Four Races
“Four Races” playing cards designed by Latvian artist Vilnis Rasa in 1989.
“Four Races” playing cards were designed by Latvian artist Vilnis Rasa in 1989, published by Jānis Mētra as “Latvijas Pasjansa” (Latvian Patience) and printed in Lithuania by Albinas Borisevicius at his “Orija” colour digital printing works in 2007. Re-printed as “Nensijas” in 2015. The suits are hearts, spades, clubs and diamonds, total 32 cards + 2 jokers + 2 extra cards.
Above: “Four Races” playing cards designed by Vilnis Rasa in 1989, re-published by Jānis Mētra and printed by “Orija”, Lithuania, 2015. Images courtesy Jānis Mētra.
Jānis wrote: “Nensijas (Nancy) is a nickname for my younger sister Anna. She also is a good artist and I at first I had hoped that she would draw the cards, but for a long time she did nothing so I gave the idea to Vilnis Rasa, an artist from Kuldiga, and he drew them quickly.”
See complete deck here►
By Albinas Borisevičius
Lithuania • Member since July 01, 2010
I have been collecting cards since 1968, of course, then there were no contacts with world collectors, so my collection was very small. It was only in 1991, when Lithuania declared its independence, that it was possible to have contact with the world. It was a great honor for me to attend the IPCS convention in Munich, where I found many friends-colleagues. I managed to make an agreement with the Viennese card factory to print the ancient cards of Lithuania (PILYS).
My area of collecting - classic mirror-type cards and tourist cards - with images of cities, countries, photos. Also topics Sherlock Holmes, Alexander Dumas, Discover, Chess, Basketball, postage stamps on the cards. Since I am already 75 years old, I don't work, so I can't buy old cards (I really like classic cards from the 1920-1950 period). But my opinion is that it is better to have a card copy than nothing, so I will print one set of cards in Vilnius for my collection. Of course, if anyone wants, I can print it for them too. You can see my printed cards here: Lithuania - Orija.
I have published one book in Lithuania about cards and card games (in Lithuanian, about 400 pages): Albinas Borisevicius. Pirmasis padalijimas (The first deal)
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