Piatnik first started producing a non-standard “Folklore No.169” deck in c.1934 and the example shown here was published within a year or two of that date. The court cards depict traditional costumes from Austria’s states: Salzburg • Burgenland • Zillertal • Linz • Tirol-Otztal • Salzburg-Lungau • Steiermark • Vorarlber • Wachau • Kärnten-Rosental. The 4 aces and backs are decorated with flowers. See the 1 Schilling outer wrapper►
Above: Folklore No.169 by Piatnik, first published in 1934. 52 cards + 2 jokers + extra card in box. Click images to zoom. Images courtesy Carla Parker.
Folklore No.2169
This Bridge • Canasta • Whist • Rummy set with two-corner English indices is date coded 1979. See the Box►
Above: Folklore No.2169 dual bridge deck by Piatnik, Vienna, 1979. The 3 jokers depict a Carinthian Wedding Inviter (Kärntner Hochzeitslader). Images courtesy Matt Probert.
By Matt Probert
Member since March 02, 2012
View ArticlesI have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.
Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.
Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.
I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.
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