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Postabank 1

Published March 29, 2024 Updated March 29, 2024

Caricatures of Hungarian politicians on a promotional pack for a commercial bank.

1990 Hungary Játékkártyagyár és Nyomda Banking & Finance Caricatures Political

Postabank was a Hungarian commercial bank which was founded in 1988 and which closed in 2004. That a bank should issue a pack with caricatures of politicians is odd, to say the least. It is ironic that some of those very same politicians had to agree to bail out the bank in 1997 following a major financial scandal. Many of those depicted are still alive and in power, notably Viktor Orbán (Prime Minister of Hungary from 1998 to 2002 and since 2010), who looks almost unrecognisable on the Ace of Hearts. The court cards are double-ended, and the Aces and Jokers single-ended. All are named. See the box

Postabank 1 promotional playing cards made by Offset- és Játékkártya Nyomda, Budapest, Hungary, c1990 Postabank 1 promotional playing cards made by Offset- és Játékkártya Nyomda, Budapest, Hungary, c1990 Postabank 1 promotional playing cards made by Offset- és Játékkártya Nyomda, Budapest, Hungary, c1990

Above: Postabank 1 promotional playing cards made by Offset- és Játékkártya Nyomda, Budapest, Hungary, c1990. 52 cards + 3 (identical) Jokers in tuck box. Size: 57 x 88 mm. The artist is uncredited.

Note: Postabank 2 involved a change of Joker (no images available).

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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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