O Baralho dos Provérbios!

Published June 15, 2022 • Updated January 13, 2026

Portuguese proverbs in combination with special courts and suit-signs published by Apenas Livros, Lisbon.

Clearly a lot of thought, imagination and ingenuity has gone into the creation of this pack. For the design work and choice of proverbs we have to thank Natali Nascimento. The work was done as a project for part of a master's degree in 2011 and it was finally published in 2016. The proverbs have been arranged by theme – health, climate and agriculture, love, and justice – one on each suit. These themes are further represented by non-standard pips – blue fish for health, pink birds for climate and agriculture, purple flowers for love, and green leaves for justice. The court cards are loosely based on traditional ones (French pattern?) but generated using computer graphics. The suit-signs in the corners and the four Jokers have been created using the same technique. Indices R, D, V, A. Cream backgrounds. The extensive leaflet in Portuguese explains how the proverbs have been arranged, including ones connected with fortune on the Jokers. All in all, unusual and strangely attractive. See the box►

Portuguese proverbs pack published by Apenas Livros, Lisbon, Portugal, c.2016

Above: Portuguese proverbs pack published by Apenas Livros, Lisbon, Portugal. The work for this pack was done as a project for part of a master's degree in 2011 and it was finally published in 2016. 52 cards + 4 Jokers + double-sided leaflet in tuck box. Size: 63 x 88 mm. Purchased in Lisbon, January 2020.

The extensive leaflet in Portuguese explains how the proverbs have been arranged, including ones connected with fortune on the Jokers.

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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.