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The Playing Cards of Karl Gerich - SOLD ITEMS
Maintained on the site so you can enjoy the work
of this British Designer and Publisher
Karl Alexander Gerich, 23rd April 1956 — 4th January 2016
The material on Karl and his works have
been gleaned from the excellent research
material published by Mike and Daphne Tregear
Karl was extraordinary as he didn't just design playing cards and then leave production to others, no, he persued the whole gamut of the playing card maker's art.
From his original designs he etched the copper plates. From these plates he printed the designs which then had to be hand colored.
Then the tedious job of glueing the finished sheets to the card board and then cutting the cards to size.
He then produced quite fascinating boxes.
Some packs were undertaken as a joint collaboration with his then partner Georgina Harvey until they ended their relationship.
IN OUR OPINION THE FINEST PLAYING CARD DESIGNER OF THE 20th Century
THE FOLLOWING PACKS HAVE BEEN SOLD
BUT ARE LISTED BELOW SO YOU CAN ENJOY KARL'S PLAYING CARDS
KG36 - Karl Gerich - Così Fan Tutte
Hand Made Playing Cards
KG36, “Così Fan Tutte” is based on Mozart’s opera.
It is complete being 52 cards plus a magnificent "Don Alfonso" Joker housed in a hand made box.
The Courts and Pip Cards are 'non-standard'
The four suits are
'a heart shaped locket' - 'magnet' - 'marriage contract' -'poison bottle' and are taken from the opera.
The kings are the two male lovers in their normal costume and then dressed as Albanians.
The queens are the female leads with their lovers, in and out of disguise, in the background.
The jacks show Despina in and out of her disguises
The aces are embellished with cupids,
satyrs, angels and witches.
The Joker is Don Alfonso.
Each card is 85mm x 96mm
The pack was published in an edition of about 13 although a number of proof sheets were also produced for sale.
Signed on the inside the the box by Karl dated "19th August 1998"
The material on Karl and his works have
been gleaned from the excellent research
material published by Mike and Daphne Tregear
REF: KG36_CFT_0501
This Video will play for 90 seconds but if you want the extra 60 seconds press the play when it stops
Così fan tutte, ossia La scuola degli amanti[a] (All Women Do It,
or The School for Lovers), K. 588,
is an opera buffa in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
It was first performed on 26 January 1790 at the Burgtheater in Vienna, Austria.
The libretto was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte who also wrote Le nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni.
Although it is commonly held that Così fan tutte was written and composed at the suggestion of the Emperor Joseph II, recent research does not support this idea.[
There is evidence that Mozart's contemporary Antonio Salieri tried to set the libretto but left it unfinished.
In 1994, John Rice uncovered two terzetti by Salieri in the Austrian National Library.
The short title, Così fan tutte, literally means "So do they all", using the feminine plural (tutte) to indicate women.
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KG 10 - Karl Gerich “Four Corners” 1991 Playing Cards
This is Karl’s tenth pack and reflects his admiration for the cards produced by the German firm of B Dondorf.
He has mimicked the “Luxus-Spielkarte Vier-Erdteile [ Four Continents Luxury Playing Cards ] designed by Friedrich Karl Housmann in 1870.
The pack consists of 52 cards plus 4 additional Aces plus a Coloured Magic Joker plus signed card from Karl all in original red box with title card to front.
The Court cards are double ended and represent National figures from various parts of the world.
The double Aces consist of one hand coloured showing exotic scenes; the others two unclouded scenes of Bath.
It is understood that no more than 50 packs, of this very popular topic, were made.
The cards measure 44 by 76 mm – All in ‘as produced’ condition.
The material on Karl and his works have
been gleaned from the excellent research
material published by Mike and Daphne Tregear
REF: KG10 – 006 
First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK – £4.45 / to Europe – £8.00 / to Other £10.95 Insurance is an additional £5.00 to any Country for the first £250.00 We combine postage and only charge our costs.
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10th ANNIVERSARY OF THE EPCS
TRANSFORMATION DECK NURSERY RHYMES.
DESIGNED AND HAND PRINTED BY KARL GERICH, IN BATH on 22nd of October 1994
Totally original designs for a transformation deck, hand crafted limited edition, this is number 31 /72, signed by the artist on the title and in gold ink on the inside base of the box and dated 30th June 1994 – he hand made the boxes and playing cards in different batches.
