19th Century Czech Nationalistic playing-cards designed by Emanuel Neumann, c.1895

Manufactured by Ant. Kratochvíl, Prague.

Czech Playing Cards
Moravian eagle ploughing Traditional Moravian costume King George of Podebrad

The suit of Ears of Corn features workers in the fields ploughing, harvesting and celebrating. The Upper Jack shows a man in traditional Moravian dress, and the King is George of Podebrad, the last King of an independent Bohemia. The signature of the artist who painted the cards, Emanuel Neumann (1873-1932), can be seen on the Upper Jack and the daus (2) which also shows the Moravian eagle on a shield.
mother and child - maternity the old town bridge, Prague weaver King Charles IV - Father of the Nation

The suit of Garnets features Charles IV as the King, "Father of the Nation". The lower Jack is a female weaver. whilst the VIII of garnets shows the old town bridge. The daus card (2) depicts a mother and child, symbolising maternity and the founding of the nation, with an inscription which means 'In Prague'.
Silesian eagle vineyards toasting Traditional Bohemian costume

The suit of Wine Barrels features the Silesian eagle on the daus while the Lower jack shows a woman in traditional Bohemian dress. The numeral cards show scenes such as vineyards and people toasting. The VIII has the Austro-Hungarian tax stamp along with the maker's stamp.
Czech two-tailed lion Legend of Sharka Queen Libussa King Premsyl

The suit of Lime Leaves features scenes from Czech history and mythology. The King is the farmer Premsyl who married Queen Libussa who is shown as the Lower Jack. The IX shows a scene from the legend of Sharka. On the daus card (2) we see the heraldic Czech two-tailed lion.