Dronning Margrethe II

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who this year (2022) celebrates her Golden Jubilee, is an accomplished artist. Her illustrations have been used in a number of books, including a Danish edition of “The Lord of the Rings”. She originally designed these elegant, elongated cards for a television adaptation of Hans Andersen’s fairy tale “The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep” in which a pack of cards holds a pivotal role. In 1994, Queen Margrethe granted the Danish Refugee Council the right to sell the playing cards for the benefit of their international, humanitarian work. Indices K, D, B, A. “One-way” pip cards. The cards are housed in a double box and have an accompanying explanatory leaflet in four languages. See the box►

Above: cards designed by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, 1994. 2 x 52 cards + 3 Jokers + 1 blank card + leaflet in drop-lid box. Size: 58 x 111 mm. Maker unknown.

See the leaflet►

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.