Article: 011472

Country: United Kingdom

Manufacturer: Victoria Playing Cards Company, Bath (Karl Gerich & Georgina Harvey).

Design: Karl Gerich, Bath (1956-2016). 32 + 1 extra Ace of Hearts + J, complete. Hand-col. etching on copper plates, 74x43 mm, square corners, no index mark. Backs: Plain pink.  Maker’s name on King of Spades and Jack of Hearts. 1989.  Lit.: Tregear, Mike and Daphne, Karl Gerich: Card Designer and Maker; https://www.wopc.co.uk/uk/karl-gerich/30-merry-andrew

Some figures here are reminiscent of the Serbian deck of the company Grafika from Zrenjanin (Großbetscherek), which in turn is based on Dondorf’s house pattern or Rhineland pattern. The aces are illustrated with pictures staging the buffoon Merry Andrew and his female companion. Our sources mention 2 sets of aces, a neutral one and ours. Of the neutral set, we have only the Ace of Hearts, which is, indeed, hand-signed and dated by the artist (“13 August 1992”).  OBox, almost mint.  

$ 283.01