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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
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
INSURED POSTAGE IS FREE ON THIS ITEM
CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION
First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK – £3.45 / to Europe – £4.45 / to Other £6.10
Insurance is an additional £5.00 to any Country for the first £250.00
We combine postage and only charge our costs.
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
£400.00
First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK – £3.45 / to Europe – £4.45 / to Other £6.10
Insurance is an additional £5.00 to any Country for the first £250.00
We combine postage and only charge our costs.
CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION
First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK – £3.45 / to Europe – £4.45 / to Other £6.10
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
£650.00
INSURED POSTAGE IS FREE ON THIS ITEM
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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.
INSURED POSTAGE IS FREE ON THIS ITEM
REF: KG15_1_20
£525.00
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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
£600.00
INSURED POSTAGE IS FREE ON THIS ITEM
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
£425.00
First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK – £3.45 / to Europe – £4.45 / to Other £6.10
Insurance is an additional £5.00 to any Country for the first £250.00
We combine postage and only charge our costs.
CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER IMPRESSION
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