Klubams, c.1930

Klubams (‘for clubs’) playing cards manufactured in Lithuania by Spindulys Printing House.

Historical context: in early 1919 the Soviet army occupied Lithuania's capital Vilnius and installed a Soviet government. Following strong Lithuanian resistance, the Soviet Union signed a peace treaty with Lithuania in 1920. These cards were produced during this period of independence and contain motifs referring to Lithuania's heroic history and national identity. Lithuania's fragile independence ended in June 1940, when the country once more was occupied by the Soviet Union.

Above: Klubams (for the clubs) playing cards manufactured in Lithuania by Spindulys Printing House (Kaunas), c.1930.

Right: tax stamp on the Ace of Diamonds which reads: "Lietuvos Valstybes Monopolio Kortos" (Lithuania State Playing-card Monopoly). All images courtesy Albinas Borisevičius.

More Lithuanian cards on this site:   Kunigaiksciai (Dukes) • Gedimino Stulpai • Istorines (Historical) • Vaivorykste • Pilys (Castles) • Dviracio Kortos • Gironda Political Cards • Lithuania Homepage

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

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Curator and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.