Ceska Graficka Unie AS
Playing Cards printed by Ceska Graficka Unie AS, Prague, Czechoslovakia, 1890-1925.
‘Jugendstil’ designed by Artuš Scheiner.
From the days of the Republic of Czechoslovakia, this magnificent piece of fantasy graphic art in the ‘Jugendstil’, Art Nouveau or ‘Secessionist’ style was designed by noted Czech graphic artist and illustrator Artuš Scheiner (1863-1938) and first printed by Česká Grafická Unie AS (Czech Graphic Union), Prague, in c.1920. Artus Scheiner worked as a financial clerk in Prague when he began drawing as a hobby. Soon magazines in Austria, Germany, Czechoslovakia and Hungary began publishing his work. 1902 saw the release of his first book of fairy tale illustrations. He is not so well known in the English-speaking world.
By Barney Townshend
Member since October 06, 2015
Retired Airline Pilot, interested in: Transformation Playing Cards, Karl Gerich and Elaine Lewis. Secretary of the EPCS. Treasurer of the IPCS.
Related Articles
Animal Skat, Česká Grafická Unie
A non-standard deck from Czechoslovakia.
Carte di Natale
Designed by Pier Canosa as a Christmas pack for the Cortina Art Gallery in Milan.
Queen of Arts
A wide variety of women artists celebrated on cards with illustrations by Laura Callaghan.
Fredericks & Mae playing cards
A rainbow pack from the design team of Fredericks & Mae and Benjamin English.
Pam is the Knave of Clubs
Playing cards as metaphors in 18th century art - from fate, chance and social hierarchy t...
Czech Bohemian style playing cards
Czech Bohemian style playing cards with a charming aesthetic, reflecting the cultural and social lif...
Leadmill playing cards
Promotional pack for an arts centre in Sheffield with designs by Martin F. Bedford.
Typographic Playing Cards
Typographic Playing Cards designed by Jim Sutherland, c.2010.
Damn! Fools by Moon
Damn! Fools playing cards designed by Leo Scherfig, 2022.
Historical Characters
Double-ended deck with historical characters and jacks as jesters by Daveluy, c.1850.
Crown Hill playing cards
Crown Hill playing cards with illustrations by Corrine Guiney, USA,
Heathen Divinities
Handmade playing cards from the British Museum depicting classical Greek and Roman gods and goddesse...
Portrait Playing Cards
Portrait playing cards, featuring realistic drawings of people on the court cards instead of traditi...
Paco Lobo
Highly original and striking designs by Paco Lobo for the fashion house of the same name.
ČZ playing cards
Advertising pack for the Czechoslovak motorcycle factory Česká Zbrojovka.
Jeu Boléro
Sweeping, semi-abstract designs by J.L. Jolin in red and black only.