Léonard Biermans, Turnhout
Léonard Biermans had been employed by Brepols from 1871-1874 before opening his own playing card factory in 1875.
Léonard Biermans, Turnhout, Belgium, 1875-1970
Léonard Biermans had been employed by Brepols from 1871-1874 before opening his own steam-powered playing card factory in 1875. In 1879 he married Marie-Thérèse, daughter of Van Genechten’s manager, Charles Poupaert, so playing cards were never far from his attention. Léonard Biermans died in 1896 and the company continued as a limited company, S.A. Léonard Biermans.
Biermans initially built up trade with India and South-East Asia (Burma) and business prospered until the competition became fierce and India became independent. After that Biermans expanded into other markets, winning several exhibition medals and also registering a patent for rounded and gilded corners.
Eventually the firm was merged into Carta Mundi. The Lion (right) was one of Biermans’ many trade marks.
From the beginning Biermans produced a wide range of playing cards which were shipped all over the world. An 1877 export price-list mentions Cartes de Luxe, Impériales, Royales, Italiennes, Belges, Allemandes, Bongoût, Espagnoles, and others. After 1900 Biermans also produced Swiss, Oriental and Congress cards, English packs, Spanish packs, Chinese cards, children’s cards and domino cards. In many cases packs contained scenic aces with views of Belgium, Brasil, France, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal or Holland which appealed as tourist souvenirs. See: Lion Brand No.1492 for Jet Fuels→
Above: finely engraved modern Netherlands type playing cards with scenic aces for Germany, stencil-coloured lithography, no indices, Biermans c.1880
Above: finely engraved modern Netherlands type playing cards with scenic aces for Germany, stencil-coloured lithography, no indices, Biermans c.1880
• See also: Biermans Scenic Aces for Brasil, c.1920
Above: cards from Spanish-suited pack, made in Belgium by Léonard Biermans c.1880. more →
Above: single-ended version of English pattern playing cards produced by Biermans, c.1878. Courtesy Doug Courtney.
Above: double-ended version of English pattern with ace of spades mimicking the Old Frizzle duty Ace, crude quality stencilling on rough card, produced by Biermans, c.1910.
Above: “Quadrilato No.44” Genoese style playing cards manufactured by Leonard Biermans S.A. for Tunisia, c.1970.
Above: Great Mogul Tennis No.1926 playing cards, c.1926.
This is a very odd deck in that some of the backs are green, some pink and some blue. It has been conjectured that the deck is a salesman’s sample deck, used to exhibit the variety of back colours available. It is strange, however, that whenever I have seen the deck for sale, it is always described as having the same variety of coloured backs. I have never found the deck with just one colour backs, always the sample version. The brand has the number 1926 which, coincidentally, is the year of the deck. The side of the box discloses that the maker is Leonard Biermans, Turnout, Belgium. Images and notes courtesy Rod Starling.
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.
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 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 Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds
A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.
Animal Tarot by J. B Dubois
French-suited Bavarian Animal Tarot by J B Dubois, Liège, Belgium, late 18th C.
Animal Tarot by J. T Dubois
Early 19th century Animal Tarot pack produced by J T Dubois, Liège, Belgium.
Animal Tarot by G. Larmoyer
Flemish Animal Tarot deck by G. Larmoyer, Liège, 1753.
Shrek the Third playing cards
Characters from the 2007 film Shrek the Third, a DreamWorks Animation production.
Jeu de cartes Armelle
Advertising pack designed by James Hodges for a company specialising in regional cakes and biscuits....
Louis De Poortere
Psychedelic designs promoting Louis De Poortere, a company selling carpets and rugs.
Murphy Varnish pack
Reproduction of the 1883 Murphy Varnish transformation pack, USA, 2019
Pendleton playing cards
Pendleton playing cards inspired by indigenous American artwork, USA, 2019.
Een Kaartspel
Minimalist playing cards from The Netherlands
Specsavers playing cards
to help you see better when playing cards
On-line offsite data backup
On-line offsite data backup publicity playing cards produced by The Bunker, United Kingdom, c. 2004....
Möbel-Spiel
Publicity pack for the East German furniture industry, with designs by Werner-Hans Schlegel.
Clamcleats playing cards
Clamcleats playing cards for sailors designed by Celia Allison, New Zealand, 1986.
Old School Playing cards from Moon
Designed and published by Leo Scherfig
Pretty Frills
‘Pretty Frills’ playing cards promoting curtain and blind accessories.
Gibert Jeune
Publicity pack for Gibert Jeune, the famous Parisian bookshop, with designs by James Hodges.
The Saab 900 Convertible playing cards
A flicker pack with different backs, advertising the Saab 900 Convertible motor car.
Goodall 1879-1880 Sample Book
Complete contents of a sample book by Goodall & Sons
De La Rue 1932-1933 Sample Book of Advertising cards
Complete contents of a sample book of advertising cards by De La Rue
Burgdorf Abschreckhärtetechnik
Promotional pack for a German steel hardening business, with designs by Costante Costantini.
Glico Almond Chocolate
Glico Almond Chocolate playing cards with designs by Izumi Tamai, produced by Nintendo, Japan.
Het Nest Brouwerij
Het Nest Brouwerij playing cards from Turnhout, Belgium.
What can we learn from mini-booklet advertisements?
Over the years I have collected a large number of mini-booklets and pocket guides offering rules and...
Des Quatre Parties du Monde
Four Corners of the World fantasy playing cards by Daveluy, Bruges, Belgium, 1875-1880.
Joseph Bardou & Fils cigarette papers
Delightful pack advertising Joseph Bardou & Fils cigarette papers for the Philippines.
Neiman Marcus playing cards
Cowboys and American Indians on a pack for Neiman Marcus, the Dallas department store.
Wolfgang Dorn Werbe
Designs by Jürgen Pankarz for the 20th anniversary of the Wolfgang Dorn advertising agency, Cologne....
Cartavi
Promotional pack for AVI paints, with 54 different colours on the backs.
La Rayonnante
Publicity pack for a French cleaning business, with suit-signs given smiling faces.
Seven Seas Maori Playing Cards
A Gift from New Zealand
Buffalo Trace
Buffalo Trace Kentucky bourbon whiskey promotion playing cards, 2014.
Sleeperhold Publications
Sleeperhold Publications collaborative art playing cards.
Velux International
Publicity pack for the Danish company, Velux, manufacturers of roof windows and skylights.
ZPA Trutnov
Publicity pack for a Czech company making mains receivers and electrical control units.
Washington Wine
Washington Wine illustrated playing cards, USA, 2004.
Commedia dell’Carte
Commedia dell’Carte political transformation cards illustrated by Stef van Stiphout, Belgium, 1977. ...
Kawasaki Trump
Humorous publicity pack for Kawasaki featuring some of their many products.
Maxim playing cards
Publicity pack from Nintendo for Maxim freeze dried coffee.
Axminster 100 playing cards
Special non-standard pack produced for Axminster Carpets Ltd.
Ilford playing cards
Colourful advertising pack for Ilford designed by Mario Grasso, based on standard English courts.