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Portuguese Type Playing Cards c.1860

Published July 22, 1996 Updated October 15, 2024

10 cards from a pack of later Portuguese ‘Dragon’ type cards from c.1860, with the Maid of batons about to club a dog.

1860 BelgiumPortugalPortugaisesPortuguese Pattern

PORTUGUESE TYPE

10 cards from a pack of later Portuguese 'Dragon' type cards from c.1860, with the Maid of batons about to club a dog. Woodblock outlines, hand-coloured, although probably not made in Portugal, they are almost the same design as cards by Imprensa Nacional, Lisboa. This pattern was also exported to Brazil, but it disappeared at the end of the 19th century. 48 cards, 49 x 80 mm.

Click here to see a later version.

maid of batons

Cards courtesy of Fernanda Frazão.


Cartes Portugaises - courtesy Nationaal Museum van de Speelkaart, Turnhout

reprint of the archaic Portuguese pattern, courtesy Nationaal Museum van de Speelkaart, Turnhout

Above: modern reprint of the archaic Portuguese pattern, courtesy Nationaal Museum van de Speelkaart, Turnhout. The monogram on the six of cups is made to resemble that of the Real Fábrica de Lisboa.

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By Simon Wintle

Spain • Member since February 01, 1996

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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