Tarok c.1900

“Industrie und Glück” Tarot  c.1905

French-suited “Industrie und Glück” or “Rural Scenes” tarot deck manufactured by Ferd. Piatnik & Söhne, Vienna & Budapest, c.1905. The Trumps have large Roman numerals and feature scenes from daily life, mostly happy and often romantic (different at each end), which had replaced the earlier Animal tarots.

Ferdinand Piatnik’s sons had joined the business in 1882, when “& Söhne” was added to the company name, as shown on the knaves of clubs and diamonds. This changed to “Ferd. Piatnik & Söhne A.G.” when the firm became a limited company in 1917.

Above: detail from the ace of hearts showing the Austro-Hungarian tax stamp used between 1900-1920 →

Above: 54-card “Industrie und Glück” or “Rural Scenes” tarot deck based on designs by J. Neumayer, manufactured by Ferd. Piatnik & Söhne, Vienna & Budapest, c.1903-1910. Stencil coloured lithography, square corners and no indices. Images courtesy Rex Pitts.

Right: detail from the knave of clubs showing both the Vienna and Budapest branch addresses
Hütteldorferstrasse 227, Vienna was used during the early 1900s. Rottenbillergasse 17, Budapest was used from about 1903→