Wolfgang Dorn Werbe
Designs by Jürgen Pankarz for the 20th anniversary of the Wolfgang Dorn advertising agency, Cologne.
The work of the graphic designer and illustrator Jürgen Pankarz (b. 1943; known as ‘Moses’) is characterised by humour, colour and a sense of fun. Those elements are all present in this pack which has a certain childlike quality. A multitude of amusing figures have been used to fill the double-ended court cards (which are different at each end and with opposite characteristics). The suit-signs of the red suits have been printed in orange-red and those of the black suits in purple. The card size is that more normally associated with German-suited packs. The pack was issued on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Wolfgang Dorn advertising agency in a numbered edition of 500 packs signed by the artist.


Above: Wolfgang Dorn Werbe advertising playing cards published by Wolfgang Dorn, Cologne, Germany, 1985. Maker unknown. 32 cards + 1 extra card in clear plastic box. Size: 57 x 100 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.
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
Related Articles

Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.

Natural History Tarot
Natural History Tarot published by G M, Germany, early 19th C.

Æsop’s Fables tarot
French-suited Æsop’s fables tarot produced by Leipzig Industrie Comptoir, c.1800-1825.

Shrek the Third playing cards
Characters from the 2007 film Shrek the Third, a DreamWorks Animation production.

Jeu de cartes Armelle
Advertising pack designed by James Hodges for a company specialising in regional cakes and biscuits....

Louis De Poortere
Psychedelic designs promoting Louis De Poortere, a company selling carpets and rugs.

Murphy Varnish pack
Reproduction of the 1883 Murphy Varnish transformation pack, USA, 2019

Das Nassauische Kartenspiel
Pack conceived by Berthold Conradi, commemorating the 700th anniversary of the granting of town righ...

Pendleton playing cards
Pendleton playing cards inspired by indigenous American artwork, USA, 2019.

Jägerkarte Nr.465
Dondorf Jägerkarte Nr. 465 playing cards dedicated to the theme of hunting, c.1930.

Englische Karten nr.190
Dondorf Nr.190“Englische Karten”, 1867-1895.

Specsavers playing cards
to help you see better when playing cards

On-line offsite data backup
On-line offsite data backup publicity playing cards produced by The Bunker, United Kingdom, c. 2004....

Möbel-Spiel
Publicity pack for the East German furniture industry, with designs by Werner-Hans Schlegel.

Hand-painted and Silk-inlaid playing cards
Complete pack of 36 hand-painted and silk-inlaid playing cards with French suits made in Germany.

Clamcleats playing cards
Clamcleats playing cards for sailors designed by Celia Allison, New Zealand, 1986.

Postillion Schafkopf
Postillion Schafkopf dedicated to the history of the German postal service.

Pretty Frills
‘Pretty Frills’ playing cards promoting curtain and blind accessories.

Mercante in Fiera di Jacovitti
Traditional Italian card game with comic designs by Benito Jacovitti.

Moorish Deck
Review of “Trzes’ Moorish Deck” facsimile published by Ulrich Kaltenborn, Berlin, 2023.

Gibert Jeune
Publicity pack for Gibert Jeune, the famous Parisian bookshop, with designs by James Hodges.

Schweden Spielkarten
54 different souvenir views of famous people and places in Sweden.

The Saab 900 Convertible playing cards
A flicker pack with different backs, advertising the Saab 900 Convertible motor car.

De La Rue 1932-1933 Sample Book of Advertising cards
Complete contents of a sample book of advertising cards by De La Rue

Burgdorf Abschreckhärtetechnik
Promotional pack for a German steel hardening business, with designs by Costante Costantini.

Glico Almond Chocolate
Glico Almond Chocolate playing cards with designs by Izumi Tamai, produced by Nintendo, Japan.

Baraja Mística
‘Baraja Mística’ satirical playing-cards featuring revelling clergy published by Litografía Fernánde...

Early German playing cards
Some early examples of popular German playing cards from the XV and XVI centuries.

Carte da gioco anticomuniste del Comitato civico
Anti-Communist propaganda pack with satirical designs by Benito Jacovitti.

What can we learn from mini-booklet advertisements?
Over the years I have collected a large number of mini-booklets and pocket guides offering rules and...

South American Costumes
Costumes of people of Brazil, Peru and Mexico, with views of Rio de Janeiro on the aces.

Vues et Caractères Suisses No.228
A Swiss souvenir pack by Dondorf

Joseph Bardou & Fils cigarette papers
Delightful pack advertising Joseph Bardou & Fils cigarette papers for the Philippines.

Spielkarten für Sammler
Cards on cards in celebration of playing-card collector Franz Braun’s 75th birthday.

Cards on Cards (E.H. Locker)
Artist Edward Locker’s view of London life in 1799, using every card in the pack as part of the pict...

WW2 German Propaganda Playing Cards
showing satirical portraits of Allied leaders and politicians

Neiman Marcus playing cards
Cowboys and American Indians on a pack for Neiman Marcus, the Dallas department store.

Wolfgang Dorn Werbe
Designs by Jürgen Pankarz for the 20th anniversary of the Wolfgang Dorn advertising agency, Cologne....

Cartavi
Promotional pack for AVI paints, with 54 different colours on the backs.

Bilder zum Tarot
Detailed pen and ink drawings of the major arcana by the German artist Helmut Wonschick.

Eisbergfreistadt Panoramische Spielkarte 1923
‘Iceberg Free State 1923’ fantasy playing cards with a cautionary moral lesson, Germany, 2006.