The World of Playing Cards Logo

Freimaurer Spielkarten / Masonic playing cards

Published February 13, 2024 Updated February 13, 2024

Masonic playing cards created by Ivan Wojnikow, 2004.

2004 Germany ACE Altenburger Edition Araki Ivan Wojnikow Masonic Symbols

This pack of Masonic cards was created by Ivan Wojnikow, printed by ACE Altenburger, and published by Edition Araki in 2004. The numerals of each of the pip cards display the same Masonic symbols in each suit: for example, the three’s show the square, the compasses and the volume of the Sacred Law; the five’s show a pentagram; the sixes the hexagram; the eight’s – a knotted coil (the symbol of eternity) - see more

Each suit represents a different period: diamonds – the world of antiquity; hearts – the Middle Ages; spades – the Enlightenment; clubs – the present - read more. There are three jokers representing the “Candidate” searching for Masonic light. A leaflet in German, English and French describes the cards in detail, and the pack is beautifully presented in a silver box

Masonic playing cards created by Ivan Wojnikow and published by Edition Araki in 2004 Masonic playing cards created by Ivan Wojnikow and published by Edition Araki in 2004 Masonic playing cards created by Ivan Wojnikow and published by Edition Araki in 2004 Masonic playing cards created by Ivan Wojnikow and published by Edition Araki in 2004

Above: Freimaurer Spielkarten / Masonic playing cards created by Ivan Wojnikow, printed by ACE Altenburger, and published by Edition Araki in 2004.

avatar
524 Articles

By Peter Burnett

Member since July 27, 2022

I graduated in Russian and East European Studies from Birmingham University in 1969. It was as an undergraduate in Moscow in 1968 that I stumbled upon my first 3 packs of “unusual” playing cards which fired my curiosity and thence my life-long interest. I began researching and collecting cards in the early 1970s, since when I’ve acquired over 3,330 packs of non-standard cards, mainly from North America, UK and Western Europe, and of course from Russia and the former communist countries.

Russian Playing Cards

Following my retirement from the Bodleian Library in Dec. 2007 I took up a new role as Head of Library Development at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to support library development in low-income countries. This work necessitated regular training visits to many sub-Saharan African countries and also further afield, to Vietnam, Nepal and Bangladesh – all of which provided rich opportunities to further expand my playing card collection.

Since 2019 I’ve been working part-time in the Bodleian Library where I’ve been cataloguing the bequest of the late Donald Welsh, founder of the English Playing Card Society.

1 comment

Ivan Wojnikow's Avatar'

Vielen Dank für den ausführlichen Beitrag. Ich möchte noch anmerken, dass die Spielkarten immer noch in meinem Shop erhältlich sind, wie auch andere Sonderdrucke von Spielkarten:
Thank you for the detailed contribution. I would also like to note that the playing cards are still available in my shop, as are other special edition playing cards:
https://www.masonicart.de/c/alle-kategorien-groesser-als/sammeln-schenken-spielen/spielkarten-tarot-wuerfel


Leave a Reply

Default Avatar
Your Name
Just now

Create account to comment Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here.


Related Articles

1996 Unimog UX 100

Unimog UX 100

Cartoons promoting the Unimog UX 100, a small truck produced by Mercedes-Benz.

1989 Juristenskat

Juristenskat

Caricatures of lawyers and judges by Philipp Heinisch for HEEL Verlag.

Battles in Mexico, 1847

Battles in Mexico, 1847

Uncut proof sheet with Mexican Battle scenes on the aces and portraits of American generals on the c...

1880 Double-ended German-suited pack by Josef Glanz, Vienna.

Double-ended German-suited pack by Josef Glanz, Vienna.

From the British Museum collection.

1994 Medizin Skat

Medizin Skat

Promotional pack for a hospital group in the Saarland, with non-standard suits and courts designed b...

1984 Opernkarte I

Opernkarte I

Humorous designs by Peter Becker on the theme of the Opera.

1981 Haushaltgeräte

Haushaltgeräte

Publicity pack for VEB Kombinat Haushaltgeräte, makers of household goods, with designs by Volker Ha...

Animal Tarot by Johann Jobst Forster

Animal Tarot by Johann Jobst Forster

French-suited 78-card animal tarot deck of the Bavarian type.

Uncut Sheet by Johann Jobst Forster

Uncut Sheet by Johann Jobst Forster

A proof sheet containing twelve court cards of conventional French type.

1984 Mit Rhino auftrumpfen

Mit Rhino auftrumpfen

Black rhinos on a publicity pack for Armstrong, a flooring company, with comic designs by Pit Flick....

1997 Walt Disney Cards II

Walt Disney Cards II

Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and other familiar Disney characters.

1985 Hilti I

Hilti I

Promotional pack for Hilti power tools, with courts in medieval costume and non-standard pips.

1990 Transair

Transair

Humorous designs promoting Transair, a German charter flight operator.

1989 Merz Pharma Skat

Merz Pharma Skat

Comic designs promoting Merz Pharma, a German drug company.

1978 escART, ec-ART, SKAT

escART, ec-ART, SKAT

Fully illustrated pack printed from etchings by Johannes Vennekamp.

1993 Hansaplast<sup>®</sup>

Hansaplast®

Advertising pack for Hansaplast, with comic courts sporting sticking plasters.