Comtesse

Published January 08, 2017 • Updated March 25, 2024

“Comtesse” by Bielefelder Spielkarten Fabrik GmbH, 1961.

Comtesse double patience set with artwork by Heinz Villiger printed by Bielefelder Spielkarten Fabrik GmbH, 1961, with the beautifully designed court cards expressing different personalities. The four aces are decorated. The deck was republished several times over the years, sometimes as a full-sized skat deck or in a plastic box; in this edition, with German indices, the black kings have no crowns.

“Comtesse” by Bielefelder Spielkarten Fabrik, 1961

Above: “Comtesse” with artwork by Heinz Villiger printed by Bielefelder Spielkarten Fabrik GmbH, 1961. Each pack contains 52 cards + 3 jokers, one red-back and one blue-back. The set comes in a vinyl wallet, with an instructions leaflet in German with rules for several games of "patience". The name of the manufacturer appears on the seven of spades and the logo on the ten of clubs.

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By Matt Probert

United Kingdom • Member since March 02, 2012

I have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.

Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.

Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.

I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.

Activity for Comtesse

Vinlander

26 February 2023, 14:43

Interesting and beautiful set indeed.

Any idea who is the artist illustrating that set and what is the story behind the black kings holding their crown instead of wearing it.

I got a Comtesse set with the Heidelberg castle court back and my black kings wear their crowns!