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The Playing Cards of Karl Gerich

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

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 very limited edition and a number of proof sheets were also produced for sale.

Signed on the inside the the box by Karl dated “19th August 1998”

REF: KG36_1123      
 

£700.00

The research on Karl and his individual packs, part of which is quoted below, has been compiled by

KG16

The research on Karl and his individual packs, part of which is quoted below, has been compiled by

This is the “Patience Indien”, in small format.

This deck is adapted from Grimaud’s Whist Indienne.

The courts are shown in Arab clothes while the pips for the aces are placed in a white circle with an elaborately patterned border and placed on a floral background.

In addition to the standard 52 cards there is a double- ended joker, and three additional cards, which are: a title card, a “Jolly Joker” and a “Great Mogul”. plus 3 blank.

Boxed with a title card.

About twenty packs have been made backed with “Florentine” patterned paper.

52 Cards + 2 Title Cards + Joker + 3 Blank Cards.

REF: KG16     
 

£350.00

Karl Gerich's Pack No: 29 Limited Edition - Signed

KG27, “Nibelungenkarten”, is a 32-card German suited pack produced in 1994.

The court cards are characters from an opera by Wagner – The Ring of the Nibelungs”

Hand made deck exhibiting the skills of Karl as his best.

The backs are in the luxury style.

The deck is signed inside the library case book with the suits signs on the spine of the box.

Roughly twenty packs were produced.

The research on Karl and his individual packs, part of which is quoted below, has been compiled by

REF: KG29      
 

£425.00

KG5 English Standard Pattern - 12 court cards

The research on Karl and his individual packs, part of which is quoted below, has been compiled by

This deck mimics the woodcut production method, is a “Standard English” pattern.

These are just the court cards [12 ] and have been laminated.

The pips being stencilled, and hand coloured.

This pack was published in 1984 in an edition of four experimental decks.

The history of these twelve cards is not known.

They are truly reflective of late 18th and early 19th Century English Standard Playing Cards.

REF: KG5    
 

£175.00

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KG10 Karl's rendering of “Luxus-Spielkarte Vier-Erdteile 
[ Four Continents Luxury 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  designed by Friedrich Karl Housmann in 1870.
 
The pack consists of 52 cards plus a Coloured Magic Joker plus a title card and a signed blank card
 
The Court cards are double ended and represent National figures from various parts of the world.
 
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.

This pack has no box.

The research on Karl and his individual packs, part of which is quoted below, has been compiled by

REF: KG10    
 

£200.00

“Cartes Turques Patience” Playing Cards Pack Number KG18

Karl modelled this deck on the Carte Turgues made by Glanz, later editions by van Genechen, Brepols and Piatik.

This is a piquet pack with 32 cards plus a Joker and two extra cards.
The complete deck is housed in a Brown Box with a suited label - the card backs are green crosses

The cards measure 34mm x 63mm

The double ended court cards are all wearing oriental costumes with the men wearing a variety of colorful and patterned massar turbans.
The aces are a delight - three having double headed dragons and the ace of spades being a representation of Adam and Eve with the temptress snake coiled within the design.

The Joker is double ended with a Turkish man sporting the traditional red fez.

The title card give the Issue Number 18 and the name of the pack..

The other spare card also gives the packs number together with the description that it is made by Karl Gerick and his address

It also incorporate Phoenix rising from the ashes with the word " RESURGAM” from the Latin - I will rise again.

Cards are first class condition. Only a small number of decks were printed -<25

REF: KG18_1123     
 

£300.00

The research on Karl and his individual packs, part of which is quoted below, has been compiled by

Views of Bath 1992 - Karl Gerich / Georgina Harvey - KG 33 - Limited Edition

Karl Gerich Pack No: 33, Views of Bath – 1992
This was a joint collaboration by Karl and Georgina Harvey by the Victoria Playing Card Co.
This is the Piquet, 32 card, pack and only Six Packs were printed
This is Pack 4 of 6 of this very limited edition. 
Spectacular single figured Joker – with horns!
The Court Cards are Non-standard in design and are double ended.
The Kings are denoted with a Crown over their head.
The scenic Aces are also double ended but, unlike the Court Cards, they each depict
two different scenes of Bath.
The cards measure 52mm x 81mm
The 32 cards, plus Joker plus signed edition card are presented in an excellent two part box
The condition is as new.   

The material on Karl and his works have
been gleaned from the excellent research
material published by Mike and Daphne Tregear

REF: KG33_1O6      
 

£625.00

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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.

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