Playing Cards from Belgium

18: Belgian Cards: An Introduction
The card-makers of Turnhout were prolific in their output and inveterate copiers.

21: Belgian Makers: Brepols and Biermans
Brepols started making playing cards in 1826, although he had been in the printing trade since 1800. In 1833 the firm was called Brepols & Dierckx (the former's son-in-law). Biermans (1875-1970) was a relatively late arrival on the Turnhout playing card scene.

22: Belgian Makers: Van Genechten
Van Genechten started making playing cards in c.1840 and continued until the founding of Carta Mundi in 1970.

23: Belgian Makers: Mesmaekers
Gustaaf Mesmaekers founded his business in 1859 in association with Louis-François Moentack, who left the business in 1862.

A Todos Alumbra
40-card "A Todos Alumbra - Naypes Refinos" pack manufactured by Léonard Biermans, Turnhout, c.1880.

Abbey Playing Cards
Abbey Playing Cards made in Belgium by La Turnhoutoise, c.1950s.

Advertising deck for Carta Mundi
Advertising deck for Carta Mundi produced by Carta Mundi, 2001

Anon Spanish Cards c.1875
Spanish-suited playing cards made in Belgium by Mesmaekers Frères, c.1875.

Anonymous Spanish Suited pack, c.1760
Anonymous archaic Spanish Suited pack, c.1760

Artex Quadrilato for Tunisia
Artex Quadrilato No.333 for Tunisia

Banque Nationale de Paris, c.1962
Special deck made for La Banque Nationale de Paris by Van Genechten, Turnhout, c.1962.

Bayer
Humorous pharmaceutical deck made by Antoine van Genechten for Bayer, c.1963.

Belgian Playing Cards
Belgian cardmakers have been actively designing and exporting playing cards since the 14th century.

Belgian Souvenir playing cards
made in Germany by C.L. Wüst

Belle Vue Gueuze
Promotional playing cards designed by Wim Simons, Belgium, 1960s.

BG Bouw Building Company
BG Bouw Dutch Building Company publicity deck manufactured by Carta Mundi, c.1980.

Biermans for the Estanco de Naipes del Peru
Standard Genoese pattern with French indices made by Biermans for Cigarrillo Holiday and the Estanco de Naipes del Perú.

Biermans Genoese pattern
Biermans Genoese pattern for Clayson agricultural machinery, late 1960s.

Boerenbond Veevoeders
Promotional deck designed by Ray Goossens for the Boerenbond farmers’ union, c.1968.