Müller Playing Cards
The Single Faced Swiss Pattern
For my research of the single faced Swiss pattern by J. Müller I had 17 decks of such cards at hand. According type they were divided as follows:
Type A: 1 deck
Type B: 1 deck
Type C: 1 deck
Type D: 2 decks
Type E: 8 decks
Type F: 1 deck
Type G: 3 decks
Even though this looks like a representative number, it is most likely, that I did not find all versions. Also I found big differences in the printing quality of these decks. I don't know the reason for such differences. It is possible that this is due to the different locations, where Müller manufactured cards. Perhaps the cards with the good quality were printed in Schaffhausen and the cards of less quality were made in the factories in Hasle.
Type
A |
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1880s (?); 87 x 55 mm
The characteristics of this single ended (or single faced) deck are:
In the ace of bell you find the location of the manufacturer J. Müller & Cie, which is "Schaffhausen & Hasle".
This very old version of the single faced Swiss pattern has a framing with square corners
The hair of the Ober of Rose and the Ober of Acorn is white
Several leaves are blue, yellow or have two colours
These are details in the cards that will change:
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a) 10 of bell (lower left corner)
b) King of shield (top right corner)
c) King of Roses (lower left side; on the lower right side there is a corresonding part)
d) Ober of Roses (leaves of Roses)
e) King of Acorn (sun in his throne)
f) Ober of Acorn (leaves of Oak)
g) Under of Acorn (leaves of Oak)
h) 9 of Acorn (leaves of Oak)
i) 8 of Acorn (leaves of Oak)
j) 6 of Acorn (leaves of Oak)
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Type
B |
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1890s (?); 87 x 55 mm
There are few things that have changed to the previous version. The easiest to notice is that the Ober of Roses now has yellow hair. In the King of Roses and King of Acorn cards some of the ornamentation has a little more red colour (see the lower parts; flowers and sun). In the two Acorn pips 8 and 6 the blue in the leaves has changed colour to green. - Also compare c), e), i) and j) with details in type A.
Strange is that the colour of the leaves on the King of Acorn card has changed form green/yellow to blue/yellow.
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Type
C |
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1900s (?); 87 x 55 mm
This time the Ober of Acorn changed colour of his hair; it now is yellow. In the King of Acorn card there is more red in the sun on his throne. Also compare the detail g) to see the changed colour of the leaves (from green/yellow to green) on the Under of Acorn card.
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Type
D |
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1910s (?); 87 x 55 mm
The frames have changed from square to rounded corners. Else only little changes have occurred: In the 10 of bell the colouration at the low left corner (compare a) and in the King of shield card the top right corner has changed (compare b, where there now is a fifth cord hanging).
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Type
E |
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1920s - 1940s (?); 87 x 55 mm
This is the most frequently found single faced Swiss pattern. According my researches this version was printed for about thirty years. The changes to the previous version are as follows:
King of Roses. The flower ornamentation on the lower quarter of the card now have thick red lines (diagonal and cross, compare c). The leaves on the Ober of Rose card have changes from green/blue to green (compare d). The sun on the throne of the King of Acorn is embedded in a red filled space (compare e). The leaves on the Ober of Acorn card have changes from mainly yellow to green (compare f). The blue leaves on the 9 of acorn card have changed from blue to green. The 6 of acorn now has only green instead yellow/blue leaves (compare j).
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Type
F |
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Late 1940s (?); 87 x 56 mm
This deck is a luxury version of the single faced pattern with gold corners. It has a slight changes format (1 mm wider). Since the following version has the old format again, I believe this is rather due to the luxury edition and not because of the changes on the pictures. The only other change I found (apart from the format) is on the King of Rose card. On the bottom left (compare c) and right there is an additional hatching. Also the red lines in that ornamentation are thin again. These changes must have been done shortly before Müller changed the ace of Bell card, what is easy to recognise the 1950s version.
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Type
G |
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1950s (?); 87 x 55 mm
The only change to the preceding version (apart from the format) is that on the ace of Bell you now can read the changed manufacturer information "Schaffhauser Spielkartenfabrik". These are the last single faced Swiss pattern playing cards that are printed. Already the double faced cards are well established and it is only a matter of time until Müller gives up production and sells double faced Swiss patterns only.
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Single Faced Playing Cards from the 1950s
Now I show all aces, all court cards and a representation of numeral cards of the single faced pattern. These scans were taken from a 1950s deck.
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