1413) "Card Games", Spain: "Correos Espana" (Spanish Post) has issued a Stamp Sheet of 3.80 Euros representing the four suits (Swords, Pentacles, Cups & Wands) in a Tarot Deck, as the Origins of Card Games: Date of Stamp Sheet issue: 02.07.2020:

1413) "Card Games", Spain: "Correos Espana"(Spanish Post) has issued a Stamp Sheet  of 3.80 Euros representing the four suits (Swords, Pentacles, Cups & Wands) in a Tarot Deck, as the Origins of Card Games: Date of Stamp Sheet issue: 02.07.2020:

Ingenuity, cunning, strategy and luck are just some of the traits with which card games have always captivated human beings, regardless of social class, gender, age or even nationality.

A card game's attraction also comes from the design, symbolism and iconography dressing it up, which sometimes serves for illusionist games and even to predict the future/provide guidance to a querent, as in the case of tarot cards.

Interestingly, I have in my Tarot Card collection, some of the iconic world famous decks which I have procured from all over the world. The oldest in my collection is the Visconti-Sforza Tarocchi Deck (also referred to as the Pierpont Morgan Tarocchi Deck from  15th Century Milan. 

The reproduction of the Pierpont Morgan-Bergamo Tarocchi Deck represents an important event for tarot collectors and researchers of the art history. These rare cards have been reproduced in authentic colour tones from the Visconti-Sforza Tarocchi deck in the card deck in my collection and is not readily available anywhere in the world.

For more on interesting posts on Tarot Cards, please visit our blog tarotmysteries.blogspot.com at the following link:

Reading the Tarot: The Counsellor & the Guardian Angel

In the year 1369, playing cards are not mentioned in a decree issued by Charles VI of France against various forms of gambling, however, 28 years later in Paris an ordinance was issued on 22.01.1397, forbidding working people from playing tennis, ball, cards or nine pins excepting only on holidays.

It is generally accepted that playing cards emerged in Europe in the latter half of the 14th Century, probably first in Italy either as a complete 78 Card Deck, based on Tarot Cards consisting of 56 Suit Cards ,13 each of Swords (Air), Pentacles (Coins), Cups (Water) and Wands (Fire) of the Minor Arcana and 22 esoteric Major Arcana Cards, representing the Fool's journey through life). There is also an interesting Tarot Card Game, which we have learnt and played with the decks in our collection.

Playing cards arrived in Europe through the Silk Road trade or even from the Crusades, landing in Catalonia in the 14th Century AD. The iconography of these cards was the one used in the Mediterranean basin countries - the so-called Mamluk Cards, with the four suits of the pack being very similar to the ones we know today. The first mention of playing cards in a European text comes from a document in Barcelona in 1371.

Throughout the 15th Century, card games extended all over Europe, keeping the iconography that, over centuries, had been adapted to the idiosyncrasies of each nation, as happens with German or French packs of cards. During this Century, Cards (including Tarot Cards) were generally drawn or hand painted for the princely houses from Northern Italy and France. Subsequently, the card packs became more numerous by techniques using wood-cut stencils to copper engravings.

In Spain, packs of cards have practically retained their original iconography, which has given rise to a multitude of different games and a rich cultural vocabulary.

This stamp issue has the original feature of being a sheet with a stamp and three vignettes, which are presented in the shape of a trick with four main cards in the pack, each one from a different suit, with the design and iconic images of Heraclio Fournier - the Knave of Swords, the Knight of Cups, the King of Clubs and the Ace of Coins.

The Four Stamps issued in the Set include the Ace of Coins, the King of Clubs, the Knave of Swords and the Knight of Cups.

The King of Clubs or Wands (The "Fire" Sign in Tarot representing Action) 

 The Knave of Swords (The "Air" Sign in Tarot, representing the emergence of an idea)

 The Knight of Cups (The "Water" Sign in Tarot, representing Emotions)

The Ace of Coins or Pentacles (The "Earth" Sign representing materialising of an idea)

Technical Details:

Stamp set issue date: 02.07.2020

Stamp Size: 40.9 mm x 57.6 mm

Stamp value: 3.80 Euros

Interesting links to posts on Portugal and Spanish Coins and postage stamps on this blog:

 1) Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra: the creator of Don Quixote: Commemorating the 400th Anniversary of his death by issue of two coins in the denomination of 200 Euros (Gold) and 10 Euros (Silver) by the Royal Spanish Mint - Real Casa de la Moneda in 2016

 2) Comprehensive history of the Dollar illustrated on a Kilo coin minted by Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre (FNMT) in association with the Real Casa de la Moneda on 29.05.2017 

3) Treasures of the Spanish Museums: Fifth Part of the Series: Paintings from the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum depicted on coins released on 07.06.2017

4) Old Town of Avila, Spain: A UNESCO World Heritage Site featured on a 2 Euro Proof Coin by the Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre Real Casa de la Moneda" (FNMT-RCM- "National Coinage & Stamp Factory - The Royal Spanish Mint)

