Grunwald 1410 – The Battle of Tannenberg
Details from the famous painting of the Battle of Grunwald (1410) by the Polish painter Jan Matejko.
The Battle of Grunwald, or First Battle of Tannenberg, was fought on 15th July 1410 during the Polish-Lithuanian-Teutonic War and was one of the largest in medieval Europe. Featured on the court cards, aces, Jokers and two backs of these cards are details from a monumental painting of the battle executed by the Polish painter Jan Matejko in 1878 (now in the National Museum in Warsaw). One can discern the death scene of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, Ulrich von Jungingen (JC), and the Lithuanian grand duke Vytautas the Great, dressed in red with a raised sword (KD). Regarded as a national treasure, the painting was hidden by Poles during the occupation of Poland in World War Two. Piatnik ref. no. 266645. See the box
Above: Grunwald 1410 – The Battle of Tannenberg playing cards printed and published by Piatnik, Vienna, Austria, 2010. 2 x 52 cards + 3 Jokers in double drop-lid box. Size: 58.5 x 89 mm.
For a different approach to the same subject, see the Battle of Grunwald►
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
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