Cartes Universelles

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. The court cards (king, horseman and jack) depict people from each continent. The aces have the name of each continent.

Above: ‘Cartes Universelles’ fantasy playing cards by Daveluy, Bruges, Belgium, 1860-1885. 48 Spanish-suited cards; colour lithography; square corners; 9.1 x 5.6 cm. Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France • Jeu de cartes au portrait espagnol de fantaisie, dit “des Quatre parties du monde”►

Reference

Biebouw, Luc; Clays, Alex; Cremers, Filip; D'Hondt, Jan & Smet, Yvette: Daveluy, Brugge's Trots en Koninklijke Troef, Brussels Euro Joker Club, 2004.

A similar pack was published about 1880 by Fulladosa y Comp of Barcelona, Spain►