Bosco by A.S.S. for the Estanco de Naipes del Peru
‘Bosco’ Playing Cards manufactured by A.S.S. for the Estanco de Naipes del Peru, 1930s.
Above: detail from the ace of spades, the box and the back of the cards. It is curious that the phrase "Made expressly for the" is printed in English and not Spanish or German, and that the phrase "by The ASS Playing Card Ltd" has omitted the word "Company".
Above: Bosco playing cards manufactured in Germany by A.S.S. expressly for the Estanco de Naipes del Perú, 1930s. 32 cards in box. The legend "Estanco de Naipes del Perú" is printed on the box, ace of spades, and reverse.
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.
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 Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds
A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.
Costumes of Turkey Tarot
‘National Costumes of Turkey’ tarot by Industrie Comptoir, Leipzig, c.1800-1825.
Natural History Tarot
Natural History Tarot published by G M, Germany, early 19th C.
Æsop’s Fables tarot
French-suited Æsop’s fables tarot produced by Leipzig Industrie Comptoir, c.1800-1825.
Das Nassauische Kartenspiel
Pack conceived by Berthold Conradi, commemorating the 700th anniversary of the granting of town righ...
Jägerkarte Nr.465
Dondorf Jägerkarte Nr. 465 playing cards dedicated to the theme of hunting, c.1930.
Englische Karten nr.190
Dondorf Nr.190“Englische Karten”, 1867-1895.
Möbel-Spiel
Publicity pack for the East German furniture industry, with designs by Werner-Hans Schlegel.
Hand-painted and Silk-inlaid playing cards
Complete pack of 36 hand-painted and silk-inlaid playing cards with French suits made in Germany.
Mario Testino playing cards
A selection of Mario Testino’s photographic work in various fields, notably fashion.
Postillion Schafkopf
Postillion Schafkopf dedicated to the history of the German postal service.
Moorish Deck
Review of “Trzes’ Moorish Deck” facsimile published by Ulrich Kaltenborn, Berlin, 2023.
Schweden Spielkarten
54 different souvenir views of famous people and places in Sweden.
Burgdorf Abschreckhärtetechnik
Promotional pack for a German steel hardening business, with designs by Costante Costantini.
Early German playing cards
Some early examples of popular German playing cards from the XV and XVI centuries.
South American Costumes
Costumes of people of Brazil, Peru and Mexico, with views of Rio de Janeiro on the aces.
Vues et Caractères Suisses No.228
A Swiss souvenir pack by Dondorf
Spielkarten für Sammler
Cards on cards in celebration of playing-card collector Franz Braun’s 75th birthday.
Cards on Cards (E.H. Locker)
Artist Edward Locker’s view of London life in 1799, using every card in the pack as part of the pict...
WW2 German Propaganda Playing Cards
showing satirical portraits of Allied leaders and politicians
Wolfgang Dorn Werbe
Designs by Jürgen Pankarz for the 20th anniversary of the Wolfgang Dorn advertising agency, Cologne....
Bilder zum Tarot
Detailed pen and ink drawings of the major arcana by the German artist Helmut Wonschick.
Eisbergfreistadt Panoramische Spielkarte 1923
‘Iceberg Free State 1923’ fantasy playing cards with a cautionary moral lesson, Germany, 2006.
Das Tübinger Skatspiel
Pack devised by Volker Scheub depicting characters associated with the city of Tübingen.
Dallas playing cards
Seven of the top stars from the famous TV series Dallas.
Nokia II
Advertising pack for the Finnish firm Nokia showing different mobile phones.
Nordbräu Ingolstadt
Publicity pack for the German brewery Nordbräu with Bavarian pattern courts (adapted).
Wicküler Skat
Publicity pack for the German brewery Wicküler with courts merrily drinking beer.
Deutsche Dampflokomotiven
German steam locomotives from the period 1892 to 1950.
Mercedes-Benz Skat
Classy-looking designs by Monika Dostler for a manufacturer of posh cars.
Bahlsen Skat
Publicity pack for a German food company, featuring some of their products.
Calliope: a Renaissance band
Facsimile of cards attributed to Hans Schäufelein (c. 1480-1540) produced by ‘Calliope’, a New York ...
Rombach + Co Skat
Publicity pack designed by Uschi Dorner for a bookshop in Freiburg im Breisgau.
B & K Skat
Publicity pack designed by Henning Loerzer for Busskamp & Koch, an advertising agency in Munich.
Overstolz Cigaretten
Colourful publicity playing cards for a brand of German cigarettes.
Iduna Skat
Advertising pack for a Hamburg building society featuring pigs in disguise.
Tarock Schafkopf zum Wahlkampf 1990
Playing cards issued to mark the German federal elections held on 2 December 1990.
52 Transformierte Spielkarten
Modern transformation pack including some saucy images created by Siegfried Heilmeier.
Sternenmädchens Wahrsagespiel Tarot
A colourful 1970s take on the major arcana designed by Peter Geitner, with titles in German.
Papst Quartett
A quartet game featuring a selection of popes up to Benedict XVI.
Belgian Souvenir playing cards
made in Germany by C.L. Wüst