Iranian Popular Art

Iranian Popular Art Playing Cards

Representing Iranian culture and history and intended for a Persian market, these playing cards were designed by V. Romanowski de Boncza. The deck was commissioned by the Royal Iranian Government Playing Card Monopoly (Ministry of Finance) at the time and printed by De la Rue & Co., Ltd, c.1937. The double-ended court figures are wearing exotic Persian costumes from different dynasties.

Click to see: box ♣ reverse ♥ extra card.

Above: 'Iranian' playing cards designed by V. Romanowski de Boncza and first printed by De la Rue in c.1937. The cards incorporate Iranian motifs and there appear to have been more than one back design as well as a patience sized version; the cards were also re-printed by Fournier in c.1962 and again at a later date with some modifications. Images courtesy Barney Townshend and Mehdi Soozande.

Reference:

Collett, Maurice: "Iranian Playing Cards" in the Newsletter of the English Playing Card Society, Vol.23 No.83, June 2005, pp.45-47.

---

Update from Peter Burnett

I'm attaching scans of a Fournier reprint which clearly shows the differences/modifications to the court cards (e.g KS becomes KH; QH becomes QD; new spade suit, etc.) Fournier's 1962 reprint was not a slavish copy of the De La Rue original. Many of the cards were given a 'lighter' look, e.g., KC - eyes and beard lightened, crown slightly cropped; JD - outline of chin lightened and face generally more pink. A later reprint is from c.1979 with the title "Historic Iranian Designs". The single pack also contained a leaflet►

Above: Fournier reprint of Iranian playing cards. Image courtesy Peter Burnett.

---

What are the differences between the two reprints?

The Hearts courts and Ace were switched to Diamonds; the Diamonds courts and Ace were dropped completely; the Spades courts and Ace were switched to Hearts; the Clubs courts and Ace remained the same. Totally new designs were introduced for the 1979 Spades courts and Ace. The 1962 pack was on slightly creamier card than the 1979 one. The corners were more rounded and had more gilding than on the later pack. The 1962 pack lies flat, whereas the 1979 pack has a tendency to curve slightly over time. On the 1962 AS, one can read "MADE IN SPAIN" just above the design, whereas this is absent from the 1979 AH. On the 4C, the number '419' has been added at the foot of the design in the 1979 reprint. The back design remained the same (mine is red). Lastly, the design of the packing/control slip changed from an elaborate to a simple one - R.S.

Above: Historic Iranian (1962 Aces above, 1979 Aces below). Images and notes courtesy Roddy Somerville.