Münz-Spiel GmbH
Advertising playing cards for a data bureau depicting German politicians.
Unlike most packs featuring political figures, this one does not really make fun of the subjects. They are all treated relatively kindly. Those who appear on the double-ended court cards carry attributes associated with their posts. All the remaining cards show heads only. Every politician is named. Look out for a young Angela Merkel on the 9 of Clubs. The manufacturer’s logo appears on the 7 of Hearts. Münz-Spiel was a data bureau or “information community” (= “informationsgemeinschaft”) which ceased trading in 2002. This pack seems to have been offered as a Christmas present in 1993. The print run was 10,000 packs.
Above: advertising pack for Münz-Spiel GmbH made by Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik, Altenburg, Germany, 1993. 32 cards + title card in clear plastic box. Size: 59 x 92 mm.
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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