Jacob Holmblad c.1830
An amazing difference can be seen between the early and the later Jacob Holmblad packs, covering a time span of only 17 years.
An amazing difference can be seen between the early and the later Jacob Holmblad packs, covering a time span of only 17 years. The earlier production was by stencil-coloured woodcut prints, but in around 1830 he adopted the newer techniques of lithography. Over the years Jacob Holmblad developed considerable workmanship and his playing cards became a success: already in 1823 he was advertising playing cards in ‘extra fine’ and ‘fine’ qualities. His advertisements also included Animal Tarots →
After Jacob Holmblad's death in 1837, playing-card production was continued by his son Lauritz Peter Holmblad (1815-1890)
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds
A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.
Valhalla spillekort
Characters from the Valhalla comics, designed by Peter Madsen, as commemorated on a Danish stamp.
Old School Playing cards from Moon
Designed and published by Leo Scherfig
Dandy Rock’n Bubble
56 rock and pop stars of the 1980s, issued in Denmark with bubble gum.
Jeanne l’Hachette
Jeanne l’Hachette reprint of 19th century transformation deck, Denmark, 1976.
Velux International
Publicity pack for the Danish company, Velux, manufacturers of roof windows and skylights.
Adolph Wulff Kort No.70
Playing cards for Denmark made by C.L. Wüst
Flying Tiger playing cards
An “eco-conscious” product with fun, modern designs from Denmark.
Dronning Margrethe II
Elegant, elongated cards designed by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
Nederlands Stedenkwartet
Nederlands Stedenkwartet with heraldic needlepoint patterns by Permin, c.1970.
Souvenir of Norway
Souvenir of Norway deck.
Kalevala
Kalevala playing cards by Sunish Chabba and Ishan Trivedi inspired by ancient Finnish mythology.
Views from Norway
“54 Views from Norway” souvenir playing cards published by Normanns Kunstforlag A/S, c.1990s.
Warburg’s Danske
Warburg’s Danske playing cards published by Aktieselskabet Emil Jensen, København, 1944.
Warburg’s Skandinaviske Bridge Kort
“Warburg’s Skandinaviske Bridge Kort” published by Aktieselskabet Emil Jensen, København, c.1935.
VR-VISA
VR-VISA playing cards published by VR Group, the state-owned railway company in Finland.
Löjliga Spel Kort
Facsimile edition of “Löjliga Spel Kort” (1825) illustrated playing cards from Sweden, showing scene...
Jacob Bagges AB
Playing cards published by Jacob Bagges AB Stockholm, close copies of Dondorf designs.
Standard Handa Pattern
Standard Danish playing cards made by Handa, Copenhagen.
Öbergs ‘Svenska Lloyd’
‘Svenska Lloyd’ shipping company playing cards published by J.O. Öberg & Son, Eskilstuna, c.1955.
Åkerlund & Rausing
Swedish style pack by Åkerlund & Rausing, Stockholm, 1931-1937
Four Centuries
“Four Centuries” playing cards by Esselte Öbergs with court cards depicted as caricatures from diffe...
Olsen Smygvänliga
Olsen Spelkort Smygvänliga - Swedish pattern made by F.X. Schmid for Olsen
Offason “Beau”
Offason AB “Beau” playing cards designed by Åke Arenhill from Sweden, c.1990.
Kille
‘Kille’, an old Swedish card game
Vasa Dynasty
The House of Vasa was the royal house of Sweden 1523–1654 and subsequent rulers have emphasized thei...
Bjørn Wiinblad
Bjørn Wiinblad (1918-2006) was a Danish painter, designer and ceramics artist.
De la Rue for export
Non-standard playing cards produced by De la Rue & Co. (London), c.1930s
Salakuljettaja Smugglaren
Salakuljettaja Smugglaren is the Scandinavian version of Pepys’ “Contraband” published by Förlag Bil...
P. Steinmann
Single-figure provincial Paris pattern cards with traditional names on the courts manufactured in Co...
Gnav
cards from an early 'Gnav' game made by C.L.Keiblinger, Copenhagen c.1860
C.L.Keiblinger, Copenhagen 1852-85
C.L.Keiblinger, Copenhagen 1852-85
The Game of Four Queens
In 1988 the Danish School of Design set the examination project to design a pack of playing cards. T...
Jacob Holmblad c.1830
An amazing difference can be seen between the early and the later Jacob Holmblad packs, covering a t...
Jacob Holmblad, 1820s
The Q♥ has a butterfly net in which she has caught four hearts. Many of Holmblad's designs were repl...
Jacob Holmblad c.1820
Standard woodblock and stencil deck produced by Jacob Holmblad with double-ended court cards in the ...
Holmblad Animal Tarot
Instead of the old emblematic designs, the trump cards show illustrations of animals, which could po...
L. P. Holmblad, c.1845
Holmblad ordered his earlier designs to be re-drawn and updated. Comparison of packs from this era s...
Christian IV Anniversary
King Christian IV anniversary pack, designed by Thora Fisker and printed by L. Jevison Junior, 1988....
L. P. Holmblad c.1840
L. P. Holmblad's house pattern used from c.1840. The K♠ carries a harp as in the traditional French-...
Warburg Luxus Bridgekort
“Luxus Bridgekort” was specially designed by Barbara MacDonald in a vibrant Art Deco style for Warbu...