Famous Faces playing cards
Images of the great and the good to be found in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
The National Portrait Gallery in London opened in 1856. It was arguably the first national public gallery in the world dedicated to portraits. The Chandos portrait of William Shakespeare (JD) was the first painting to enter the gallery’s collection. Since 1969, portraits of living figures have been allowed, such as Kate Winslet (5H) and Michael Caine (3C). Included in this pack are portraits – paintings, drawings and photographs – of 52 different famous men and women from all walks of life. Each one is named. The four Jokers represent an easel, a camera, an artist’s tools and a paint palette.
Above: Famous Faces playing cards printed by Offason of Sweden for the National Portrait Gallery, London, UK, c2004. 52 cards + 4 different Jokers in drop-lid box. Size: 63 x 84 mm.
By Roddy Somerville
France • 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.
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