tourist souvenir playing cards from around the world may depict the aesthetic, political, social and economic conceptions of the countries to which they belong. They may feature beauty spots, local customs, gastronomy, costumes, religious practices, historic ruins or other attractions. We may wish to learn more about the country or even visit it for ourselves. Consequently, souvenir playing cards are a significant means of increasing sales to tourists and attracting visitors to particular tourist areas, as well as creating an interest in discovering the customs and way of life of other countries. In some cases tourist souvenir playing cards reflect state propaganda.
It is said that travel broadens the mind. Do we really believe that a few days spent in a foreign country, hearing babbling voices and smelling strange cooking, will deepen our insight? Certainly the direct personal experience is more rewarding than watching television. Old playing cards can help us to reconstruct an impression of life during an earlier age which otherwise is distant in time and inaccessible.
Most souvenir packs are French-suited (clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades). Many souvenir packs show changes in fashion and photographs of actual locales as they were in past times, including trams and early motor vehicles. Many U.S. Railroads took up the idea of souvenir packs of their routes, and in Canada most such cards were manufactured by Chas Goodall of London. During the 1920s and 30s British Railway companies issued the 'Beautiful Britain' series of playing cards with scenes on the reverse of their popular destinations, manufactured by John Waddington. Sales psychologists have observed that female customers are more susceptible to the appeal of brightly coloured picture backs, and the tourist demand for souvenirs has grown whilst every year sees an increase in the number of people visiting foreign countries wishing to buy gifts or souvenirs of their holiday. Playing cards make a significant contribution to the souvenir industry.
And are the roads any safer today than they were in the 18th century?
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.
Scenic Views of Australia
54 different scenic views of Australia in full colour.
Monuments de Paris
‘Monuments de Paris’ souvenir playing cards produced by Heraclio Fournier, c.1964.
Borna Skat
Publicity pack for the Saxon town of Borna, with designs by Andreas Wachter.
Marlow playing cards
Visitor attractions and businesses to be found in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
Swiss Scenic Tarock
Scenic Tarock deck produced by Fabrique de Cartes J. Müller & Cie (Schaffhouse), Suisse.
Papyrus Playing Cards
Papyrus playing cards distributed by Egypt Trade, c.1996.
British Columbia Souvenir
British Columbia Souvenir Playing Cards by The Clarke and Stuart Company
American President Lines
American President Lines shipping souvenir playing cards, early to mid-1950s.
Official World’s Fair Souvenir, USA, 1964-6
Official souvenir pack showing 52 coloured exhibits from the New York World’s Fair, 1964-6.
Century of Progress
‘Century of Progress’ Exposition playing cards produced by Western Playing Card Company, USA, 1933. ...
Schweden Spielkarten
54 different souvenir views of famous people and places in Sweden.
Souvenir Playing Cards from Lebanon
Multicoloured Belgian/Genoese pattern cards, probably printed by Fournier for Lebanon.
New York City souvenir
New York City souvenir playing cards with 53 different views of interest, USA, 1915.
Nation’s capital souvenir playing cards
Nation’s capital souvenir playing cards published by the United States Playing Card Company, USA, 19...
Kyoto Souvenir Deck
Kyoto Souvenir playing cards by Nintendo aimed at the up and coming tourist industry, 1950s.
California souvenir playing cards
California souvenir playing cards, USA, 1898 and 1907.
Shamrock Irish Heritage playing cards
A celebration of some of Ireland’s most famous patriots, politicians and poets.
Henley-on-Thames playing cards
Calendar events and visitor attractions to be found in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Souvenir Playing Cards of Egypt
55 different photographic views of Egypt in full colour.
Kushimoto Marine Park
Kushimoto Marine Park souvenir playing cards published by Nintendo, Japan.
Alaska scenic playing cards
Alaska scenic playing cards featuring scenes of Alaskan life, USA, c. 1960.
Glorious Scotland
54 photographic views of Scotland by Duncan I. McEwan.
Vues et Caractères Suisses No.228
A Swiss souvenir pack by Dondorf
Budapest souvenir
Colour views of the Hungarian capital, Budapest, on all the courts and Aces.
Pan-American Exposition Souvenir
Pan-American Exposition Souvenir Playing Cards, Buffalo, NY, 1901.
Amusements and Attractions
‘Amusements and Attractions’ playing cards showing the fun and excitement of America’s amusement par...
Das Tübinger Skatspiel
Pack devised by Volker Scheub depicting characters associated with the city of Tübingen.
Conseil Général de la Somme
Famous people and places of the Somme department in northern France, with designs by James Hodges.
Naipes Expo ’92
Naipes Expo ’92 souvenir playing cards manufactured by Naipes Comas, 1992.
Gaudí playing cards
Gaudí playing cards with photography by Ramon Manent, Spain, 2002.
Oxford Pubs playing cards
Oxford pubs souvenir playing cards, United Kingdom, 2008
Swiss Souvenir
55 different scenic photographic views of Switzerland.
Icelandic picture playing cards / Islensku landslagsspilin
Icelandic picture playing cards with photography by Gudmundur Ingólfsson.
Vues de Monaco-Monte Carlo
Souvenir pack with 54 different views of Monaco, especially Monte Carlo.
Visite de Saint Tropez
Souvenir pack with 54 different views of Saint Tropez.
Le tour de la Corse en photos
Souvenir pack with 55 different views of Corsica.
Oxford Gargoyles
Oxford Gargoyles souvenir playing cards published by Chris Donaghue Photography, Oxford, UK.
Texas Sesquicentennial
Texas Sesquicentennial commemoration playing cards produced by Alief Products Company in 1985.
New Orleans and Gulf souvenir
New Orleans and Gulf souvenir playing cards from c1900 reprinted for the 52 Plus Joker Convention in...
Souvenir of Singapore, Malaya and Borneo
52 different colour pictures of Singapore, Malaya and Borneo from the early 1960s.