Tops and Tails
‘Sports Tops and Tails’ No.290 manufactured by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, c.1950s.
‘Sports Tops and Tails’ No.290 designed by Willy Mayrl manufactured by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, c.1950s. The game comprises 48 cards forming 24 complete comical pictures which can be paired in hundreds of different combinations. Several companion games were also produced featuring animals or costumes, as nos 288 & 289 based on the same idea. The rules for the game are printed on the back of the box►
Above: ‘Sports Tops and Tails’ No.290 manufactured by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, c.1950s. 48 cards forming 24 complete pictures which can be paired in up to 576 different combinations. The artist's name is not stated but is Willy Mayrl, his logo is at the bottom-right of card 18.
Visual artist Willy Mayrl (born 1915) was responsible for the artistic design of Piatnik’s playing cards for decades and also made a name for himself as a children’s book illustrator and landscape and portrait painter.
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
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