Playing Cards: Egypt


Card Box

This deck was acquired in 1975. It was manufactured by Societe Industrielle Moharrem Press in Egypt, which was then part of the United Arab Republic. The United Arab Republic existed between 1958 and 1961. It was formed by Egypt and Syria, but ceased to exist when Syria became an independant nation again in 1961. Egypt continued to be the "United Arab Republic" until 1970. Thus, this deck may have been produced prior to 1970, but continued to be produced as a "UAR Deck" because one card (lower right) appears to be a 1973 calendar printed in Arabic script.

The box side illustrated on the left is printed in Arabic. The reverse side (not illustrated) is printed in English and the printing indicates that the deck was made in the United Arab Republic. The box is flap-topped, made of soft cardboard, and is 9cm long x 6.8cm wide x 1.7cm thick. The sketch in the circle on the box front illustrated, depicts an Arab on a camel.

Egyptian Deck

There are 55 cards in the deck (which is partially illustrated in the photograph on the right). There are two Jokers in the deck. Each card is 8.2cm long x 6.3cm wide. The back of each card (illustrated in the photo on the upper left) is red with a white geometric design.

The cards are marked with the international suit indicators, but these indicators appear in all four corners of each card. Numbered cards are Ace through 10. The Ace of Spades (illustrated) holds an elaborate design much like the sketch of the Arab and camel on the box. The manufactuer's name is also on the Ace of Spades.

The face cards are double sided and unlike many of the other decks which use the international indicators, the indicators on the face cards have a "K" for King, a "Q" for Queen, and a "J" for Jack.

In summary, note that the deck uses French suitcolors, English indicies, and a standard Anglo-American pattern. The content suggest that such decks might also be for sale to non-Arabic speaking card players!


NOTE: This page was originally created and posted on the Web on February 18, 1998. Subsequently it has been modified and periodically updated. Last update: June 12, 2010