Juristenskat
Caricatures of lawyers and judges by Philipp Heinisch for HEEL Verlag.
Packs showing lawyers and judges are few and far between (see Dundas & Wilson pack). Admittedly, matters legal do not lend themselves easily to graphic interpretation on playing cards. However, Philipp Heinisch (b. 1945) has here managed to caricature various aspects of legal life, finding humour in what can be very serious situations. The colours used are distinctly muted, being mainly black and red. There is a small scene within an oval frame on each Ace. The manufacturer’s name can be found on the 7 of Diamonds. This was an edition of 3,000 packs.
Philipp Heinisch trained to be and initially worked as a lawyer. He later became a painter, illustrator and caricaturist, specialising in caricatures of lawyers. HEEL Verlag is a publishing company based in Königswinter, Germany.



Above: Juristenskat playing cards made by Berliner Spielkarten GmbH, Darmstadt, for HEEL Verlag GmbH, Königswinter, Germany, 1989.
Reference
Petri, Dr. Thomas. Braun Band 13: Die Berliner Spielkarten GmbH; 2002. p.66, BS 1989/2.
I have a few of these packs for sale.

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.
Related Articles

Animal Skat, Česká Grafická Unie
A non-standard deck from Czechoslovakia.

Engel-Tarot
Set of major arcana designed by Alois Hanslian depicting angels throughout.

Virgil Solis
Remarkable pack of 52 animal-suited playing-cards designed and etched by Virgil Solis.

Politiker-Skat by Bubec
Caricatures of world leaders, including many German politicians, by the artist Bubec.

Le Poker Politique
French politicians and various world leaders caricatured by the German artist Bubec.

Modern Jass (Fredy Sigg)
Caricatural updating of traditional Swiss Jass cards by the artist Fredy Sigg.

La Baraja del Mundial
“La Baraja del Mundial” satirical football deck published by Fournier for ‘Interviú’ news magazine. ...

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

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

Battles in Mexico, 1847
Uncut proof sheet with Mexican Battle scenes on the aces and portraits of American generals on the c...

Double-ended German-suited pack by Josef Glanz, Vienna.
From the British Museum collection.

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

Líneas rojas 2016
Semicaricatural images of Spanish politicians by Jordi Minguell, combined with non-standard suits. ...

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

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

Animal Tarot by Johann Jobst Forster
French-suited 78-card animal tarot deck of the Bavarian type.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days