Playing Cards from Scandinavia

‘501’ playing cards by Alf Cooke
“Five 'o One” playing cards, a version of the Dondorf Rhineland pattern, manufactured by Universal Playing Card Co. Ltd for export to Scandinavia.

Åkerlund & Rausing
Swedish style pack by Åkerlund & Rausing, Stockholm, 1931-1937

C.L.Keiblinger, Copenhagen 1852-85
C.L.Keiblinger, Copenhagen 1852-85

Danbrit
Danbrit playing cards by Alf Cooke, 1930s

De la Rue for export
Non-standard playing cards produced by De la Rue & Co. (London), c.1930s

Einar Nerman Patience
Einar Nerman (1888–1983) was a talented Swedish artist born in Norrköping who designed playing cards during the 1920s.

Four Centuries
“Four Centuries” playing cards by Esselte Öbergs with court cards depicted as caricatures from different historical periods.

Gnav
cards from an early 'Gnav' game made by C.L.Keiblinger, Copenhagen c.1860

Holmblads No. 121
Holmblads No. 121 made by John Waddington, England, for Denmark

Jacob Bagges AB
Playing cards published by Jacob Bagges AB Stockholm, close copies of Dondorf designs.

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.

Jacob Holmblad, 1820s
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.

Kalevala
Kalevala playing cards by Sunish Chabba and Ishan Trivedi inspired by ancient Finnish mythology.

Kille
‘Kille’, an old Swedish card game

L. P. Holmblad, c.1845
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.

Löjliga Spel Kort
Facsimile edition of “Löjliga Spel Kort” (1825) illustrated playing cards from Sweden, showing scenes from Fredman‘s Epistles and Songs

Öbergs ‘Svenska Lloyd’
‘Svenska Lloyd’ shipping company playing cards published by J.O. Öberg & Son, Eskilstuna, c.1955.

Offason “Beau”
Offason AB “Beau” playing cards designed by Åke Arenhill from Sweden, c.1990.

Olsen Smygvänliga
Olsen Spelkort Smygvänliga - Swedish pattern made by F.X. Schmid for Olsen