Saarberg 79
Saarberg mining pack for 1979, with designs by Fritz Ludwig Schmidt.
Starting in 1974, the Saarberg mining company began issuing an annual pack of cards with a mining theme. This was distributed along with their Saarbrücker Bergmannskalender as an add-on. The pack for 1979, with designs by Fritz Ludwig Schmidt, features miners in historical costume with insets of Saarberg mines and other buildings. The KS is a Berghauptmann (chairman of a regional inspectorate of mines). All the figures appear to be wearing kneepads. The cards were printed by Grimaud, across the border from Saarbrucken in St. Max, just outside Nancy.
Above: Saarberg 79 mining pack made by Grimaud, St. Max, France, 1979. 32 cards in clear plastic box. Size: 58 x 89 mm.
These Saarberg mining packs continued being produced annually until at least 1999. Apart from Grimaud, other companies including A.S.S. and F.X. Schmid were also involved in their production.
Reference
Endebrock, Peter: Saarberg Mining Packs, Playing-Card World, No. 60, pp 12-13.
By Roddy Somerville
Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
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