World’s Fair Souvenir
One of a series of Columbian Exposition Souvenir Playing Cards published during 1892-94 celebrating the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of the Americas.
World’s Fair Souvenir
Winters Art Lithographing Co., Chicago, 1892
One of a series of Columbian Exposition Souvenir Playing Cards published during the early 1890s celebrating the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of the Americas. Several editions were published by Winters Art Litho. Co, Chicago, with slight differences in the bust portraits in the corners of the court cards, and the back design featuring the three ships of Columbus in pink or blue (also seen on the box, right). The faces of the cards show scenes and buildings of the fair, whilst Columbus is depicted in the small bust portrait on the Jacks and Colonel George R. Davis, the President of the fair, on the Kings.
Winters Art Lithographing Co. also produced a number of special advertising decks around this time, for distilleries or brewing companies, based on the World's Fair deck or their Midwinter International Exposition deck (1894) but with slight modifications to suit the advertising purposes, such as a photo of the brewery or price lists on the Jacks instead of the normal images.
Above: World's Fair Souvenir Playing Cards manufactured by the World's Fair Souvenir Card Co., designed and lithographed by the Winters Art Litho. Co., 1892.
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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