The World of Playing Cards Logo
Published March 20, 2014 Updated June 02, 2023

Daveluy

Daveluy produced card games between c.1840 and 1890. Many of his playing cards have historical connotations and show figures with a landscape background.

Belgium Daveluy Fashion & Costume Historical Medieval Add to Collection

Daveluy, Bruges (active 1835-1895)

Daveluy produced card games between c.1840 and 1890. His output differs from other Belgian manufacturers by its distinctive fantasy medieval style, lively chromolithography, traditional ideals of workmanship and de luxe finish. Unlike his contemporaries in Turnhout, Daveluy favoured graphic originality with a penchant for the “neo-medieval” and “neo-Renaissance” which was becoming fashionable at that time, evoking an old order of chivalry and adventure.

‘Première Croisade’ by Daveluy, Bruges, c.1850

Above: chivalrous ‘Première Croisade’ playing cards by Daveluy, Bruges, c.1850   more

Many of Daveluy's playing cards have historical connotations with reference to the history of the Southern Netherlands, and show figures with a landscape background. Where the Turnhout manufacturers borrowed from French and Continental patterns and addressed the wider world, Daveluy addressed Belgium of the 1830s. However, many of his fantasy playing card designs influenced the output of other manufacturers who imitated his style.

Jeu de cartes au portrait espagnol de fantaisie, dit Des Quatre parties du monde, 1875-1880. Source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF

Above: Four Corners of the World playing cards, 1875-1880.

Fantasy designs by Daveluy, Bruges, c.1860

Above: fantasy double-ended designs by Daveluy, Bruges, c.1860-75. Traditional ideals of workmanship with different colouring at each end   (click image to see more).


FURTHER REFERENCES

Cartes à Jouer de XVIIe au XXe siècle, Collection Atger, Etude Tajan, 2000.

Mann, Sylvia: All Cards on the Table, Jonas Verlag/Deutsches Spielkarten-Museum, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, 1990.

Heritage insight

Édouard Alexis Daveluy (1812-1894) founded his press in Bruges in 1835. Having been appointed Lithographer to the King, in 1847 he filed a patent for “a method of manufacturing playing cards in chromolithography”. We might even go so far as to say that Daveluy challenged the concepts of ‘progress’ associated with industrialisation and pursued his own ideals.

‘Cartes Moyen-Age’ by Daveluy, Bruges, c.1875

Above: somewhat nostalgic ‘Cartes Moyen-Age’ by Daveluy, Bruges, c.1875   more

Daveluy exhibited in Paris at the Universal Exhibitions of 1855, 1867 & 1878. He also produced Lenormand & Tarot packs. Around 1880, Édouard Daveluy transferred the business to his eldest son Victor (1846-1886) who had made a name for himself as a photographer, but he died prematurely. In 1895 his widow assigned the business to the Geûens-Seaux partnership, although Brepols is believed to have taken some of Daveluy's plates or lithographic stones and Geûens brought two of the Brepols craftsmen to Bruges.

Dutch pattern playing cards by Daveluy, Bruges, c.1880

Above: Dutch pattern playing cards by Daveluy, Bruges, c.1880   (click image to see more).

Spanish playing cards by Daveluy, Bruges, Belgium

Above: Spanish-suited playing cards produced by Daveluy for Spain. © National Museum of the Playing Card, Flemish Department of Culture, Youth and Media.

avatar
1,433 Articles

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

Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs

A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

1991 Costume Playing Cards

Costume Playing Cards

Four centuries of costumes from the Costume Court at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

2019 Liber Ludorum

Liber Ludorum

Liber Ludorum playing cards created by Ian Cumpstey in the insular style, United Kingdom, 2019.

1985 Paco Lobo

Paco Lobo

Highly original and striking designs by Paco Lobo for the fashion house of the same name.

1970 Loewe: Moda Europea Siglo XVII

Loewe: Moda Europea Siglo XVII

Luxury pack for the Spanish fashion house Loewe, with 17th century costume designs by Margot Hamilto...

1987 Jeu Gothique

Jeu Gothique

‘Jeu Gothique’ illustrating the Gothic period in France, published by Editions Dusserre.

2000 Sweden playing cards

Sweden playing cards

Named characters from Swedish history.

2000 Romania playing cards

Romania playing cards

Romanian voivodes and their wives from the 15th and 16th centuries.

2016 Tuxedo playing cards

Tuxedo playing cards

Stylish ‘Tuxedo’ playing cards with animal faces created by Natalia Silva, USA, 2016.

1883 Jeu Quatre Empereurs

Jeu Quatre Empereurs

Brazilian scenic aces with emperors of Brazil, Austria and France and other dignitaries on the court...