Tradition children’s nursery rhymes are illustrated with cleverly weaved transformations of the pip cards and hand coloured for effect though sets were sold in Black and White
I would struggle to come up with 52 Nursery Rhymes never find to see how I could allocate each to a playing card.
We have handled a couple of these and I am still amazed at the ingenuity
The court cards feature a variety of characters, Mrs Thatcher bringing the pack ‘up to date!’
Plain Yellow Backs
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REF: epcs10th-0041
KG28 Pack of Standard Playing Cards to celebrate "Mayday"
This pack was published in 1989 being in the mode of English Standard Playing Cards with double ended court cards.
Karl finished the design of thisdeck on the 1st May 1989 hence the name of the pack.
They are printed from copper etchings on Daler Ford cover paper, pasted to a second (coloured) sheet, pressed, coloured, varnished. Victoria P.C.C. traded between 1st May 1989 until 17 December 1990. Cards measure 74mm x 44mm.
His signature card, included, is dated 4th December 1990 the date he finished this pack.
Also included is a double ended Joker plus Title Card. The cards have a yellow back and come made with an elegant hand painted flip top box with a picture of King Henry VIII.
It also coincided with Steve Davis winning the World Snooker Championship so Karl made an extra card to reflect this obviously a fan of Steves.
25 sets were made of this issue.
The cards measure 74 by 44 mm – Box and Cards all in ‘as produced’ condition.
The material on Karl and his works have
been gleaned from the excellent research
material published by Mike and Daphne Tregear and WOPC
REF: KG28_055
First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK – £4.45 / to Europe – £8.00 / to Other £10.95 Insurance is an additional £5.00 to any Country for the first £250.00 We combine postage and only charge our costs.
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KG24 Karl Gerich “Polonaise “ Playing Cards
Produced c1988 this pack was modelled on a combination of Piantnik’s XP10 ’Neugotik’ and packs from Poland.
The double ended courts are dressed in 16th/17th century costumes.
There are 52 cards plus a great Joker – all presented in a purpose made box with typical Gerich cover card.
The cards have a Green Back
They measure 43 x 77 mm and are in ‘as produced’ condition.
Roughly forty packs were made.
REF: KG24 – 054
First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK – £4.45 / to Europe – £8.00 / to Other £10.95 Insurance is an additional £5.00 to any Country for the first £250.00 We combine postage and only charge our costs.
The material on Karl and his works have
been gleaned from the excellent research
material published by Mike and Daphne Tregear
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KG30 Karl Gerich's Merry Andrews Playing Cards
This pack was published in 1989 and was limited to 24 sets complete with a hand crafted box with Merry Andrews as a dancing musician.
This is a 52 small format patience pack resembling packs by Piatnik and a Yugoslav one by Grafika Zrenjanin c1950 plus additional Aces and a Joker
With attractive double ended courts – each suit having a plain ace plus a double ended decorated Ace having a different stance, by a man and a woman, viewed from each end.
The cards measure 43mm x 73mm
Box and Cards all in ‘as produced’ condition.
REF:KG30_005
First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK – £4.45 / to Europe – £8.00 / to Other £10.95 Insurance is an additional £5.00 to any Country for the first £250.00 We combine postage and only charge our costs.
The material on Karl and his works have
been gleaned from the excellent research
material published by Mike and Daphne Tregear
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Bongout / Triton 1989 Karl Gerich - KG 31 - Limited Edition
Karl Gerich Pack No: 31, Bongout/Triton 1989
This pack was designed and printed by Karl Gerich – Victoria Playing Card Co. – Bath
The pack is based on the XP17 pattern [ the Bongout pattern ] used by the Turnhout Playing Card makers notably van Genechen
The Court Cards are double ended – the KIngs wearing Crowns
The Double Ended Aces depict named scenes from Bath
The Joker is single ended and depicts the Sea God – TRITON
Karl named it ‘Triton’ in a mark of respect for the Voyager 2 Spacecraft
which passed ‘close’ to Neptune’s Moon ‘Triton’ first discovered in 1846.
The pips for the Red suits are not standard colors –
The Heart Suit is red and orange and the Diamond Suit is orange and yellow.
The box is an excellent hand colored item with the same Triton image as the Joker
The back of the box details the publisher etc
The cards measure 43mm x 78mm
This is a Limited Edition of 30 packs
The cards are as issued and are complete
comprising of 52 cards plus a Joker plus ‘a title card’ plus 2 blank cards
The title card bearing the image of two Tigers
– Tigers feature throughout Karl’s designs
The material on Karl and his works have
been gleaned from the excellent research
material published by Mike and Daphne Tregear
REF: KG31_30 _008
First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK – £4.45 / to Europe – £8.00 / to Other £10.95 Insurance is an additional £5.00 to any Country for the first £250.00 We combine postage and only charge our costs.