5) History of Navigation (or "Historia de la Navigacion"): 2nd issue: A set of four coins brought out by the Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre Real Casa de la Moneda" (FNMT-RCM):: 02/2019

6) Spanish Renaissance: 200 Euro (4 Escudo) Gold and Silver 10 Euro (8 Reales) Collector Coins: "Europa Coin Programme" or the "Eurostar Coin Programme" depicted on Gold and Silver Coins issued by the Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre - Casa Real de la Moneda: Issue date: 27.05.2019

7) 500th Anniversary of the "First Circum-navigational Voyage" by Magalhaes - El Cano (Magellan - El Cano) Expedition: Portugal-Spain Joint Philatelic Issue: Stamp issue date: 12.09.2019

8) "The Firebird", Principality of Andorra (Principat d' Andorra), Spain: A 0.70 Euro postage Stamp dedicated to the Russian community in Andorra: Stamp issue date: 30.10.2019

9) "Nacional Museo del Prado", Spain: Celebrating the Bicentenary milestone (1819-2019): Commemorative Silver Coins of 30 Euros issued by Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre - Casa Real de la Moneda on 20.11.2019: Coins minted by the Madrid Mint

10) Machu Picchu: "Wonders of the Modern World". A 1.35 Euro Stamp brought out by Correos Post, (Spanish Post) on 15.09.2017

11) Petra, Jordan: "Wonders of the Modern World Stamp Series" begun in 2015: A Stamp issued by Correos Post (Spanish Post) of the tariff value of "C" Class: Stamp issue date: 14.01.2020

12) The New Silk Road: A Joint issue of a two stamp set of 1.50 Euros each by Spain (Correos Post) and China: Stamps issue date: 01.07.2019

13) Charming Towns, Spain : For the past five years, Correos (Spanish Post) has issued Stamps and Postcards on four beautiful Spanish villages as old-fashioned accordion-style postcards: Date of PostCards/Stamp set issue: 30.03.2020

14) "International LGBTQ Pride Day", Spain: The LGBTQ Pride Day Flag (Rainbow Flag) depicted on the first ever stamp issued: Date of Stamp issued: 15.06.2020

15) "Card Games", Spain: Correos Espana (Spanish Post) has issued a Stamp Sheet of 3.80 Euros representing the four suits (Swords, Pentacles, Cups & Wands) in a Tarot Deck, as the Origins of Card Games: Date of Stamp Sheet issue: 02.07.2020

For more interesting posts on Coins and stamps of Portugal, please visit the following links:

1) India-Portugal: Joint Stamp issue: A set of two Commemorative Stamps in the denominations of 2500 Paise or Rs.25/- and 500 Paise or Rs.5/- brought out by India Post on 07.01.2017

2) Did you Know Series (15): A visit to Fort St. George Museum, Chennai (Part III): i) Indo-Danish Coins ii) Indo-Dutch Coins iii) Indo-French Coins iv) Indo-Portuguese Coins

3) "Four Leaf Clover": Endangered Flora Species: A Silver Proof 5 Euro Coin and a Brilliant Uncirculated Cupro-Nickel Coin issued by the Impresa Nacional Casa de Moneda (INCA) in September 2018

4) 500th Anniversary of the "First Circum-navigational Voyage" by Magalhaes - El Cano (Magellan - El Cano) Expedition: Portugal-Spain Joint Philatelic Issue: Stamp issue date: 12.09.2019

5) "The Joker", Portugal: Portugal Post has issued a set of four stamps featuring "The Joker"character of DC Comics, who is an archenemy of the "Batman": Date of Stamp issue: 31.03.2020

6) Portuguese Numismatics (1st Group): A set of four Stamps in the values of N20g, A20g, E20g and 120g issued by CTT Correios (Portuguese Post) in partnership with INCM ("Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda (the "Portuguese Mint & Official Printing Office") depicting coins from various periods of history: Date od Stamp set issue: 22.04.2020

_{^{7) Ancient Postal Routes, Portugal: EUROPA 2020 Theme: CTT or CORREIOS de Portugal" (Portuguese Post) has brought out three Postage stamps of the values of 0.86 Euro each on the theme: Stamp set issue date: 25.05.2020}}

_{^{8) Ancient Postal Routes, Azores (An Autonomous Region of Portugal): EUROPA 2020 Theme: Two Stamps of 0.86 Euro each issued by Correios, (Portugal Post) on behalf of Azores: Date of Stamps issue: 25.05.2020}}

_{^{9) Ancient Postal Routes, Madeira (An Autonomous Region of Portugal): EUROPA 2020 Theme: Two Stamps of 0.86 each issued by CTT or "CORREIOS de Portugal" (Portuguese Post) on behalf of Madeira: Date of Stamps issue: 25.05.2020}}