Swadeshi Playing Cards
Named after the first National movement in India
A very attractive pack of playing cards printed by the Ravi Udaya Press in Ghatkopar, Bombay (now Mumbai), India in about 1926. The courts cards depict Maharajas in full ornate, well-to-do Indian ladies and noble palace servants printed in colour chromolithography. The printer was well known for its popular prints of mainly Gods & Goddesses. The name & a date were written in pencil on the box which gives a good indication of when they were purchased.
The box is named Swadeshi cards, which is taken from the Swadeshi movement which was founded in Calcutta in 1905 to promote self sufficiency and curb the import of British goods. It was the first National movement against the British Raj and although it was a peaceful movement it was forcibly put down by the British Raj in 1909. However it was strengthened when Mahatma Gandhi pledged to boycott foreign goods in 1921. It ultimately led to the fall of British rule in 1947.
The pack has 52 cards. It is unknown if there was a joker and I can find no information about this pack in my reference library or on the internet, so if any reader has more information let me know in the comments section below.
Below: The remains of the box
References:
https://www.utkaltoday.com/swadeshi-movement/
All cards shown are from the collection of Paul Symons ©
By Paul Symons
Member since February 01, 2016
I'm British but I have now lived in the Netherlands for more than 50 years and am still enjoying every minute of it. I started collecting playing cards in the early 1980’s after speaking with my neighbour who was at that time a croupier in a casino. I started with just collecting jokers, but that soon led me to complete packs of cards and eventually to specialising in old and antique playing cards, particularly those of C.L. Wüst of Frankfurt, Germany. I am presently the Dutch representative of the I.P.C.S. and the auctioneer at the IPCS conventions.
Trending Articles
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Not the Iraqi Most Wanted playing cards
Fifty-five Irish heroes and villains, some ancient but mostly modern.
Le Carte di Forattini
Political caricatures by Giorgio Forattini published by Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, Italy, 1993.
Jeu de la Vme
A political pack designed by Pino Zac and published in 1977 by Editions Arts et Lettres.
Storia del Fascismo - gioco di carte
‘Storia del Fascismo’ playing cards depicting persons, symbols and artifacts associated with Italian...
Le Giscarte
Le Giscarte political playing cards designed by Eddy Munerol, France, 1976.
Politicards 2016 & Politikids 2016
Politicards™ 2016 & Politikids 2016: twin decks of satirical playing cards produced by Peter Green f...
K Deck
“K Deck” political playing cards, USA, c. 2004.
The Deck of Hillary
‘The Deck of Hillary’ with quotes and photographs of Hillary Clinton, USA, 2003.
Jeu Quatre Empereurs
Brazilian scenic aces with emperors of Brazil, Austria and France and other dignitaries on the court...
Politicards 2008
Politicards ’08 with caricatures cast as characters from classic movies, USA.
House of Cards: Deck of Bush
House of Cards: Deck of Bush playing cards presenting reasons not to re-elect President Bush for a s...
Kings and Queens of Brazil & Portugal
Historical playing cards by C. L. Wüst depicting monarchs of Brazil and Portugal.
FDR New Deal Deck
Facsimile of ‘FDR New Deal Deck’ of 1934 re-published by Bill Schroeder, USA, 2010.
Gay / Really straight Republican hypocrites
Gay / Really straight Republican hypocrites, USA, 2008
Politically Wild John McCain
“Politically Wild John McCain” published by Newt’s Playing Cards, USA, 2008.
Politicards 2004
Politicards 2004 with satirical cartoons by the award-winning illustrator Peter Green, USA.
Politicards 1971
Politicards 1971 for the presidential election in which Richard Nixon won a landslide victory.
Politicards 1996
Politicards ’96 with satirical caricatures on every card by Peter Green, USA.
Politicards 1984
Politicards 1984 with caricatures by Donald Gates, published by the Kamber Group, USA.
Politicards 1980
Politicards 1980 in which Ronald Reagan defeated the incumbent Jimmy Carter, with caricatures by Kei...
Ms. playing cards
‘Ms. playing cards’ promoting votes for women, USA, 1975.
Playing Politics 2010
“Playing Politics ’10: With no expenses spared” featuring caricatures by Oliver Preston, published b...
Playing Politics ’92: Pack of lies
Playing Politics ’92: Pack of lies with caricatures by Grant Robertson, UK.
B-Deck
“B-Deck” scurrilous playing cards poking fun at a former UK prime minister.
Trump playing cards
Trump playing cards produced by the Godesky brothers, USA, 2016.
Meal Tub Plot
Meal Tub Plot playing cards [facsimile] with 17th century sketches by Francis Barlow.
Bush League Allstars
Six different decks of “Bush League Allstars” political playing cards, United States, 2004.
Storia del Fascismo
Published by Il Meneghello, this pack provides a visual history of Fascism in Italy between 1919 and...
Know your deplorables
Photographs of political and media figures associated with the Presidency of Donald Trump (2017-2021...
Kings of India playing cards
Kings of India playing cards depicting the four greatest dynasties of India.
Political Players
Caricatures by Garth Stackhouse of American politicians involved in the 1996 presidential campaign.
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...
Révolution 1789-1989
Révolution 1789-1989, celebrating the bicentenary of the French revolution, France, 1989
ORIENT The Queen of Cards
A unique Art creation of Subho Tagore
Handmade Ganjifa Birds Playing Cards
This set of Ganjifa cards is a beautiful example of traditional cards from India.
Spanish Political pack
Satirical playing cards manufactured by Francar y Cía depicting political situation, Barcelona, 1872...
Carte da gioco anticomuniste del Comitato civico
Anti-Communist propaganda pack with satirical designs by Benito Jacovitti.
The Presidents playing cards
The Presidents playing cards first published by Arcturus LLC in 2007, reprinted in 2009.
The President’s deck
The President’s deck, USA, 1972
U.S. Presidents playing cards
U.S. Presidents Bicycle playing cards designed by Johnny Whaam, USA, 2015