Para Jass

Kriens was both the home town of Swiss artist Léon Schnyder and the then (1990) headquarters of the Swiss Paraplegics Association (now based in Nottwil) so it is not surprising that he created this pack with humorous courts for them. Two versions of this pack were made, one with Swiss-German suits and indices in German and the other with French suits and indices in French. Most of the court card figures are depicted in wheelchairs, engaged in different activities corresponding to the different departments of the association: cultural and social affairs (bells/spades); wheelchair sports (acorns/hearts, incorporating the logo of the association); social and legal advice (shields/clubs); hobbies (flowers/diamonds). The activities include archery, the theatre and mountaineering. Note that two of the obers/queens are male and two are female. The numeral cards in each pack are of the standard type found in Swiss-German-suited or French-suited Jass packs. The back design is common to both packs. • See the boxes

Above: Para Jass (Swiss-suited version) made by AG Müller, Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland, 1990. Each pack 36 cards in tuck box. Size: 57 x 89 mm.

Above: Para Jass (French-suited version) made by AG Müller, Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland, 1990. Each pack 36 cards in tuck box. Size: 57 x 89 mm.

The backs of the boxes give further information.