History of Danish Playing Cards

The most celebrated Danish cardmakers belonged to the Holmblad family. Jacob Holmblad came from Sweden in about 1766. The production of playing-cards by the Holmblad family started with the granting of a royal licence in 1820 to Jacob Holmblad (1791-1837). To begin with he carried on the European influence already established by his predecessors and published continental-style decks and Animal Tarok decks following Belgian designs. But then he dropped the French names from the court cards and began introducing changes into the designs so that over time original and new patterns emerged with a distinctive Danish flavour.

After his death in 1837, playing-card production was continued by his son Lauritz Peter Holmblad (1815-1890) who rejuvenated some of his father's patterns and commissioned new designs incorporating ideas of his own. It was he who was the real founder and developer of the Holmblad patterns. The royal licence was formally transferred to him in 1841, and  Holmblad became a household name which appears on Danish packs even today. In his diary in 1865 he wrote: “Various improvements were introduced into my production this year... such as a new printing machine, a stereotype press and a polishing machine...”

In around 1850 L. P. Holmblad parted from the tradition of Animal Tarock packs and published newly-designed packs depicting prominent buildings from in and around Copenhagen  (click on images).

After L.P. Holmblad's death in 1892 the Copenhagen factory was closed. Holmblad's successor S. Salomon acquired the rights to use these playing-card designs and continued producing packs under the Holmblad name. Hereafter the Holmblad house patterns were printed as brand names by foreign makers such as Wüst of Germany, Piatnik of Austria, as well as Belgian manufacturers and even Waddingtons of England  see more →

Adolph Wulff of Copenhagen published L'Hombre No.60, Luxuskarte No.75 and Whist No.80 manufactured in Germany in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Aktieselskabet Emil Jensen of København published several decks in the 1930s & 40s including packs made in England: “Luxus Bridgekort” specially designed by Barbara MacDonald and special packs to commemorate King Christian X of Denmark in 1935 and 1937. The principal cardmaker in Denmark today is Handa.

Conjuring cards

Above: special double-ended playing cards for conjuring with comical figures made by Richard Beber, Copenhagen late 19th century.

Above: Bjørn Wiinblad playing cards

Above: Warburg’s Danske playing cards published by Aktieselskabet Emil Jensen, København, 1944

Above: two Jacks from an Animal Tarok deck by Jacob Holmblad, c.1830, following continental designs.

Above: original artwork for a completely new figure for the Jack of Hearts playing the part of Amor with a bow and arrow in his left hand and a heart dangling in his fingertips in his right hand, possibly inspired by Hans Christian Andersen. Image courtesy Hans J. Hinrup.

Above: early Jacob Holmblad deck, c.1820

Above: Jacob Holmblad deck, c.1830

Above: playing cards by L.P. Holmblad c.1840

Above: House pattern, c.1850-80  See also: “Majestætiske fingeraftryk” • Holmblads standard pattern→

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Above: unknown publisher, Denmark, c.1960. Advertising for cosmetics.

Above: Nationalkortet - Danish Kings & Queens, c.1930

Above: Warburg’s Skandinaviske Bridge Kort, c.1935

Above: early Jacob Holmblad deck, 1820s

Above: artwork for L.P. Holmblad deck, c.1845

Above: historical cards, L.P.Holmblad c.1850

Above: cards by L.P.Holmblad, c.1860

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Above: The Game of Four Queens, 1988

Above: King Christian IV Anniversary pack, 1988

Above: Warburg’s L’Hombre Kort, c.1935