Joker Tell
Comic celebration of 700 years of the Swiss Confederation, 1291-1991, with designs by Roland Gazzotti.
All things Swiss are celebrated in comic style in this amusing pack designed by Roland Gazzotti to mark 700 years of the Swiss Confederation (1291-1991) – cows, cooking, music, mice, money, cheese, apples and hence William Tell. The Kings are jolly farmers with their cows, the Queens cooks in costume, and the Jacks musicians. Mice can be found on the Aces nibbling at lebkuchen (AH), shovelling money (AS), and so on, and on the back emerging from holes in a piece of cheese. A strong colour has been used for each suit: red for Hearts, black for (actual) Spades, blue for Diamonds (representing icy peaks), and green for Clubs (clover leaves or trefoils). On the court cards the indices appear only once. The designer’s name is given on all the Aces and on one of the three different Jokers. See the box►
By Roddy Somerville
Member since May 31, 2022
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.
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds
A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.
Marmite
Fifty-Four images celebrating a UK savoury spread, that has been around one hundred and twenty two y...
Le Jeu des Musiciens
Artist Silvia Maddonni’s gently humorous take on musicians and their instruments.
Transair
Humorous designs promoting Transair, a German charter flight operator.
Frauejass
‘Frauejass / le Jass au féminin’ designed by Susan Csomor, Switzerland, c. 1998.
Hansaplast®
Advertising pack for Hansaplast, with comic courts sporting sticking plasters.
Bibaraja
Amusing designs of boys as circus performers by Alberto Muñiz Sánchez.
British Monarchs
Commemorating the royal wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer on the 29th
Jeu du Bicentenaire de la Révolution Française
Pack created by Yannick Pennanguer commemorating the bicentenary of the French Revolution and the ce...
Past Masters’ Association Presentation Pack
The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards Past Masters’ Association Presentation Pack, 2013....
Postak – Las Postas
‘Postak - Las Postas’ playing cards commemorating the history of the Basque postal service, Spain, 1...
Bourbon Bridge
Attractive, woodcut-style courts adapted for modern play.
Bischofszell
Advertising pack for the food producer Bischofszell, designed by Heinz Looser-Brenner, with non-stan...
Scheffmacher
Advertising pack for Scheffmacher, master painters in Schaffhausen, with comic designs by Fritz Bünz...
Colour doodle deck
“1952-2002 commemorative deck” customised with doodles by an uncredited artist, UK, 2011.
Politicards 2016 & Politikids 2016
Politicards™ 2016 & Politikids 2016: twin decks of satirical playing cards produced by Peter Green f...
Portrait de Fribourg
Fine reproduction of a Fribourg pattern pack, originally by Jean-Jacques Burdel.
Politicards 2008
Politicards ’08 with caricatures cast as characters from classic movies, USA.
Orientierungslauf Skat
Humorous designs by Helmut Härtelt on the subject of orienteering.
Holy Trinity Church playing cards
Holy Trinity Church commemoration playing cards, USA, 2011.
Politically Wild John McCain
“Politically Wild John McCain” published by Newt’s Playing Cards, USA, 2008.
Tavaglione playing cards
Well-designed pack by Giorgio Tavaglione, with courts in medieval costume.
Politicards 2004
Politicards 2004 with satirical cartoons by the award-winning illustrator Peter Green, USA.
Politicards 1971
Politicards 1971 for the presidential election in which Richard Nixon won a landslide victory.
Wren 300 playing cards
Papercuts by Chloe Campbell of the 52 Wren churches in the City of London.
Politicards 1984
Politicards 1984 with caricatures by Donald Gates, published by the Kamber Group, USA.
Don Quixote playing cards
Don Quixote playing cards designed by Nam Tibon, USA, 2016.
Tottering-by-Gently
‘Tottering-by-Gently’ playing cards with cartoons by Annie Tempest.
Keep-em honest playing cards
Keep-em honest playing cards designed by Chris Cooper and published by Dark Horse Deluxe.
Swiss Scenic Tarock
Scenic Tarock deck produced by Fabrique de Cartes J. Müller & Cie (Schaffhouse), Suisse.
Das Nassauische Kartenspiel
Pack conceived by Berthold Conradi, commemorating the 700th anniversary of the granting of town righ...
Commemorative Olympic Playing Cards
Commemorative Olympic Playing Cards produced by Waddingtons exclusively for Stanley Gibbons Antiquar...
Mario Testino playing cards
A selection of Mario Testino’s photographic work in various fields, notably fashion.
Les Montgolfières 1783-1983
Honouring the bicentenary of the Montgolfier brothers’ first balloon flights in 1783.
Centennial Olympic Games playing cards
Centennial Olympic Games playing cards celebrating the centenary of the modern Olympic Games, 1896-1...
Mercante in Fiera di Jacovitti
Traditional Italian card game with comic designs by Benito Jacovitti.
Star Wars: a New Hope
‘Star Wars: a New Hope’ playing cards to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film Star Wars, USA, ...
Buffalo soldiers
“Buffalo soldiers” playing cards commemorating African American military men who helped change the f...
Century of Progress
‘Century of Progress’ Exposition playing cards produced by Western Playing Card Company, USA, 1933. ...
Baraja Mística
‘Baraja Mística’ satirical playing-cards featuring revelling clergy published by Litografía Fernánde...
Révolution 1789-1989
Révolution 1789-1989, celebrating the bicentenary of the French revolution, France, 1989