The World of Playing Cards Logo
Published December 07, 2016 Updated March 22, 2022

Jean Borin

‘Cartes de Luxe’ with artwork by Belgian artist and designer Jean Borin (1907-1997).

Belgium Draeger Frères Jean Borin Art & Design Genoese Pattern Add to Collection

‘Cartes de Luxe’ with artwork by Belgian artist and designer Jean Borin, born in Louvain in 1907 and died in 1997. He was a pupil of the Academy of Brussels and the School of Fine Arts of Etterbeek. The designs are a splendid elaboration of the typical Belgian pattern, along with coats of arms and an overall heraldic feel, including the box

‘Cartes de Luxe’ with artwork by Belgian artist and designer Jean Borin (1907-1997)
‘Cartes de Luxe’ with artwork by Belgian artist and designer Jean Borin (1907-1997)

Above: ‘Cartes de Luxe’ with artwork by Belgian artist and designer Jean Borin (1907-1997), unknown manufacturer (possibly Draeger Frères), 52 cards + 2 jokers in double box.

‘Cartes de Luxe’ with artwork by Belgian artist and designer Jean Borin (1907-1997)
avatar
773 Articles

By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

Member since January 30, 2009

Rex's main interest was in card games, because, he said, they were cheap and easy to get hold of in his early days of collecting. He is well known for his extensive knowledge of Pepys games and his book is on the bookshelves of many.

His other interest was non-standard playing cards. He also had collections of sheet music, music CDs, models of London buses, London Transport timetables and maps and other objects that intrigued him.

Rex had a chequered career at school. He was expelled twice, on one occasion for smoking! Despite this he trained as a radio engineer and worked for the BBC in the World Service.

Later he moved into sales and worked for a firm that made all kinds of packaging, a job he enjoyed until his retirement. He became an expert on boxes and would always investigate those that held his cards. He could always recognize a box made for Pepys, which were the same as those of Alf Cooke’s Universal Playing Card Company, who printed the card games. This interest changed into an ability to make and mend boxes, which he did with great dexterity. He loved this kind of handicraft work.

His dexterity of hand and eye soon led to his making card games of his own design. He spent hours and hours carefully cutting them out and colouring them by hand.


Related Articles

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.

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 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.

1970 Louis De Poortere

Louis De Poortere

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

2019 Pendleton playing cards

Pendleton playing cards

Pendleton playing cards inspired by indigenous American artwork, USA, 2019.

1985 Een Kaartspel

Een Kaartspel

Minimalist playing cards from The Netherlands

2021 Old School Playing cards from Moon

Old School Playing cards from Moon

Designed and published by Leo Scherfig

2005 Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights (1001 Nights Tarot)

Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights (1001 Nights Tarot)

This tarot deck captures the idealised Eastern world's magic from the eighteenth and nineteenth cent...

1945 ORIENT The Queen of Cards

ORIENT The Queen of Cards

A unique Art creation of Subho Tagore

2015 Newtropolis and the Fantastic Fur

Newtropolis and the Fantastic Fur

Newtropolis and the Fantastic Fur: Heroes vs. Villains playing cards illustrated by Peter Wood, 2015...

Het Nest Brouwerij

Het Nest Brouwerij

Het Nest Brouwerij playing cards from Turnhout, Belgium.

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.

1986 Baraja Española de Pintores Murcianos

Baraja Española de Pintores Murcianos

A Spanish-suited pack as conceived by 48 different artists from the region of Murcia.

2002 Le Jeu d’Issy

Le Jeu d’Issy

Bold designs by Jacques Auriac representing people and enterprises for which the town of Issy-les-Mo...

1984 Bilder zum Tarot

Bilder zum Tarot

Detailed pen and ink drawings of the major arcana by the German artist Helmut Wonschick.

2000 Le Jeu de la Chance

Le Jeu de la Chance

Original designs by French artist Jean Vérame, with clubs replaced by four-leaf clovers to bring goo...

1991 Secretos de Oriente

Secretos de Oriente

Secrets of the Far East playing cards featuring the designs of Violeta Monreal , Spain, c. 1991.

1990 Ases de la pintura / Masters of painting

Ases de la pintura / Masters of painting

Ases de la pintura / Masters of painting playing cards made by Naipes Comas, Spain, c.1990.

Sleeperhold Publications

Sleeperhold Publications

Sleeperhold Publications collaborative art playing cards.

1977 Commedia dell’Carte

Commedia dell’Carte

Commedia dell’Carte political transformation cards illustrated by Stef van Stiphout, Belgium, 1977. ...

1993 Museum of Modern Art

Museum of Modern Art

Museum of Modern Art playing cards designed by Takenobu Igarashi.

1988 Festa Major de Vilafranca 1988

Festa Major de Vilafranca 1988

Colourful figures associated with the annual festival held in Vilafranca, Catalonia.

2001 Euro Playing Cards

Euro Playing Cards

New euro banknotes and coins from several countries on circular cards.

1915 Maquettes for an unpublished WWI pack

Maquettes for an unpublished WWI pack

Original designs depicting leaders and allegories from Russia, France, Great Britain and Belgium.

1994 Crystal Time

Crystal Time

Colourful and attractive designs by Violeta Monreal, inspired by stained glass through the ages.

1942 Lidia Schöffer art-deco playing cards

Lidia Schöffer art-deco playing cards

A prize winning design from The Netherlands

1890 Belgian Souvenir playing cards

Belgian Souvenir playing cards

made in Germany by C.L. Wüst

Chinese Opera Masks Playing Cards   脸谱

Chinese Opera Masks Playing Cards 脸谱

Three different packs of cards featuring traditional Chinese face painting and Chinese opera masks.

1930 Oude Kunst (Old Art) playing cards with Wüst courts

Oude Kunst (Old Art) playing cards with Wüst courts

made for export to the Netherlands.

1880 Isle of Man playing cards made by Glénisson of Turnhout

Isle of Man playing cards made by Glénisson of Turnhout

Two souvenir packs with different court cards made by Glénisson for the Isle of Man, c.1880.

1860 Bon Gout No.11 with Crimean War aces

Bon Gout No.11 with Crimean War aces

Made by Mesmaekers & Moentack of Turnhout.

2003 Scouting playing cards

Scouting playing cards

Cartoon-style illustrations promoting a Belgian organisation for scouts and guides.

1893 Neptune No.105 Playing Cards

Neptune No.105 Playing Cards

An exotic pack made by A.Van Genechten of Turnhout

1971 Sigma Coatings

Sigma Coatings

Advertising pack for a company supplying marine paints.

1997 Lost Boys

Lost Boys

Designs created on the occasion of a chess tournament in Antwerp, 1997.

2010 Les Cartes pour l'Égalité

Les Cartes pour l'Égalité

Playing cards for gender equality, created on the 500th anniversary of classic French cards

2004 Playing cards in Russian life

Playing cards in Russian life

Playing cards in Russian life - Karty v zhizni Rossii - published by Aleksandr Lutkovskii in 2004.

1945 Jeep Playing cards

Jeep Playing cards

Pack of cards celebrating Allied Victory in the Second World War.

2000 San Playing Cards

San Playing Cards

Rock paintings and engravings of the San people, better known as the “Bushmen”.

1880 Dutch costume playing cards from an unknown maker

Dutch costume playing cards from an unknown maker

Another pack of Dutch costume playing cards c.1880.

1860 Dutch costume playing cards

Dutch costume playing cards

Dutch costume playing cards made for the Dutch market in the second half of the 19th century.

1935 Müller: Richelieu

Müller: Richelieu

This deck is named after Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu, Cardinal-Duc de Richelieu (1585-1642),...