​​my playing card collection

A 32-card German-suited Skat deck designed by Franciszek Bunsch in 1963, showing traditional costumes of Polish folklore. The designs are based loosely on the German ‘Prussian’ pattern but with some deviations: the pip cards show Polish towns. These cards were popular in Upper and Lower Silesia. Manufactured by KZWP, Cracow, the state-run Krakowskie Zaklady Wyrobów Papierowych (Cracow Factory for Paper Articles, 1947-1997).

Skat is the national card game of Germany, information about how to play the game can be found here.

Franciszek Bunsch was assistant professor in the Cracovian Academy of Fine Art. During the 1950s, 60s and 70s he designed packs of playing cards for the Krakowskie Zaklady Wyrobów Papierowych (KZWP) state playing card factory. His designs followed traditions of Polish folklore painting and showed traditional costumes from different parts of the country. He also designed packs with historic personalities.   See www.nck.krakow.pl/galeria/wystawy/1999/bunsch.htm for more info (Polish website).