Benfiquista!

Sometimes a pack can be very different but at the same time rather boring. Such is the case here. Every single card features the badge of the Benfica Football Club in the centre (boring!) but miniature card designs (English pattern) in two of the corners. On the court cards, half of a traditional design is shown; on the other cards (except for the Aces), all the pips are present (unusual layout on the 2s and 3s). On the Jokers, this spot is reserved once again for the badge of the club. Unusual indices: R, Q, J, A. Glossy finish. Bimbo, whose name appears on the backs and on the box is a food and drinks company operating in Spain and Portugal so it is likely that this pack was offered as a free gift by Bimbo, attached to one of their products (there is tape across the box to suggest this). It was no doubt intended that the wording on the back (“com muito gosto” = “with great taste” or “with pleasure”) could apply equally well to the football club or to Bimbo’s products. See the box►

Above: sponsored pack produced for Benfica Football Club, Lisbon, Portugal, 2006. 52 cards + 3 Jokers in tuck box. Size: 58.5 x 88.5 mm. Maker unknown (China).

Notes: the tape on the box reads "....ERTA Bi...", probably "OFERTA Bimbo" in full. I surmise that these packs were taped to and given away with a Bimbo product. The design on each side of the box is identical. The fact that this is a licensed product is mentioned on the side of the box, as is the date. The motto of the Benfica Football Club is “E pluribus unum”, also of course a motto of the USA.