Ex Rare Complete Set of 52 ANTIQUE PERSIAN Playing Cards with HIKALI GOLD INK For Sale

This Listing is for an Extremely Rare, Authentic Complete Set of 52 Vintage 1930s Persian Playing Cardswith Double-Sided Art. The Backside of each card utilizes Hilkali gold ink making this set the rarest of finds.
These cards were commissioned by the Royal Iranian Government, designed by V. Romanowski de Bonzand printed by the renowned firm De la Rue & Co. Ltd London in 1937.
The Back Side of all the cards features a classical Safavid or Qajar-style miniature depicting a noble figurekneeling beneath a stylized tree while gently holding a bird. The luminous background utilizes authenticHilkali GOLD INK (a pulverized real Gold Leaf traditionally favored in Persian and Indo-Persian miniatureillumination for longevity and distinct reflection).
The face cards feature double-ended court figures wearing exotic Persian costumes from different dynasties.The Ace of Spades has as the central motif the Imperial Crown of Iran (Pahlavi Crown) resting above a wreath,framed by traditional royal standards and weaponry.
Thomas De La Rue & Co., Ltd. printed two distinct variants of this exact 1937 Iranian deck – a "Standard" anda "Deluxe" version. The Deluxe Version (which is the deck being offered in this listing) utilized a metallic gold inkformulation on the card backs. These premium decks were specifically printed for high-end Iranian clubs, wealthymerchant families, state-backed diplomatic gifts, and the Pahlavi royal court circle.
The Standard Version utilized a matte, non-metallic color palette (often a flat ochre, yellow, or tan line-art versionof the same miniature). These were intended for broader commercial distribution across Iran to keep productioncosts lower and retail prices affordable for everyday consumers.
Decks of this specific 1930s De la Rue run are highly prized by historians and playing card collectors alike.Because many of these sets were heavily circulated through traditional card games or otherwise damaged,finding cards that preserve the gold ink after nearly 100 years is extremely rare.
Each of the Cards measures 2" x 2 3/4" inches.
Condition of the Cards: At least half of the 52 cards retain all of the Hilkali gold ink on the back side.The rest of the deck has various degrees of gold ink left. All the cards in the deck have what would beconsidered normal signs of wear – discoloration, worn edges, creases, obvious signs of handling.
This set still retains both the Outer box and the inner sleeve, but as you see in Listing photo #12 both showextreme wear with the outer box missing the label.
Please look carefully at the Listing photos because the condition of the cards are accurately depicted.
Let us know if you have any questions or need to see any additional photos.
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