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First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK – £4.45 / to Europe – £8.00 / to Other £10.95 Insurance is an additional £5.00 to any Country for the first £250.00 We combine postage and only charge our costs.
Beautiful Bath 1996 Karl Gerich - KG 23 - Limited Edition
This was a Limited Edition of 30 Packs of Playing Cards with unique designs reflecting the adopted home of Karl – BATH
This was issued in 1996 and consists of a 52 card pack plus 2 Blank cards
They measure 60mm x 93mm
Each pip card show a scene from Bath’s attractive architecture and Parks
The cards are French suited with unusual coloring.
The Diamond suit depict Churches and Chapels
The Club suit shows club parks and open spaces
The Heart suit portrays bridges and water features and the Spade suit – buildings and Streets
The Court cards depict portraits of people who figured in the history of Bath – some real, some imaginary.
The cards are, as is common with Karl’s card, etched and tastefully hand painted producing miniature works of art.
Presented in a quality two part box – the box bears the title and design number on the base
The cards are as issued.
The material on Karl and his works have
been gleaned from the excellent research
material published by Mike and Daphne Tregear
REF: K23_1_30-0521
POSTAGE AT COST
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Trappola Francaise 1990 Karl Gerich - KG 15 - Limited Edition
The material on Karl and his works have
been gleaned from the excellent research
material published by Mike and Daphne Tregear
This Limited Edition pack was inspired by Piatnik’s Trappola Pack of c1890 and is 1 of 20 made
The plates were prepared in 1987 but not issued ’till 1990
Etched and Hand Colored with delicate pastoral colours; the Aces are a joy to view.
It is noted by Mike and Daf that Karl found this delightful coloring extremely tedious!
This is a 36 card pack with Three Jokers – one is double ended whilst the other 2 depict a Jester playing with a young woman.
The Hearts suits also bear Cups and the Clubs Batons copying the Italian style for Trappola cards
The Aces are really quite wonderful
The cards measure 51mm x 81mm
Housed in a Titled Box – the cards are as issued.
POSTAGE AT COST
REF: KG15_1_20 -0601
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Nibelungenkarten 1994 Karl Gerich - KG 27 - Limited Edition
Nibelungenkarten 1994 Karl Gerich – KG 27 – Limited Edition
This pack was started in 1989 [ see Queen of Leafs ] but was not ‘finished’ ’till 1994.
This is one of only six packs made to celebrate Richard Wagner’s Opera “The Ring of the Nibelungs” – based on characters from the Norse Sagas and the court cards portray some of the Gods and Mortals in the double ended style – each character is named in hand scripted form.
Jack of Hearts and Jack of Leafs are really interesting.
The suit symbols are leaf, bell, acorn and heart.
The cards measure 60mm x 95mm and come in there own box; the inner lid bears the edition number [ 4 of 6 ] date and signature of Karl Gerich.
The cards are as issued.
REF: KG27_1_6-0021
POSTAGE AT COST
The material on Karl and his works have
been gleaned from the excellent research
material published by Mike and Daphne Tregear
CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION
Rheinland Pattern 1991 Karl Gerich KG12 Limited Edition
Karl started this pack in 1985, put it to one side, then finished it in 1991
Based on Dondorf’s 1870’s Rheinland Pattern which was appropriated by many makers over the years.
This is one of a Limited Edition of 20 Packs.
This is piquet pack meaning it is 32 cards [ plus Joker ] – the style of a short pack originally being used for games like Piquet and Bezique amongst others.
The Joker is pictured cross legged – playing a Mandolin – a possible image of Karl in 1991 ?
French suited with varying colours – Diamond Suit being in Yellow and the Club Suit in Green.
The courts are double ended and are very attractive.
The backs are of a Florentine” pattern.
The box has a phoenix motif.
The cards are 55mm x 86mm
Cards are as issued.
The material on Karl and his works have
been gleaned from the excellent research
material published by Mike and Daphne Tregear
REF: KG12_1_20 -058
First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK – £4.45 / to Europe – £8.00 / to Other £10.95 Insurance is an additional £5.00 to any Country for the first £250.00 We combine postage and only charge our costs.
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