Salzburg Souvenir
A souvenir pack with just one view – on the back!
Sometimes souvenir packs can be disappointing. This one falls into that category. The court cards, which are pleasing enough in terms of the colours, are the same in each suit – figures in medieval costume. Is this a generic design, i.e., was it used for other souvenir packs? The style of the courts and of the framelines round them is reminiscent of some Piatnik packs. The Jack of Diamonds shown on the back of the box does feature the arms of Salzburg but this Jack is not exactly the same as the one used in the pack itself. The front of the box reproduces the back design, with a general view of Salzburg and Herr Mozart with a few notes of music in the foreground. The cards were almost certainly printed in China. See the box►

Above: Salzburg souvenir playing cards published by Risch-Lau GmbH, Austria, c.2015. Maker unknown. 52 cards + 2 Jokers in tuck box with a display tab. Size: 58 x 88 mm.

By Roddy Somerville
Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
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