The World of Playing Cards Logo

ČZ playing cards

Published February 22, 2024 Updated February 22, 2024

Advertising pack for the Czechoslovak motorcycle factory Česká Zbrojovka.

1965 Czechoslovakia Obchodní Tiskárny Advertising Transport

Česká zbrojovka a.s. (ČZ a.s.) started producing motor-driven bicycles in 1932, quickly becoming the biggest manufacturer of motorcycles in Czechoslovakia. ČZ motorcycles finally went out of production in 1997. Only the fools on the Jokers in this pack ride motorcycles. The double-ended courts with red spots on their cheeks are in bulbous, historical costume. The company logo appears in the centre of an enlarged suit-sign on each Ace and also in the centre of the blue back design. Only black and red have been used to create the designs which are set against a cream-coloured background.

ČZ playing cards made by Obchodni Tiskárny Kolin (OTK), Prague, Czechoslovakia, 1965 ČZ playing cards made by Obchodni Tiskárny Kolin (OTK), Prague, Czechoslovakia, 1965 ČZ playing cards made by Obchodni Tiskárny Kolin (OTK), Prague, Czechoslovakia, 1965

Above: ČZ playing cards made by Obchodni Tiskárny Kolin (OTK), Prague, Czechoslovakia, 1965. 52 cards + 2 Jokers. Size: 58 x 88 mm. The artist is uncredited.

For the 60th anniversary of Česká Zbrojovka motorcycle company, in 1979, a standard 'Casino' pack was issued with the two motorcycle jokers

avatar
537 Articles

By Roddy Somerville

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.


Leave a Reply

Default Avatar
Your Name
Just now

Create account to comment Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here.


Related Articles

1953 Simpson (Piccadilly) playing cards

Simpson (Piccadilly) playing cards

Innovative advertising pack for Simpsons of Piccadilly designed by André François.

2006 Covered bridges playing cards

Covered bridges playing cards

Historical covered bridges with photography by Bill Miller, 2006.

1989 Hamlet Cigars

Hamlet Cigars

Advertising deck for “Hamlet mild cigars”, a Benson & Hedges product.

1972 Smith-Corona Marchant

Smith-Corona Marchant

Simplified yet colourful court card designs by Avoine for Smith-Corona Marchant.

2000 Austria Ski Team playing cards

Austria Ski Team playing cards

Photos of members of the Austrian skiing team replace the normal courts on two different packs.

1996 Unimog UX 100

Unimog UX 100

Cartoons promoting the Unimog UX 100, a small truck produced by Mercedes-Benz.

1996 Star Trek® – The Original Series

Star Trek® – The Original Series

Promotional pack for CIC Video with characters and starships from the original series of Star Trek. ...

1994 Medizin Skat

Medizin Skat

Promotional pack for a hospital group in the Saarland, with non-standard suits and courts designed b...

2006 Naipes Kukuxumusu

Naipes Kukuxumusu

A 52-card Spanish-suited advertising pack for a clothing company in Pamplona.

Discover trains of North America

Discover trains of North America

55 different Illustrations of railways and locomotives from the United States.

Introduction to Collecting Themes

Introduction to Collecting Themes

Playing cards can be broadly categorised into standard and non-standard designs, with collectors app...

1981 Haushaltgeräte

Haushaltgeräte

Publicity pack for VEB Kombinat Haushaltgeräte, makers of household goods, with designs by Volker Ha...

1980 Club Soft Drinks

Club Soft Drinks

Promotional pack for Club soft drinks with amusing illustrations of different kinds of ‘club’.

1984 Mit Rhino auftrumpfen

Mit Rhino auftrumpfen

Black rhinos on a publicity pack for Armstrong, a flooring company, with comic designs by Pit Flick....

2018 Marmite

Marmite

Fifty-Four images celebrating a UK savoury spread, that has been around one hundred and twenty two y...

G&G Armament playing cards

G&G Armament playing cards

G&G Armament Airsoft replica gun playing cards from Taiwan.