Popular Fine Art Litho Works
A standard English pack and one adapted for magic tricks by Popular Fine Art Litho Works Ltd., Bombay, India.
English pattern courts going under the brand name of “Popular Playing Cards No. 391”. Indices in two corners only. Two of the designs have been registered, the Joker (no. 74944) and the Ace of Spades (no. 74945). Blue or red patterned backs. See the box►
Above: Popular Playing Cards No. 391 made by the Popular Fine Art Litho Works Private Ltd., Bombay, India, c1970. 52 cards + 2 Jokers in tuck box. Size: 59.5 x 86 mm.
In an identical blue box I found a stripper deck for doing tricks. The shaving of these cards is extremely obvious – not subtle in the least. With them was a piece of paper which was probably originally affixed to the box (see illustration) but which must have come loose over time. The instructions referred to were nowhere to be seen. There were no Jokers included.
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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