Antique Great Mogul playing cards manufactured in Belgium, probably during the early 20th century, accompanied by their original illustrated paper wrapper. The wrapper features the name Great Mogul and the distinctive emblem The Celebrated Eagle Brand. The ace of spades bears the inscriptions “Dieu Pour Tous” and “Manufactured in Belgium”.
The Great Mogul playing-card tradition dates back to the late 19th century. The design was produced as early as 1880 by Brepols for the English market and subsequently by A. Van Genechten of Turnhout, Belgium, who registered the Great Mogul trademark in 1881. Various manufacturers produced their own versions, often featuring different colour schemes derived from the traditional English court-card pattern.
The Celebrated Eagle Brand trademark was registered by Van Genechten in 1904. Its presence on the original wrapper strongly suggests that this particular edition dates from the early 20th century, most likely after 1904. Although the precise production year cannot be established, the historical trademarks support an attribution to A. Van Genechten.
The surviving illustrated wrapper, ornate court-card designs and distinctive red patterned backs make this an appealing example of Belgian playing-card production, particularly interesting to collectors of antique playing cards and historical European editions.
🔸 Title / Brand: Great Mogul – The Celebrated Eagle Brand.
🔸 Manufacturer / Origin: Attributed to A. Van Genechten, Turnhout, Belgium. The ace of spades bears the inscription “Manufactured in Belgium”.
🔸 Year / Edition: Early 20th century, probably after 1904. Exact production year unknown.
🔸 Number of cards: 52.
🔸 Technique / Production: Traditional printed playing cards with illustrated English-pattern court cards and red patterned backs.
🔸 Languages: English on the wrapper and ace of spades, with the French motto “Dieu Pour Tous”.
🔸 Contents: Complete set of 52 playing cards accompanied by the original illustrated paper wrapper shown in the photographs.
🔸 Condition: The cards are like new. The original period paper wrapper has been opened and shows wear, folds and tears, visible in the photographs. The wrapper is not in like-new condition.
🪶 Collector's Note
The Great Mogul playing cards represent a fascinating chapter in the history of Belgian playing-card manufacturing and the international popularity of English-pattern playing cards.
Originally produced for the English market during the late 19th century, the Great Mogul design was adopted by several Belgian manufacturers, including Brepols and A. Van Genechten.
The combination of the Great Mogul name and the Celebrated Eagle Brand emblem is particularly noteworthy. Both trademarks are historically associated with A. Van Genechten, making this example an interesting witness to the company's production and commercial history.
The illustrated original wrapper is an important surviving feature, especially when considered alongside the remarkably fresh condition of the cards themselves.
Although the precise date of manufacture remains uncertain, the historical evidence suggests an early 20th-century Belgian edition, probably produced after 1904.
A distinctive collectible deck that preserves both the artistic character and commercial heritage of traditional Belgian playing cards.
