Abbey Playing Cards
Abbey Playing Cards made in Belgium by La Turnhoutoise, c.1950s.
Abbey Playing Cards made in Belgium by La Turnhoutoise, 1950s. Founded in 1881, La Turnhoutoise manufactured cards for markets the world over, including this Abbey brand for the English market with the ace of spades marked as ‘foreign’. The company was taken over by Brepols in 1960, who in turn was merged along with Van Genechten and Léonard Biermans to become Carta Mundi in 1970.
Above: Abbey Playing Cards made in Belgium by La Turnhoutoise, 1950s.
By Matt Probert
United Kingdom • Member since March 02, 2012
I have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.
Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.
Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.
I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.
Activity for Abbey Playing Cards
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Cartamundi
Cartamundi is a Belgian playing-card manufacturer formed in 1970 through the consolidation of severa...
Les Grands Ecrivains
‘Les Grands Ecrivains’ produced for members of “Le Grand Livre du Mois”, France, c. 1970.
Luxus Skatkarte Nr.1134
Luxus Skatkarte Nr.1134 printed by Brepols for Germany, c.1940s.
Brazil Pictorial Aces
Genoese pattern with Pictorial Aces for Brazil by Brepols, Turnhout, c.1920.
Renovation 2.000
Renovation 2.000 playing cards with special courts designed by Jean Hoffmann.
Boerenbond Veevoeders
Promotional deck designed by Ray Goossens for the Boerenbond farmers’ union, c.1968.
Piket Fijne Speelkaarten, c.1925-30
‘Piket Fijne Speelkaarten’ by La Turnhoutoise, c.1925-30.
Brepols Genoese pattern
“Cartes Françaises” and Genoese pattern by Brepols.
Dutch Pattern for Van Perlstein
Brepols Dutch Pattern for Van Perlstein distillery, c.1960.
WW1 Commemorative
In 1919 Brepols commemorated the victories of World War I with two new packs featuring portraits of ...
21: Belgian Makers: Brepols and Biermans
Brepols started making playing cards in 1826, although he had been in the printing trade since 1800....
18: Belgian Cards: An Introduction
The card-makers of Turnhout were prolific in their output and inveterate copiers.
Renée Sturbelle
Artistic playing cards with abstract designs by Renée Sturbelle, first published by Brepols S.A., Tu...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
