Schweizer Luxus-Jasskarte No.41
The lower and upper knaves are depicted in a vibrant and lively manner, while the enthroned kings are more ponderous. The traditional Swiss Shield court cards also have beer tankards with a barrel on the Deuce.

Schweizer Luxus-Jasskarte No.41
published by: Johannes Müller & Cie., Schaffhausen, 1921
Schweizer Luxus-Jasskarte No.41, first published in 1921, is an artistic interpretation of the traditional Swiss-suited pack. The Lower and Upper Knaves are depicted in a vibrant and lively manner, while the enthroned Kings are more ponderous. The traditional Swiss Shield court cards carry beer tankards with a barrel on the Deuce suggesting that they intend to carry on drinking. The Upper Knave of Shields has the number 11 on his chest. The Rose suit symbols are actual rose plants with thorns. The graphic style is reminiscent of the work of Arnold Oechslin (1885–1960).

Above: 'Schweizer Luxus-Jasskarte No.41' published by Johannes Müller & Cie., Schaffhausen, 1921. 36 cards in box: 91x60 mms.
REFERENCES
Segeth, Uwe-Volker: Spielkarten Jugendstil und Art Déco, Edition Christian Brandstätter, Wien, 1994

By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
View ArticlesCurator and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.