English pattern by Bielefelder Spielkarten
Standard designs by Bielefelder Spielkarten GmbH, Bielefeld, Germany, c1966.
Strong colours, notably yellow, red and blue, have been used to create these designs, copying those of Brown & Bigelow (BB2). In Ken Lodge’s collection, there is a version of this pack with switched red-suit Kings (see blog/german-misc.pdf, page 4) and indices in four corners. In the present pack, the Kings have not been switched and there are indices in only two corners. The manufacturer’s logo appears on the Ace of Spades and the 10 of Hearts. The back design shown here was used on other packs, including “Comtesse”, and was later adopted by A.S.S. for some of their packs.


Above: Standard English pattern by Bielefelder Spielkarten GmbH, Bielefeld, Germany, c1966. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 bridge score card (which doubles as an extra Joker). Size: 60 x 91 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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