Published July 01, 2022 • Updated July 01, 2022

Bohemian pattern by Bonaparte

Standard Bohemian pattern designs by Bonaparte, Plzeň, Czech Republic, c.2000.

It must be difficult for any new manufacturer of playing cards to create their own version of a standard pattern which is acceptable to serious card players and which does not copy too closely the designs by established manufacturers such as Piatnik or OTK. The Czech company Bonaparte (established 1993) has achieved this with some minor changes to the traditional designs, e.g., the prancing horse on the 9 of Bells is now at a standstill, the elephant’s trunk on the 8 of Leaves has been shortened and lowered, Cupid’s arrow strikes a heart affixed to an arch and not to a pole on the 10 of Hearts, etc. The manufacturer’s logo (a half-length drawing of Napoleon Bonaparte) appears on the box, the 8 of Bells (together with a barcode) and also in the centre of the back design. See the box►

Standard Bohemian pattern designs by Bonaparte, Plzeň, Czech Republic, c.2000

Above: Standard Bohemian pattern printed by Bonaparte, Plzeň, Czech Republic, c.2000. 32 cards + 1 extra card in tuck box. Size: 60.5 x 100 mm. The extra card has text in Slovak on one side and Czech on the other. The back pattern is reminiscent of an old OTK design.

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By Roddy Somerville

Member since May 31, 2022

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Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.