Specsavers playing cards
to help you see better when playing cards
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 ©
By Paul Symons
Netherlands • Member since February 01, 2016 • Contact
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.
Related Articles
Non-Standard playing cards from The Netherlands
by an unknown maker
Barok playing cards nr 232
Courts dressed in Baroque costumes in a pack printed by KZWP, Kraków, Poland, 1981.
Amistar playing cards
Publicity pack for product which controls fungal diseases in a range of crops, printed by Trefl, Kra...
Art Nouveau Whist playing cards from a small Dutch factory
The factory probably only produced playing cards for a few years in the 1920's
Dutch Historical playing cards
Advertising for Mopenco, the Dutch Fountain Pen King
Lattmann No.9 playing cards
with illustrated views of Dutch cities on the aces. This pack is for sale or exchange.
Rzeszowskie Zakłady Farmaceutyczne “Polfa”
Photographs of pharmaceutical products, produced for RZF, Rzeszów, Poland, c.1995.
Piwiarnia Pub in Warsaw
Advertising Deck for the Piwiarnia Pub in Warsaw.
Benadryl®
Benadryl ® family fun playing cards, c.2000.
Grolsch Brewery
A somewhat unusual deck specially designed for Grolsch Breweries evoking self-expression and indepen...
Starościanka
“Starościanka” playing cards manufactured by KZWP-Trefl (Poland).
Speelkaarten-Fabriek Nederland “Fortuna”
Speelkaarten-Fabriek Nederland for Royal West Indian Mail Service, c.1926
Esveco Specialities B.V.
Alto Imaging Group playing cards manufactured by Esveco Specialities B.V., c.1990s
Pomorski Poker
Pomorski Poker (Pomeranian Poker) is a gallery of characters from the region: politicians, media, cu...
Battle of Grunwald
Medieval style playing cards commemorating the Battle of Grunwald (1410), designed and published by ...
Kasztelanskie
“Kasztelańskie No. 460” playing cards manufactured by Krakowskie Zaklady Wyrobów Papierowych, Crakow...
Cardiology Trials
Cardiology Trials - limited edition playing cards by Krakowskie Zaklady Wyrobów Papierowych Trefl (K...
Sikar
Publicity playing cards for the Dutch credit company Sitters & van der Kar. The four Aces and Joke...
Relief of Vienna
“Relief of Vienna” tri-centenary pack, 1983
Polish Playing Cards
Poland has been involved in playing card production since the 15th century.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days