Karl Gerich No.3

Karl Gerich No.3: “Four Elements”, 1982

Supernatural forms from a world we don't understand...

Four Elements is Karl's third attempt at manufacturing playing cards. An original design based around the theme of the four elements of earth, wind, fire and water, we have twelve single-ended courts, hand-coloured in strong yellows and oranges, with red and pale lilac. Some areas are left uncoloured. The suit sign is set top left in a gold circle. Heart and diamonds have been coloured red while the spades and clubs suit signs are uncoloured. Some of the figures are half human / half beast: the Queens of spades and diamonds have mermaid tails while hearts and clubs have bird legs; the Jacks are mounted on strange monsters while the Kings have mythical or grotesque animals at their feet. Each card has a narrow gold painted border.

Above: a hand-coloured, uncut proof sheet of Karl Gerich's No.3 playing cards based on the theme of the four elements, copper etching, 1983. Each card measures 45mm x 80mm. Images courtesy Daphne & Mike Tregear.   (click image to zoom)

Above: another proof sheet, signed and dated 1982. Image courtesy David & Jackie Butler.

References:

♠ Tregear, Mike and Daphne, "Karl Gerich: Card Designer and Maker", privately published.

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

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Curator 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.