History Written in Cards: Stralsund Deals the Cards. The History of the Famous Playing Card Factory

For over a century and a half, Stralsund was one of the major centers of playing card production in Germany. The history of the local card manufacturer did not begin with a large factory, but with a small workshop. In October 1765, Johann Caspar Kern received a permit from the Swedish governor of Western Pomerania to produce playing cards for the local market. Over time, additional manufacturers emerged in Stralsund, and in 1872, three producers joined forces to form Vereinigte Stralsunder Spielkartenfabriken AG. During the second meeting with Dariusz Machałek—a collector and playing card enthusiast—we will learn about the history of the company, which, through expansion and the acquisition of competitors, grew into a powerhouse of the German playing card industry. By 1930, the company was the leader in the production and sale of playing cards in Germany. The story of the factory’s origins, development, and demise will be illustrated by slides and original playing cards from the speaker’s collection, including cards produced right here in Stralsund.