Specsavers playing cards

Published November 01, 2023 Updated November 02, 2023

to help you see better when playing cards

2010 NetherlandsPolandAdvertisingMedical & PharmaceuticalKZWP-Trefl

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 ©


avatar
71 Articles

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

1981 Barok playing cards nr 232

Barok playing cards nr 232

Courts dressed in Baroque costumes in a pack printed by KZWP, Kraków, Poland, 1981.

2005 Amistar playing cards

Amistar playing cards

Publicity pack for product which controls fungal diseases in a range of crops, printed by Trefl, Kra...

1921 Art Nouveau Whist playing cards from a small Dutch factory

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

1950 Dutch Historical playing cards

Dutch Historical playing cards

Advertising for Mopenco, the Dutch Fountain Pen King

1880 Lattmann No.9 playing cards

Lattmann No.9 playing cards

with illustrated views of Dutch cities on the aces. This pack is for sale or exchange.

1995 Rzeszowskie Zakłady Farmaceutyczne “Polfa”

Rzeszowskie Zakłady Farmaceutyczne “Polfa”

Photographs of pharmaceutical products, produced for RZF, Rzeszów, Poland, c.1995.

2010 Piwiarnia Pub in Warsaw

Piwiarnia Pub in Warsaw

Advertising Deck for the Piwiarnia Pub in Warsaw.

2000 Benadryl®

Benadryl®

Benadryl ® family fun playing cards, c.2000.

2012 Grolsch Brewery

Grolsch Brewery

A somewhat unusual deck specially designed for Grolsch Breweries evoking self-expression and indepen...

1979 Starościanka

Starościanka

“Starościanka” playing cards manufactured by KZWP-Trefl (Poland).

1926 Speelkaarten-Fabriek Nederland “Fortuna”

Speelkaarten-Fabriek Nederland “Fortuna”

Speelkaarten-Fabriek Nederland for Royal West Indian Mail Service, c.1926

1990 Esveco Specialities B.V.

Esveco Specialities B.V.

Alto Imaging Group playing cards manufactured by Esveco Specialities B.V., c.1990s

2003 Pomorski Poker

Pomorski Poker

Pomorski Poker (Pomeranian Poker) is a gallery of characters from the region: politicians, media, cu...

2011 Battle of Grunwald

Battle of Grunwald

Medieval style playing cards commemorating the Battle of Grunwald (1410), designed and published by ...

Kasztelanskie

Kasztelanskie

“Kasztelańskie No. 460” playing cards manufactured by Krakowskie Zaklady Wyrobów Papierowych, Crakow...

2003 Cardiology Trials

Cardiology Trials

Cardiology Trials - limited edition playing cards by Krakowskie Zaklady Wyrobów Papierowych Trefl (K...

1935 Sikar

Sikar

Publicity playing cards for the Dutch credit company Sitters & van der Kar. The four Aces and Joke...

1983 Relief of Vienna

Relief of Vienna

“Relief of Vienna” tri-centenary pack, 1983

Polish Playing Cards

Polish Playing Cards

Poland has been involved in playing card production since the 15th century.