Viennese Rummy...

The Maker

On the Jack of Clubs the name of the maker is identified as “Joseph Glanz”, whose address is listed as “Nierderlage in Wien Kohlmarkt 279”. The present deck was initially published by Max Uffenheimer under the title ‘Theater-Whist’, and when Uffenheimer sold his company to Joseph Glanz, the latter continued production.

Glanz was a carpenter, medalist and printer, who is considered a founding figure of Vienna’s artistic heritage. During his career, he produced numerous decks of cards, with a wide range of themes and styles.

The Cards

These cards depict the kaleidescope that is the Viennese arts and the theatre-scene: a host of splendid theatres were built in Vienna during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and its world-famous opera house would open 12 years after this deck was published. The double-figure court cards show characters from drama and literature, as well as historical personages and mythological figures:

Clubs – Saladin, Brunhilde, Lancelot

Diamonds – Macbeth, Maria von Burgund, Hans Sachs Hearts – Ingurd, Maria Stuart, Fridolin Spades – King Lear, Elisabeth, Troubadour

The Ace and pip cards are simply identified by the number of suit marks shown on each card.

Arouy

Cartes Heroïques.

Publication

Paris, W. Gripon & Cie, 1858.

Description

32 chromolithographic playing cards, blue printed pattern to versos.

Dimensions

81 by 52mm (3.25 by 2 inches).

References Van den Bergh p.268.