Playing cards from Suriname

A very attractive pack of 54 cards reflecting the history and culture of Suriname. The court cards of the four suits portray the different cultures that now populate the country. The Diamond suit represent the Amerindians – the oldest inhabitants of the country; the Spades portray African negroes brought to Suriname as slaves, who were the ancestors of the Saramacca (formerly called "Bush Negroes"); Clubs depict the contract workers from India who were brought over to meet the shortage of labourers after the abolition of slavery; and the Hearts portray the Javanese who came from Indonesia to Suriname, adding one further element to the diversity of local cultures.

The court cards also incorporate aspects of culture, such as dress, musical instruments, and rituals. The reverse of the cards shows a stylized version of woodcarving of the Saramacca tribe and the ace of spades shows the coat-of-arms inside a spade symbol, superimposed upon a rough outline of the country. More detailed information is provided in an accompanying leaflet, written in English and Dutch (see below).

Above: Playing cards reflecting the history and culture of Suriname, designed by Henna Brunings, Monique Vergauwen and Piem Reiziger. Printed by Vaco Press Graphic Industry and published by Art Design, in the capital Paramaribo. The reverse of the cards shows a stylized version of woodcarving of the Saramacca tribe. Undated.