Postabank 1

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

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).