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Published November 01, 2023 Updated November 02, 2023

Specsavers playing cards

to help you see better when playing cards

2010 Netherlands Poland KZWP-Trefl Advertising Medical & Pharmaceutical Add to Collection

Some years ago, probably around 2010, the well known optical retailer Specsavers had an advertising campaign which began by sending customers four playing cards. As you can see from the picture below they were very blurry and out of focus, reminding you how bad your vision could be. The solution to the problem was, of course, to rush down to Specsavers and get your eyes tested resulting almost certainly in a new pair of glasses.

Customers were then rewarded with a full, clearly printed pack of the same cards with advertising for Specsavers on the aces, and with all the court cards wearing spectacles.
The court cards are Berliner pattern (or North German pattern) with the addition of the spectacles. They were printed by Trefl (KZWP) of Krakow, Poland, each pack consisting of 52 cards and 3 jokers in a special box for Specsavers. Unusually, the hearts & diamond suit signs are green instead of red; green being the colour of Specsavers. The cards have Dutch indices. There is no indication of the maker on the cards or the box.
The four blurry cards are now hard to find and were probably thrown away.
However, it was quite a fun way to advertise which is why I am showing them here.

Above: The box, reverse and two jokers from the pack.

All cards shown are from the collection of Paul Symons ©


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By Paul Symons

Member since February 01, 2016

I'm British but I have now lived in the Netherlands for more than 50 years and am still enjoying every minute of it. I started collecting playing cards in the early 1980’s after speaking with my neighbour who was at that time a croupier in a casino. I started with just collecting jokers, but that soon led me to complete packs of cards and eventually to specialising in old and antique playing cards, particularly those of C.L. Wüst of Frankfurt, Germany. I am presently the Dutch representative of the I.P.C.S. and the auctioneer at the IPCS conventions.


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