Never Mind the Belote
Limited edition Belote pack with designs by a collective of 24 street artists.
The idea behind this Belote pack was to bring a collective of street artists closer to collectors by showcasing their work in one pack of cards. Twenty-four artists participated: most of the artists were French, with one each from Austria, Barcelona, London and Chandigarh. Naturally, the styles and subjects are extremely varied. Each piece of artwork bears the name of the artist. The 10s are identical: a pair of crossed bones forming an ‘X’ (for ‘10’). The 9s include a large number ‘9’ as part of each design. The 8s and 7s are plain, although there is a non-standard arrangement of the pips on the 7s. Apart from the 8s and the 7s, all the suit-signs in the corners appear to be ‘dripping’ (including on the Jokers), like wet paint. There are four different Jokers. The names of all the artists are listed on one side of the box. This was a limited edition of 2,000 packs, with all the boxes being numbered by hand • see the box
Above: Never Mind the Belote playing cards made by Carta Mundi, Turnhout, Belgium. Published by WCA Production, Paris, France, 2015. 32 cards + 4 Jokers in square drop-lid box. Size: 56 x 87 mm. © All the artists
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022
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.
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