Johann Nejedly Tarok Cards

Johann Nejedly, a card manufacturer, is documented in the formerly independent village of Ottakring, which has been part of Vienna since 1892. The surname Nejedly suggests Czech origins, as “Nejedlý” translates to “inedible” in English. In 1862, Johann Nejedly obtained a license to produce cards, with the last known pack dating from 1896. The company offered a wide range of products and underwent dynamic technological development typical of the second half of the 19th century. Among the common products of this period are tarock cards of the “Industrie und Glück” type, which exhibit several distinctive features that set them apart from typical productions of the time.

The design of some tarock cards in this deck can be described as an alternative variant of the Austrian tarock, Type B, according to the standard of The International Playing-Card Society. However, some cards depict atypical, often modern, period scenes.