Karl Gerich No.28

Published July 19, 2012 Updated June 25, 2022

Double-ended courts based on standard English pattern but with variant colours; double-ended Joker plus Steve Davis card.

1989 United Kingdom Gerich Karl Victoria P.C.C. Karl Gerich

Karl Gerich No.28: “Mayday”, 1989

Victoria P.C.C., Bath (UK)

Karl Gerich's 28th deck, titled “Mayday Playing Cards”, is a decorated version of the standard 52-card English pattern with some continental influences. Decorated versions of the English pattern had been introduced by the manufacturer De la Rue during the 19th century and imitated by other manufacturers. The plate from which these cards are made was finished on the 1st May 1989, the day Steve Davis won the World Snooker Championship, hence his inclusion as an additional card and the title of the pack. The pack also includes a double-ended joker and the early versions came in a hand-painted box with a picture of King Henry VIII (‘Harrys’ was the designation for cards of the second quality).

extra cards from Karl Gerich's 'Mayday' pack first published in 1989 Karl Gerich's 'Mayday' pack first published in 1989

Above: cards from Karl Gerich's 'Mayday Playing Cards', a decorated version of the standard 52-card English pattern, published in 1989. The pack was issued in an edition of about 25 with some variations to the standard colouring; hearts are red, spades are blue, diamonds are orange and clubs green. The suit signs on the four Kings are crowned; the four Aces are plain (undecorated); the backs are plain (yellow). Printed from copper etchings on Daler Ford cover paper, pasted to a second (coloured) sheet, pressed, coloured, varnished. Victoria P.C.C. traded between 1st May 1989 until 17 December 1990. Cards measure 74mm x 44mm.

References:

♠ Tregear, Mike and Daphne, "Karl Gerich: Card Designer and Maker", privately published.

avatar
131 Articles

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

1873 Quaterne

Quaterne

A Victorian quartet-style children’s card game by Goodall & Son.

1910 The Molassine Company and its link to Whist and Bridge

The Molassine Company and its link to Whist and Bridge

A savvy marketing strategy blending Victorian decorative design with Edwardian practicality.

1935 Waddington’s faux books

Waddington’s faux books

Waddington’s faux book set containing four packs of playing cards and bridge markers.

1905 Double Dummy Bridge

Double Dummy Bridge

In the early 20th century several firms began to promote whist or bridge as a game for two.

1898 Ogdens Beauties & Military cigarette cards

Ogdens Beauties & Military cigarette cards

Cigarette cards featuring beauties and military uniforms with playing-card insets.

1996 Boddingtons Bitter playing cards

Boddingtons Bitter playing cards

Cool-looking courts advertising Boddingtons Bitter, originally brewed in Manchester.

1999 OXO Faces of the Millennium Dinner

OXO Faces of the Millennium Dinner

Twentieth-century personalities promoting a millennium dinner at the Oxo Tower in London.

1991 Kids Fun Box playing cards

Kids Fun Box playing cards

Colourful cards for children with four non-standard suits connected with the natural world.

1980 Tangle Foot Ale

Tangle Foot Ale

Badger Brewery Tangle Foot strong ale advertising pack.

1891 Scientific Whist

Scientific Whist

“Scientific Whist” : standard cards with instructions for play on the faces by Chas Goodall & Son, 1...

1985 Agent Provocateur

Agent Provocateur

Branded lingerie collection in a pack of pin-up playing cards.

2021 Nimbus playing cards

Nimbus playing cards

Mike Steer’s weather-themed pack with suits in four colours and backs for cardistry.

2025 Agatha Christie and Playing Cards revisited

Agatha Christie and Playing Cards revisited

Agatha Christie uses card-play as a primary focus of a story, and as a way of creating plots and mot...

2006 The Decadent Deck

The Decadent Deck

Studies in the eroticism of the female body by Inge Clayton.

1893 Historic Shakespeare

Historic Shakespeare

“Historic Shakespeare” playing cards featuring Shakespearean characters by Chas Goodall & Son.

1925 Copechat Paramount Sorting System

Copechat Paramount Sorting System

Preserving the past: a specimen deck showcasing edge-notched cards and their ingenious sorting syste...