Stefans Bercs, 1923

In 1923 a competition was announced for a new Latvian pack. The winner of this competition was the silversmith Stefans Bercs. This was Latvia's second pack and it became the most popular in Latvia. It was issued in Latvia until the end of World War 2, and then again in Sweden for Latvians in exile.

Left: Playing Cards designed in Latvia by Stefans Bercs and first issued in 1923. Packs were sold as No.5 (full pack) or No.6 (32 or 36 cards). The designs have echoes of Livonian history. Bercs was a silversmith, and his pack became the most popular in the country and was issued until the end of World War II. It was reprinted in Sweden in 1968 (bottom images).

From 1919 -1921 there were no tax stamps on Latvian playing cards. In 1922, by law, the Latvian Red Cross was to receive dividends from the production and sale of playing cards and a special stamp was placed on the ace of hearts for this purpose. In addition to the stamp, the symbol of the Red Cross was incorporated into the design of the ace of hearts. This taxation arrangement continued until 1943.

See article by Jānis Mētra in The Playing Card, vol.32, no.1, July-August 2003.

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