Doppel-Deutsche Karten by Bratří Willnerové, Teplice

This card pattern is known by various names such as Hungarian National (with respect to its origin), Four Seasons (according to the scenes depicted on the Aces), Schweizer Deutsche (according to the depicted characters from the legend of Wilhelm Tell). The best description is the name Tell pattern (the Swiss trace of its origin is really small and you will probably not encounter these cards in Switzerland). The characters on the Obers and Unters cards represent characters from the popular drama Wilhelm Tell by Friedrich Schiller from 1804. This play is also referred to by the usual small scenes on the pip cards.

At the time of its creation, the card pattern, like the game, referenced a significant political context. In the game, the local hero Tell can defeat the Habsburg governor Harras. This small revolution, which anyone can afford, spread throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The Willner Brothers are also known for their individual solutions to this pattern, but this deck presents a standard design corresponding to the IPCS description: The Tell pattern, Type 4. As is common for Czech editions, the cards do not include the names of the characters from Schiller's play. In this case, the description of the seasons on the aces is also missing.

Above: Doppel-Deutsche Karten by Bratří Willnerové, 1940

On the nine of bells, a hat is on a pole as a symbol of humiliation, to which the citizens had to bow during the absence of the governor Rudolf Harras (Ober of hearts). On the eight of bells, Wilhelm Tell (Ober of acorn) says goodbye to his family and on the eight of hearts, he flees in a boat across the lake. The seven of hearts presents the shooting of the governor Harras with an arrow by the legendary bowman Tell.

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The (very feint) remains of a stamp announcing the fulfillment of the tax obligation on the seven of bells date the sale of this deck to the years of World War II. The same card also presents the usual manufacturer's trademark with an owl and the letters BWT. The company identification is bilingual - Czech and German. The ornamental reverse pattern of the cards is also typical, which has accompanied the company throughout its existence - compare Prager Pattern by Bratří Willnerové►

The remains of the packaging offer this deck as Doppel-Deutsche Karten (click to zoom).

References

IPCS: The Tell pattern, Type 4►

Wikipedia: The play William Tell►