Baralla amb Iconografia Medieval Valenciana

Valencia is certainly proud of its history, its traditions and its fiestas but it does seem odd to depict figures in medieval costume on a pack celebrating the opening of a new metro line! The figures themselves are not named. Buff-coloured backgrounds. One unusual feature is that there are no line breaks to indicate the different suits; however, there are occasional breaks where a design spills over into the border. The only cards with any text are the Ace and 4 of Coins. The pack appears to have been sponsored by the Transport Department of the local government (Generalitat Valenciana) as their name appears on the end flaps of the box►

Above: pack issued to mark the opening of line 3 of the metro in Valencia, 1998. 40 cards in tuck box. Maker unknown.

By Roddy Somerville

Member since May 31, 2022

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Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.