Denmark
The earliest mention of playing-cards in Denmark dates from 1487 when King Hans, who reigned from 1481-1513 and was notorious for his gambling, again and again drew money from the treasury to pay for his losses.
Animal Tarok by Jean Friedrich Mayer (1752-1783)
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by Simon Wintle
Animal Tarok by Jean Friedrich Mayer (1752-1783).
Christian IV Anniversary
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by Simon Wintle
King Christian IV anniversary pack, designed by Thora Fisker and printed by L. Jevison Junior, 1988.
Danish playing cards - Tarock trumps
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by Simon Wintle
Two versions of trump no.15 depicting the Thorvaldsen Museum.
Danish Tarok Cards - Holmblad, c.1850
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by Simon Wintle
The traditional animal images on tarok decks are here substituted by images of buildings from Copenhagen and the surrounding area. The deck had several editions, with each new edition updating the latest changes to the buildings that had taken place since the previous edition.
Danish Tarok Cards - Salomon & Co., c.1906
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by Simon Wintle
Danish Tarok cards published by S. Salomon & Co., Kjøbenhavn, c.1906.
1906
1994
History of Danish Playing Cards
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by Simon Wintle
The earliest mention of playing-cards in Denmark dates from 1487 when King Hans, who reigned from 1481-1513 and was notorious for his gambling, again and again drew money from the treasury to pay for his losses.
Holmblad Animal Tarot
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by Simon Wintle
Instead of the old emblematic designs, the trump cards show illustrations of animals, which could possibly have symbolic meanings or moralizing interpretations.
Jacob Holmblad c.1820
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by Simon Wintle
Standard woodblock and stencil deck produced by Jacob Holmblad with double-ended court cards in the tradition of the French ‘Paris’ pattern. The A♥ features a red over-stamp referring to Jacob Holmblad's royal license to print playing-cards which had been granted in 1820.
Jacob Holmblad c.1830
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by Simon Wintle
An amazing difference can be seen between the early and the later Jacob Holmblad packs, covering a time span of only 17 years.
Jacob Holmblad, 1820s
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by Simon Wintle
The Q♥ has a butterfly net in which she has caught four hearts. Many of Holmblad's designs were replaced or changed in different editions, but this design was not used again.
King Christian of Denmark
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by Simon Wintle
In 1935 a souvenir pack of playing cards to celebrate the King's 65th birthday was commissioned from the British firm of De La Rue.
L. P. Holmblad - Denmark
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by Simon Wintle
Cards from c.1850 by L. P. Holmblad showing fantasy historical Danish Kings and Queens.
L. P. Holmblad c.1840
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by Simon Wintle
L. P. Holmblad's house pattern used from c.1840. The K♠ carries a harp as in the traditional French-type cards; but the J♠ is sleeping with his arms folded and his shield resting behind him.
L. P. Holmblad, c.1845
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by Simon Wintle
Holmblad ordered his earlier designs to be re-drawn and updated. Comparison of packs from this era show instances where one figure is replaced by another more imposing version.
L'Hombre No.60
Dondorf's “L'Hombre No.60” was manufactured for the Danish firm Adolph Wulff of Copenhagen between c.1910-1930.
Luxuskarte No.75
Stylistically, the deck fits easily into the Dondorf “luxury card” group. The deck has been produced for the Danish firm Adolph Wulff of Copenhagen, also for F. Tilgmann in Helsinki, and a Swedish version by Öberg & Son, Stockholm.
Nederlands Stedenkwartet
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by Simon Wintle
Nederlands Stedenkwartet with heraldic needlepoint patterns by Permin, c.1970.
1970
P. Steinmann
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by Simon Wintle
Single-figure provincial Paris pattern cards with traditional names on the courts manufactured in Copenhagen by P. Steinmann, c.1820.
The Game of Four Queens
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by Simon Wintle
In 1988 the Danish School of Design set the examination project to design a pack of playing cards. Thomas Damkier designed this royalty deck, called “Dronningespillet” (Game of Queens).
1988
Warburg Luxus Bridgekort
“Luxus Bridgekort” was specially designed by Barbara MacDonald in a vibrant Art Deco style for Warburg of Denmark in c.1930, and printed by Universal Playing Card Co. Ltd (England).
1930
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.
Whist No.80
Stylistically, the deck fits easily into the Dondorf “luxury card” group. The deck was produced for the Danish firm Adolph Wulff of Copenhagen in c.1928-35.
