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Römihártya Játékkartyagyár

Published September 09, 2020 Updated May 09, 2023

Pin-up Rummy Playing Cards, made in Hungary, c.1970.

Hungary Játékkártyagyár és Nyomda Artex Pin-up

Another vintage pin-up rummy pack from Hungary featuring 53 paintings of young and glamorous models. Around 4 pin-up decks have been produced by this manufacturer, and the standard of workmanship is very good.

Pin-up Rummy Playing Cards, made in Hungary, c.1970

Above: Römihártya Játékkartyagyár pin-up rummy playing cards made in Hungary by Játékkártyagyár és Nyomda (Hungarian playing card factory also known as ‘Artex’ brand for exports), c.1970. There have been many editions, with different backs and boxes. It has been suggested that the artist may have been Ferenc Jeckel (1950 - 2012).

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By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

Member since January 30, 2009

Rex's main interest was in card games, because, he said, they were cheap and easy to get hold of in his early days of collecting. He is well known for his extensive knowledge of Pepys games and his book is on the bookshelves of many.

His other interest was non-standard playing cards. He also had collections of sheet music, music CDs, models of London buses, London Transport timetables and maps and other objects that intrigued him.

Rex had a chequered career at school. He was expelled twice, on one occasion for smoking! Despite this he trained as a radio engineer and worked for the BBC in the World Service.

Later he moved into sales and worked for a firm that made all kinds of packaging, a job he enjoyed until his retirement. He became an expert on boxes and would always investigate those that held his cards. He could always recognize a box made for Pepys, which were the same as those of Alf Cooke’s Universal Playing Card Company, who printed the card games. This interest changed into an ability to make and mend boxes, which he did with great dexterity. He loved this kind of handicraft work.

His dexterity of hand and eye soon led to his making card games of his own design. He spent hours and hours carefully cutting them out and colouring them by hand.


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