1987 Postgeschichte

Postgeschichte

A celebration of different postal systems in Germany from 1630 to 1850, with designs by Volker Hartm...

1870 Kings and Queens of Brazil & Portugal

Kings and Queens of Brazil & Portugal

Historical playing cards by C. L. Wüst depicting monarchs of Brazil and Portugal.

1985 Hôtels-Grils Campanile

Hôtels-Grils Campanile

Publicity pack for the Campanile hotel and restaurant chain featuring French provincial costumes, wi...

1985 Tavaglione playing cards

Tavaglione playing cards

Well-designed pack by Giorgio Tavaglione, with courts in medieval costume.

Brooks dna playing cards

Brooks dna playing cards

Brooks dna playing cards produced by Gemaco for Brooks running shoes.

1971 Meal Tub Plot

Meal Tub Plot

Meal Tub Plot playing cards [facsimile] with 17th century sketches by Francis Barlow.

1897 Mediaeval Playing Cards

Mediaeval Playing Cards

Finely executed late 19th century pack from the USA featuring courts in medieval costume.

1820 Historical playing cards by Joseph Fetscher

Historical playing cards by Joseph Fetscher

Historical playing cards by Joseph Fetscher, Munich, c.1820.

1800 Costumes of Turkey Tarot

Costumes of Turkey Tarot

‘National Costumes of Turkey’ tarot by Industrie Comptoir, Leipzig, c.1800-1825.

1790 Animal Tarot by J. B Dubois

Animal Tarot by J. B Dubois

French-suited Bavarian Animal Tarot by J B Dubois, Liège, Belgium, late 18th C.

2023 House of Tudor

House of Tudor

Randy Butterfield's House of Tudor playing cards feature detailed art in a high-quality collectible ...

1830 Animal Tarot by J. T Dubois

Animal Tarot by J. T Dubois

Early 19th century Animal Tarot pack produced by J T Dubois, Liège, Belgium.

1753 Animal Tarot by G. Larmoyer

Animal Tarot by G. Larmoyer

Flemish Animal Tarot deck by G. Larmoyer, Liège, 1753.

1970 Louis De Poortere

Louis De Poortere

Psychedelic designs promoting Louis De Poortere, a company selling carpets and rugs.

1988 Costumes Alsaciens

Costumes Alsaciens

Typical costumes and views of Alsace together with lists of the principal sights.

1985 Een Kaartspel

Een Kaartspel

Minimalist playing cards from The Netherlands

2002 Mario Testino playing cards

Mario Testino playing cards

A selection of Mario Testino’s photographic work in various fields, notably fashion.

2021 Old School Playing cards from Moon

Old School Playing cards from Moon

Designed and published by Leo Scherfig

1980 Naipe Navarro

Naipe Navarro

Historical figures and artefacts from Navarre with designs by M. Sinués for the Navarre Association ...

1820 Costumes des Peuples Étrangers

Costumes des Peuples Étrangers

Costumes des Peuples Étrangers & Jeu d’Or dedicated to young people and likely used for games and fo...

1971 Seiko fashion cards

Seiko fashion cards

Men's and ladies fashion playing cards published for the Seiko Corporation by Nintendo, Japan, 1971....

2022 Britney Spears Oracle

Britney Spears Oracle

Britney Spears Oracle: A Deck and Guidebook to Be Stronger Than Yesterday — a card set for Britney f...

1982 Panty cards

Panty cards

Panty cards designed by Hide Takagaki, Japan, 1982.

2000 Krónikás kártya

Krónikás kártya

A German-suited pack from Hungary in honour of the millennium.

Het Nest Brouwerij

Het Nest Brouwerij

Het Nest Brouwerij playing cards from Turnhout, Belgium.

1860 Fashion costume pack by O. Gibert

Fashion costume pack by O. Gibert

Elegant fashion costume deck published by O. Gibert, Paris c.1860.

1860 South American Costumes

South American Costumes

Costumes of people of Brazil, Peru and Mexico, with views of Rio de Janeiro on the aces.

1815 Llombart Costume Pack

Llombart Costume Pack

Military-style costume pack made by Anton Llombart, Barcelona, 1815.

1880 Des Quatre Parties du Monde

Des Quatre Parties du Monde

Four Corners of the World fantasy playing cards by Daveluy, Bruges, Belgium, 1875-1880.

1983 España Imperial

España Imperial

España imperial / Imperial Spain playing cards with artwork by Serny, published by Heraclio Fournier...

1988 Medieval Life playing cards

Medieval Life playing cards

‘Medium Aevum’ (Medieval Life) playing cards designed by Violeta Monreal, published by Heraclio Four...