Cartamundi
Cartamundi is a Belgian playing-card manufacturer formed in 1970 through the consolidation of several Turnhout card makers, with earlier roots reaching back to Brepols (1826).
Cartamundi, the card-making giant, reached its 50th year in 2020. In fact, its heritage can be traced back almost 200 years, to the formation of Brepols in 1826. The 50 years is the period since the consolidation of all the Belgian card makers in 1970 to form Carta Mundi (it was originally two words, meaning ‘cards of the world’ in Latin).
Above: lineage of Cartamundi, showing the consolidation of Belgian card makers into Carta Mundi in 1970.
Above: cards by Biermans, c 1890
As the chart shows (adapted from an article in the IPCS magazine 'The Playing Card') the firm evolved from many former card makers. Indeed, the back story of Cartamundi is very much the story of card-making in Belgium. The proliferation of companies from the 1830s onwards suggests a period of strong growth as printing cards becomes industrial - similar to the pattern in the USA and much of Europe.
I believe all these companies were based in Turnhout, with the obvious exception of the Amsterdam firm.
A period of consolidation followed from the 1960s onwards, as more modern pastimes, particularly TV, crowded playing card games out of family life. In 1970, the firms still remaining - Biermans, Brepols, Mesmaekers/Van Genechten and Amsterdam cards joined forces to create Carta Mundi.
Above: cards by Van Genechten, c1890
Above: Cards by Mesmaekers c1900
By Paul Bostock
United Kingdom • Member since May 07, 2024
Paul has been a collector of playing cards since his early teenage years, the mid 1970s. In the last 20 years or so he has specialised in standard English cards and their story. His collection, including many other English Standards, are featured on his website plainbacks.com. Paul is currently editor of Clear the Decks, the Journal of 52 Plus Joker, the American club for playing card collectors, and is a member of the IPCS Council, an EPCS member and a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing cards, a City of London livery company.
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