Des Quatre Parties du Monde
Four Corners of the World fantasy playing cards by Daveluy, Bruges, Belgium, 1875-1880.
The "Four Corners of the World" theme became popular in the 19th century due to increased exploration with explorers like James Cook, colonial expansion with trading posts in Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the Americas, plus growing interest in exotic cultures and distant lands. The concept embodied the idea of exploring the farthest reaches of the globe, perhaps in a hot-air balloon, which appealed to the Romantic imagination.
Also International exhibitions and world fairs, such as the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London and the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago showcased cultures of different nations and awakened public interest and, of course, this stimulated tourism. In this pack by Daveluy coins represent Asia, cups Africa, swords represent Europe and clubs America.
A similar pack was published about 1880 by Fulladosa y Comp of Barcelona, Spain►
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.
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