Para Jass
Humorous court card designs by Léon Schnyder for the Swiss Paraplegics Association.
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.
By Roddy Somerville
France • 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.
Activity for Para Jass
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Modern Jass (Fredy Sigg)
Caricatural updating of traditional Swiss Jass cards by the artist Fredy Sigg.
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...
Tavaglione playing cards
Well-designed pack by Giorgio Tavaglione, with courts in medieval costume.
Salmon Flies
Icelandic pack featuring a different salmon fly on every card.
Schwyzer Fasnachts-Jass
Traditional carnival figures from the Swiss canton Schwyz, as interpreted by the artist Léon Schnyde...
Joker Tell
Comic celebration of 700 years of the Swiss Confederation, 1291-1991, with designs by Roland Gazzott...
Swiss Souvenir
55 different scenic photographic views of Switzerland.
Standard Swiss-German pattern (single-ended)
20th century version of a single-ended Swiss-German pattern pack for the game of Jass.
Genevan Dauphiné pattern
Unusual example of a double-ended Genevan Dauphiné pattern pack from c1910.
Mini Jass
Pocket-size cards with modern designs for playing the Swiss national card game, Jass.
La Compagnie de 1602
Characters from the annual festival held to commemorate the failed attempt to storm Geneva in 1602. ...
Ilford playing cards
Colourful advertising pack for Ilford designed by Mario Grasso, based on standard English courts.
Mundiales 82 playing cards
Two packs (one French-suited, one Spanish-suited) for the World Cup held in Spain, 1982.
Sternenmädchens Wahrsagespiel Tarot
A colourful 1970s take on the major arcana designed by Peter Geitner, with titles in German.
Rika playing cards
Playing cards depicting famous Austrian skiers of the 1970s.
Roche
Advertising pack for the Swiss-based healthcare company.
Le Jeu Sétois
A celebration of the town of Sète and its famous water jousting tournaments.
Modern Swiss-German Pattern
Modern Swiss-German Pattern by AGMüller, c.2000.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
