Africa playing cards
According to the United Nations there are 54 countries on the continent of Africa
According to the United Nations there are 54 countries on the continent of Africa – which is just as well, as this 54 card pack, produced in Cape Town, South Africa by MapStudio, provides information about each of them. It certainly makes one appreciate the vast size of the continent. Each playing card features an African country with interesting facts:
- national flag
- area in kilometres /area in miles
- highest point
- population
- capital city
- other important cities
- currency
- main exports
MapStudio, founded in 1958, is the leading publisher and distributor of Street Guides and a large range of travel, adventure, sports and lifestyle books. The company also produces road maps, atlases, tourist maps, educational products and wall maps. See the box►
Above: Africa playing cards produced in Cape Town, South Africa by MapStudio, 2012. 54 cards in box.
More African themed playing cards
"Africa, and its tantalizing thrusts of mystery, majesty and malevolence, remains an enigma"
Above: nine cards and back design from "Pharaoh Palmier Poker Cards". 52 cards + 2 Jokers plus pyramid card in tuck box.
Other African themed decks reviewed on this website include: "The Frozen Court"
Above: 52 + 2 jokers + extra joker in Special Box: BLACK PACK, featuring thick-set black characters in traditional African dress. First edition, limited to 5000 copies. Manufactured by Heraclio Fournier S.A., Spain for Sasakti, London, 1993. 33% proceeds to aid African children "for personal freedom & social justice". Illustrated by production designer Christopher Hobbs. An error can be seen on the queen of diamonds, the inner pip symbol is missing.
In the traditional African worldview, life and death are inextricably linked. All members of a family, both living and dead, continue to depend on one another. Ancestral cults confirm common provenance and thus the unity of the clan.
Above: pair of amulets in ivory, Republic of Congo, 19th century. The dot-circle motif on the body symbolises life and continuity.
Above: African themed card from Round the World card game published in 1961.
By Peter Burnett
Member since July 27, 2022
I graduated in Russian and East European Studies from Birmingham University in 1969. It was as an undergraduate in Moscow in 1968 that I stumbled upon my first 3 packs of “unusual” playing cards which fired my curiosity and thence my life-long interest. I began researching and collecting cards in the early 1970s, since when I’ve acquired over 3,330 packs of non-standard cards, mainly from North America, UK and Western Europe, and of course from Russia and the former communist countries.
Following my retirement from the Bodleian Library in Dec. 2007 I took up a new role as Head of Library Development at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to support library development in low-income countries. This work necessitated regular training visits to many sub-Saharan African countries and also further afield, to Vietnam, Nepal and Bangladesh – all of which provided rich opportunities to further expand my playing card collection.
Since 2019 I’ve been working part-time in the Bodleian Library where I’ve been cataloguing the bequest of the late Donald Welsh, founder of the English Playing Card Society.
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen 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.
Pendleton playing cards
Pendleton playing cards inspired by indigenous American artwork, USA, 2019.
Malam playing cards
Malam playing cards created by Michael Muldoon, USA, 2015.
Bankunión playing cards
Ingredients and recipes for 24 dishes from different regions of Spain.
Costumes des Peuples Étrangers
Costumes des Peuples Étrangers & Jeu d’Or dedicated to young people and likely used for games and fo...
Souvenir Playing Cards of Egypt
55 different photographic views of Egypt in full colour.
Race Card
‘Race Card’ playing cards published by the Concept Card Co., New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Hawaiian playing cards
Hawaiian playing cards in the style of classic Hawaiian wood carvings, USA, 2015.
South American Costumes
Costumes of people of Brazil, Peru and Mexico, with views of Rio de Janeiro on the aces.
Baraxa Galega
Baraxa Galega designed by F. Perez Llamosas and published by Naipes Heraclio Fournier, 1983.
El Desnudo en el Arte
The Nude in Art / El Desnudo en el Arte, Spain, 1977 (reprint 1990)
Baraja Fiesta Taurina
‘Baraja Fiesta Taurina’ bullfight playing cards published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain, 1975.
Secretos de Oriente
Secrets of the Far East playing cards featuring the designs of Violeta Monreal , Spain, c. 1991.
España Imperial
España imperial / Imperial Spain playing cards with artwork by Serny, published by Heraclio Fournier...
Medieval Life playing cards
‘Medium Aevum’ (Medieval Life) playing cards designed by Violeta Monreal, published by Heraclio Four...
American Civil War playing cards
American Civil War centennial playing cards designed by Teodoro N. Miciano and published by Fournier...
Naipes Heraclio Fournier 130th Anniversary
Baraja conmemorativa del 130 aniversario de naipes Heraclio Fournier (1868-1998) Spain, 1998.
Gaudí playing cards
Gaudí playing cards with photography by Ramon Manent, Spain, 2002.
Baraja Aragonesa
Celebrating the costumes, architecture, coins and crafts of Aragon in Spain, with designs by Raúl Ro...
Multicard
A Spanish-suited pack with multiple uses including roulette and dice.
The New Game of Tarot (or Tarock)
Regional costumes and alpine flora on a French Tarot game pack marking 600 years of playing cards in...
Seven Seas Maori Playing Cards
A Gift from New Zealand
Baraja Canaria
Comic courts and non-standard suits representing the Canary Islands, with designs by Eduardo Millare...
Festa Major de Vilafranca 1988
Colourful figures associated with the annual festival held in Vilafranca, Catalonia.
African art playing cards
African art and symbolism on playing cards designed by John J. Beckvermit III, USA, 1994.
Pacific Northwest native Indian masks
Pacific Northwest native Indian masks with artwork by Margaret Parrott, USA, 1992.
Ethiopian playing cards
A pack with court cards reflecting different ethnic and cultural groups found in Ethiopia.
Crystal Time
Colourful and attractive designs by Violeta Monreal, inspired by stained glass through the ages.
The Firebird playing cards
Exquisite designs with characters and scenes from Russian folk tales by the artist Yury Shakov.
Jeu de Cartes de Tahiti
Courts and Aces inspired by Polynesian history and culture designed by Michèle Feltrin.
English pattern from Nigeria
A standard pack from the most populous country in Africa.
Lithographic Stone
Historic lithographic stone from the Fournier playing card factory, c.1888.
Rasta playing cards
Rasta playing cards celebrating the Rastafari religion.
Baraja El Quijote
Baraja El Quijote, facsimile of original deck designed by E. Pastor, reprinted by Naipes Heraclio Fo...
Liban Historique et Touristique
“Liban historique et touristique” souvenir of Lebanon playing cards manufactured by Heraclio Fournie...
Histoire de France
“Histoire de France” facsimile of French historical deck of 1820.
Cinquantenario Fondazione dell'Impero
50 anniversario / cinquantenario fondazione dell'Impero, Italy 1936-1986.
Nipponia Playing Cards
Nipponia Playing Cards are a Japanese-themed playing cards featuring samurai, kunoichi and oiran. De...
Maori playing cards
Maori playing cards from New Zealand.
South Africa Souvenir
Photographic views of South Africa and Rhodesia.
The Times of Kamehameha The Great
Figures from Hawaiian history and scenes of everyday life designed by Joseph Feher.