West Flanders Souvenir
West Flanders Souvenir pack manufactured in Belgium by Mesmaekers, c.1950.
West Flanders Souvenir pack in the Belgian pattern manufactured by Mesmaekers, c.1950. The Mesmaekers company was taken over by Van Genechten in 1968. The “Little Joker” was subsequently adopted by Carta Mundi as their standard joker when Fabrique Brepols, Van Genechten and Léonard Biermans were in turn merged to become Carta Mundi in 1970.
Above: West Flanders Souvenir pack manufactured in Belgium by Mesmaekers, c.1950. 52 cards + 2 jokers + contract bridge score table in box.
Other advertising decks
Above: publicity deck for 'Barco' radios (French/Belgian) which was founded in 1934. Image courtesy Nic Davies.
By Simon Wintle
Spain • Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
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