Luxury No. 2167

Several antique Piatnik patterns have become so popular they’ve been reissued over and over to become staples of the brand. One such pattern eventually became Luxury No.2167.

According to the World Web Playing Card Museum, it began as Allfeinste Luxus-Whist No.167 and No.168 in the 1920s, was reissued as “Monarch” in 1971, and finally as “Luxury” since 1975. Joop Muller also has this pattern being printed for export to Dutch Stoomvaart Maatschappij Nederland as “S.M.N.” around 1939.

Appropriately sumptuous courts rule this deck with regal, scepter-wielding monarchs, queens with a bird and an ostrich feather fan, and enterprising jacks engaged in marksmanship, drinking, and coin counting. Of particular interest is the King of Clubs who has a coat-of-arms, half of which bears the red-and-white checkerboard pattern commonly associated with Croatia. I haven’t been able to find out whether this is a real crest or simply a fanciful rendition.