Maxi Puke 201 Circus Poker

“Maxi Puke 201” Circus Poker produced by Wenyu Paper Products, Shanghai, with attractive bird drawings on the court cards and reverse. The words “Maxi Puke" are simply a romanization of the phrase 马戏扑克. This means “Circus [brand] poker” in English. The Chinese word for “circus” literally means "horse show” (referring to stunts in horseriding), hence the presence of horses in both the jokers, the ace of spades and the central medallion on the box. The pip cards are quite ordinary western style pips.   See the cardboard box►

Above: the phrase on the bottom of the jokers is 上海文娱纸品一厂出品. This can be translated as “Product of Wenyu Paper Products, Shanghai” Wenyu (文娱), the manufacturer’s name, means “Literature and Leisure”. The leaping horse on the jokers shows a backdrop of industrial chimneys which suggests pride of China’s rapid growth in industry.

Above: “Maxi Puke 201” Circus Poker brand produced by Wenyu Paper Products, Shanghai. 52 cards + 2 jokers in box. Images courtesy Matt Probert.

Notes and Chinese translations courtesy Anthony Lee.