History written in the cards: Stralsund deals the cards. The history of the famous playing card factory

For more than a century and a half, Stralsund was one of the important centers of the production of playing cards in Germany. The history of the local label began not with a large factory, but with a small workshop.

In October 1765, Johann Caspar Kern received permission from the Swedish governor of West Pomerania to produce cards for the local market. Over time, more factories were established in Stralsund, and in 1872 the three manufacturers joined forces to form the Vereinigte Stralsunder Spielkartenfabriken AG.

During the second meeting with Dariusz Machałek — a collector and passionate about playing cards, we will learn about the history of the company, which, thanks to the expansion and takeover of competitors, has grown into a tycoon of the German card industry. In 1930, the company was the leader in the production and sale of cards in Germany.

The story of the birth, development and end of the factory will be illustrated by slides and original cards from the speaker's collection, including cards made in Stralsund.