O Baralho dos Provérbios!
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►
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.
By Roddy Somerville
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.
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 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 Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.
Safety playing cards
Safety playing cards designed to reinforce the “Think and Be Safe” concept.
Carte Osteologiche
Skulls and bones of all descriptions have become the suits and pips in this 40-card pack from Italy....
Postgeschichte
A celebration of different postal systems in Germany from 1630 to 1850, with designs by Volker Hartm...
Kings and Queens of Brazil & Portugal
Historical playing cards by C. L. Wüst depicting monarchs of Brazil and Portugal.
Campari playing cards
Publicity pack for Campari, designed for the Portuguese or Brazilian market.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! playing cards
Strange facts from Robert Ripley’s ‘Believe It or Not’ books, in the form of cartoons.
52 Ways to talk about adoption
‘52 Ways to talk about adoption’ family-centred playing cards produced by the Center for Adoption Su...
Winstanley Geographical cards
Facsimile of Winstanley’s Geographical cards produced by Harold & Virginia Wayland, 1967.
Gone to Pot: Gardener’s playing cards
‘Gone to Pot’: special playing cards for keen gardeners, United Kingdom.
Sally Ferries playing cards
Sally Ferries Euro playing cards and phrase pack, United Kingdom, c.1990s.
The Famous Dinosaurs Playing Cards
54 different dinosaurs, both large and small, illustrated by Cecilia Fitzsimons.
Old West Guns
Old West Guns playing cards containing information about firearms from the Old West, USA.
History of London illustrated playing cards
A catalogue in 54 cards of some of the treasures held within the Museum of London collections.
UMass Amherst Libraries
UMass Amherst Libraries playing cards, USA, 2016
Jeu de cartes abécédaire
An educational card game designed by F. Séré and published by Lithographie Musicale de Boboeuf, Par...
Instructive and Educational Playing Cards
Playing cards with an educational and instructive purpose first trended in mid-17th century France, ...
Unique Australian Animals
‘Unique Australian Animals’ educational playing cards designed by Lawton Ho, Australia, 2004.
Non-standard pack by J.J. Nunes
Charming designs reminiscent of older, northern European models.
Playing cards by António
Caricatures by António Moreira Antunes of Portuguese politicians from the 1980s, with non-standard s...
British Political Images
Playing cards depicting British political images from the Bodleian Libraries.
Red & White Wine playing cards
Red & White Wine playing cards published by Inkstone Design, USA, 2003.
Ethics Education playing cards
Ethics Education playing cards produced by the Centre for Military Ethics at King’s College London, ...
Life playing cards: tobacco education
‘Life playing cards: tobacco education’ anti-smoking deck, USA, 2003.
Ancient Egypt playing cards
Fully illustrated set of cards depicting various aspects of Ancient Egyptian life and culture.
Night & Day playing cards
‘Night & Day’ playing cards produced by London Underground, United Kingdom
Death on Drugs
Death on Drugs playing cards, United States, 1985.
Youthscape playing cards
Two packs of playing cards offering emotional help and support to young people.
Euro Playing Cards
New euro banknotes and coins from several countries on circular cards.
Cleveland Museum of Art artists card game
Cleveland Museum of Art artists card game, USA, c.1993.
Pips in Proverbs
Wonderful ‘Pips in Proverbs’ playing cards created by Jennifer Gaudion, United Kingdom, 2009.
Salmon playing cards
13 colour photographs showing the life cycle of the salmon by Nintendo, Japan.
Tea & Coffee Lovers playing cards
Tea & Coffee Lovers playing cards produced by Cultzilla.
Rois de France
Figures from French history restyled for a younger audience published by Quelle Histoire, 2015.
SI Units Revision playing cards
SI Units revision playing cards, United Kingdom.
Knot playing cards
Knot playing cards intended to teach a variety of useful and interesting knots, USA, 2000.
Cards Eh!
“Cards Eh!” playing cards with general information about Canada produced by JK Productions of Richmo...
Carte Méthodique
Reproduction of a French pack by François Silvestre intended to teach heraldry, produced in Paris in...
Animal Aid playing cards
Animal Aid playing cards with anti-shooting cartoons created by Steve Hutton.
History of the Russian Revolution
A pack of playing cards about the Russian Revolution, USA, c. 2021.
Radical playing cards
Radical playing cards, identifying radical characters from history, United Kingdom, 2021