Bon Gout No.11 with Crimean War aces
Made by Mesmaekers & Moentack of Turnhout.
A pack of playing cards with scenic aces depicting some of the major battles from the Crimean war (1852 - 1856) in which Russia was defeated by an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, United Kingdom and Piedmont-Sardinia.
The pack has its original wrapper which is named Bon Gout No.11, a luxury pattern printed by Mesmaekers & Moentack of Turnhout Belgium. This factory only existed between 1859 and 1862 after which is became Mesmaekers Frères. The initials of the factory (M&MàT) are just visible on the bottom right hand corner of the wrapper shown below.
Printed in about 1860, this pack consists of 32 cards which are stencil coloured lithography with a different colour scheme at each end of the court cards, an indication of quality.
Below: The wrapper and the back of the cards
All cards shown are from the collection of Paul Symons ©
By Paul Symons
Member since February 01, 2016
I'm British but I have now lived in the Netherlands for more than 50 years and am still enjoying every minute of it. I started collecting playing cards in the early 1980’s after speaking with my neighbour who was at that time a croupier in a casino. I started with just collecting jokers, but that soon led me to complete packs of cards and eventually to specialising in old and antique playing cards, particularly those of C.L. Wüst of Frankfurt, Germany. I am presently the Dutch representative of the I.P.C.S. and the auctioneer at the IPCS conventions.
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds
A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Louis De Poortere
Psychedelic designs promoting Louis De Poortere, a company selling carpets and rugs.
Een Kaartspel
Minimalist playing cards from The Netherlands
Old School Playing cards from Moon
Designed and published by Leo Scherfig
Scaramouche
Scaramouche cartes à jouer with designs by Henri Favre, published by Triboulet, France.
Het Nest Brouwerij
Het Nest Brouwerij playing cards from Turnhout, Belgium.
Des Quatre Parties du Monde
Four Corners of the World fantasy playing cards by Daveluy, Bruges, Belgium, 1875-1880.
WW2 German Propaganda Playing Cards
showing satirical portraits of Allied leaders and politicians
Theatre of Pain / Teatr Boli
Theatre of Pain / Teatr boli playing cards depicting politicians and leaders in the Caucasus territo...
The Forces’ Favourites
The Forces’ Favourites playing cards with glamorous illustrations by David Wright, United Kingdom, 2...
Sleeperhold Publications
Sleeperhold Publications collaborative art playing cards.
Commedia dell’Carte
Commedia dell’Carte political transformation cards illustrated by Stef van Stiphout, Belgium, 1977. ...
Euro Playing Cards
New euro banknotes and coins from several countries on circular cards.
Game Over
‘Game Over’ political playing cards from Israel, 2006.
Maquettes for an unpublished WWI pack
Original designs depicting leaders and allegories from Russia, France, Great Britain and Belgium.
Belgian Souvenir playing cards
made in Germany by C.L. Wüst
Paris pattern for WWII troops
Wartime edition of standard designs with fewer colours, a special back design and an overprint.
Lecardo
‘Lecardo’ playing cards, dominos & word building game invented by Stanley Kermode, United Kingdom, c...
Anonymous pack of Dutch playing cards
produced just after the end of the Second World War.
Hand made WW2 Prisoner of War Playing Cards
made by German soldiers held captive by US troops
Isle of Man playing cards made by Glénisson of Turnhout
Two souvenir packs with different court cards made by Glénisson for the Isle of Man, c.1880.
Bon Gout No.11 with Crimean War aces
Made by Mesmaekers & Moentack of Turnhout.
Le Régime Bush
“Le Régime Bush” anti-war playing cards designed by Thierry Meyssan, France, 2003.
Scouting playing cards
Cartoon-style illustrations promoting a Belgian organisation for scouts and guides.
Neptune No.105 Playing Cards
An exotic pack made by A.Van Genechten of Turnhout
Operation Hidden Agenda
“Operation Hidden Agenda” playing cards designed by Kathy Eder, USA, 2003.
Operation Iraqi Freedom playing cards
Operation Iraqi Freedom: U.S. Military heroes playing cards, 2003.
Liberated: America's Most Unwanted
“Liberated: America's Most Unwanted” playing cards published in support of the Iraqi War, c.2003.
War Profiteers playing cards
“War Profiteers” playing cards, USA, c. 2004.
United Nations of Weasels
“United Nations of Weasels” anti-war political playing cards, USA, 2003.
Try’em playing cards
Try’em: the U.S. Regime Change, or “52 Most Wanted Criminals” c. 2003.
War Party playing cards
War Party playing cards, in opposition to the Iraq War, USA, 2003.
Iraqi Most Wanted Playing Cards
Playing cards used to help troops identify the most-wanted members of Saddam Hussein's government. 2...
Anti-Fascist cards, 1943
Satirical Anti-Fascist cards designed in 1943 by Ivan Ivanovich Kharkevich.
Sigma Coatings
Advertising pack for a company supplying marine paints.
Lost Boys
Designs created on the occasion of a chess tournament in Antwerp, 1997.
Les Cartes pour l'Égalité
Playing cards for gender equality, created on the 500th anniversary of classic French cards
Jeep Playing cards
Pack of cards celebrating Allied Victory in the Second World War.
Chocolate playing cards with scenes from World War 1
An extraordinary Spanish pack of chocolate advertising playing cards dating from 1920.
Dutch costume playing cards from an unknown maker
Another pack of Dutch costume playing cards c.1880.
Dutch costume playing cards
Dutch costume playing cards made for the Dutch market in the second half of the 19th century.