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.
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