Andy's Playing Cards

Sweden is one of the last countries in Europe where a national pattern was developed. This happened by the turn of the 20th century, when the manufacturer Öbergs first printed a new design inspired by German luxury patterns, i.e. non-standard designs specifically created for decks of higher quality, with much more ornate and colourful courts than the classic international ones, once a variety rather popular in Germany.

Playing cards, though, had reached Sweden much earlier, probably by the late 15th century, a time when card games were already well-known in the southern and central parts of the continent, but were still spreading as a novelty towards the northern lands. The designs of the local cards were initially influenced by different patterns and suit systems from other countries, some of which had already developed, while others were still taking shape; the Swedish players soon gave their preference to the French suits, which were steadily adopted. In early decks the designs never reached a gold standard, but most of the editions maintained the typical French names of the court personages (see the relevant gallery), that were dropped only when the national pattern came into use.

Playing cards, though, had reached Sweden much earlier, probably by the late 15th century, a time when card games were already well-known in the southern and central parts of the continent, but were still spreading as a novelty towards the northern lands.
The designs of the local cards were initially influenced by different patterns and suit systems from other countries, some of which had already developed, while others were still taking shape; the Swedish players soon gave their preference to the French suits, which were steadily adopted. In early decks the designs never reached a gold standard, but most of the editions maintained the typical French names of the court personages (see the relevant gallery), that were dropped only when the national pattern came into use.

The Swedish deck has the same composition as the international one, with thirteen subjects in each suit, three of which are courts, for a total of 52 cards, plus the jokers.

edition by Öbergs (Sweden), the manufacturer
who first created the Swedish pattern

The pip cards are similar to the ones found in a standard Bridge deck. Instead the indices are spelt according to the national language: "E" (Ess) for the aces, "Kn" (Knekt) for the knaves, "D" (Dam) for the queens and "K" (Kung) for the kings, always located in the upper left and bottom right corners only.

In editions made by Öbergs, the king's index used to be topped by a small crown, which was dropped in the mid 1960s.

The aces are traditionally plain, although some modern editions tend to have a decorated ace of Spades. The tax stamp was printed on the ace of Hearts.
The court cards are double-headed; the pattern was born with this feature, which the Swedish players were well accustomed to, having been introduced in the country since the second half of the 18th century. The illustrations are doubled diagonally, along a garment worn by the personage (a cape, a shawl, etc.).

As in most other European patterns, the rich clothes worn by the courts suggest a Renaissance environment, but their faces (particularly the queens' hairstyle, the moustache worn by the knaves, and other minor details) reveal quite clearly the fashion of the age when they were first designed. The clothes also follow a standard colour code: the courts of Hearts wear mainly red, the ones of Diamonds are mostly in blue, Clubs do so mainly in purple, while the courts of Spades dress in green with yellow stripes.	edition by Tactic (Finland)

As in most other European patterns, the rich clothes worn by the courts suggest a Renaissance environment, but their faces (particularly the queens' hairstyle, the moustache worn by the knaves, and other minor details) reveal quite clearly the fashion of the age when they were first designed. The clothes also follow a standard colour code: the courts of Hearts wear mainly red, the ones of Diamonds are mostly in blue, Clubs do so mainly in purple, while the courts of Spades dress in green with yellow stripes.

edition by Tactic (Finland)

edition printed by Carta Mundi (Belgium) for Kärten Spel	In the classic version (by Öbergs), all kings hold a sceptre, two queens (black suits) have a fan, while the knaves carry a weapon: a halberd (red suits), a sword (Spades) and a pike (Clubs). In recent editions (see pictures in the page) the pattern's scheme is followed more loosely, often with the introduction of new details such as globes held by the kings, flowers held by the queens, beards worn by the knaves, a decorated ace of Spades, etc., variously borrowed from other known patterns.

edition printed by Carta Mundi (Belgium) for Kärten Spel

In the classic version (by Öbergs), all kings hold a sceptre, two queens (black suits) have a fan, while the knaves carry a weapon: a halberd (red suits), a sword (Spades) and a pike (Clubs). In recent editions (see pictures in the page) the pattern's scheme is followed more loosely, often with the introduction of new details such as globes held by the kings, flowers held by the queens, beards worn by the knaves, a decorated ace of Spades, etc., variously borrowed from other known patterns.

The other variety of playing cards typical of Sweden is the Kille deck, described in the non-suited card gallery.

SPELKORT		PLAYING CARDS
KORTLEK		DECK
FÄRGERNA	colours	SUITS
FIGURERNA	pictures	SUITS
HJÄRTER		HEARTS
RUTER	square	DIAMONDS
KLÖVER	clover	CLUBS
SPADER		SPADES
ESS		ACE
KNEKT		JACK
DAM	lady	QUEEN
KUNG		KING