Whist No. 32

Published March 10, 2012 • Updated May 15, 2022

Whist No. 32 - Cartas de Jogar Nunes

Whist No. 32 - Cartas de Jogar Nunes - Lisbon

German-style ‘Whist No.32’ playing cards made in Portugal by J. J. Nunes, c.1930s

Dfter the demise of Real Fabrica de Lisboa in 1870 Belgian and German exporters virtually took over the Portuguese and Brazilian markets and French-suited cards such as these became more popular. These designs imitating late medieval costume were originally published by B. Dondorf in Germany as ‘Mittelalter No.151’. Presumably Nunes acquired the designs from Dondorf and printed the cards themselves, but the exact details of any copyright agreement are not known.

Above: cards from ‘Whist No.32’ made in Portugal by J. J. Nunes, c.1930s. These designs imitating late medieval costume, including the weapons held by the four Jacks, were originally published by B. Dondorf as 'Mittelalter No.150' and in the original cards the name 'B. Dondorf' can be read on the Jack of Clubs' helmet. In this edition no manufacturer's name is visible apart from on the two red Fours and box and the back design is a simple geometric pattern. Image courtesy Sally McBurney.

Above: slightly different typography on four of hearts see more. Image courtesy Rex Pitts.

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By Simon Wintle

Spain • Member since February 01, 1996 • Contact

I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.

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Whist No. 32

Whist No. 32 - Cartas de Jogar Nunes - Lisbon

German-style ‘Whist No.32’ playing cards made in Portugal by J. J. Nunes, c.1930s

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