A brief survey of the different types of standard cards to be found in Continental Europe.
There is a very interesting collection of playing cards held at the Strangers' Hall Museum in Norwich.
My interest in postage stamp variants led me to apply the same principles to playing cards.
“Dvouhlavé Hrací Karty” (Czech Seasons playing cards) made by Obchodní Tiskárny, c.1980
Advertising deck for "Jet" fuels, and "Lion Brand" No.1429 manufactured in Belgium by Biermans, 1960s.
This pattern was used in various parts of eastern France but was ultimately replaced by the official ‘Paris’ pattern in c.1780.
‘Monic’ brand playing cards, c.1930s
Naipes ‘American’ by M.C. de CASABÓ Ltda, Montevideo, c.1950
Piatnik’s “Popular Playing Cards” No.257
Cards from a Russian standard woodblock and stencil pack of circa 1820.
Salzburger pattern by Ferd. Piatnik & Söhne, Vienna
One end Berlin pattern the other standard English pattern
Standard playing cards are based upon traditional designs, and are used for card games.
Woolley & Co: “Eureka” playing cards with rounded corners, small index pips and decorative back design, c.1880-1885
Woolley & Co produced a range of different quality playing cards, and these “Second Harrys” are towards the cheaper end of the range.
![28: How to Analyze and Differentiate Playing Card Plates (De La Rue, Waddington and the Berlin pattern [französisches Bild])](http://www.wopc.co.uk/assets/cache/blog/2015/10/JS_D1-D2-D3.4bcde664.jpg)
