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Karl Alexander Gerich
Merry Andrew No. 30, 1989 by Karl Gerich of Bath - Two Playing Card Print Sheets

1989

About the Item

Karl Alexander Gerich (English, 23.4.1956 - 4.1.2016) Merry Andrew No. 30, 1989 - Etchings - Sheet 24 x 32 cm - No plate mark (trimmed sheets) With this pack there are two aces to each suit – one plain and one with Merry Andrew and his girlfriend frohlicking about. Here the ‘fancy’ ace of diamonds and the ace of hearts. Two finished sheets with all pip cards, backed, varnished and trimmed. Both prints creased when they were glued to their backing, however Karl finished the sheets, as only a few cards were compromised by the faults and therefor it is very likely that they were kept as spare sheets which could provide spare cards if needed. Both sheets are in good condition and suitable to be framed. Karl was a brilliant playing card maker and certainly one of the most genius artist-craftsmen I had the pleasure to learn about his work and know. He could do it all: Come up with the tale, weave meaning(s) into it, fill it with spirited characters of his liking, draw it, etch it, print it, colour it and handcraft the inks, paper and card into wondersome packs of playing cards, each of them living in their own, most exquisitely crafted boxes. Every pack a magical marvel, filled with the spirit of this genius card maker … All this he did using his Adana printing press, very simple hand tools and great skill. When Karl closed down his studio in St.Peter’s Terrace in Bath, England and moved to Poplar Close, he sold off work for which he felt he no longer wanted to be the custodian. So a number of prints reached the market then. Printed sheets by Karl Gerich don’t often turn up for sale – certainly a lot less than his scarce finished packs - as he never really considered his proofs as to be saleable. To him they were after all only unfinished playing cards, more like samples and he generally would get rid of them. However once in a while he would produce finely finished (uncut), signed sheets, intended for framing. As work progressed, Karl would print proofs of the copper plates at their various states, steadily completing all the yet to be etched surfaces and dry point retouching the individual images as the whole design neared its completion to be ready to print Karl’s magic. Today, Karl’s work is widely recognized and examples of his work command respectable prices on the secondary markets. I am selling here a selection from my collection acquired between 1993 and 2004 of proof prints proof prints in various states, spare sheets (overproduction in case a single card needs to be replaced) or sheets that just didn’t make it past Karl’s critical eye, to be finished into playing cards. All prints came directly from Karl to me and are unsigned. I guarantee unconditionally that the prints were designed and printed of the original plates by Master Card Maker Karl Gerich of Bath himself. For information on Karl Gerich I recommend the excellent pages published online by ‘The World of Playing Cards’ - Especially Karl Gerich’s illustrated catalogue raisonné. Thank you for your interest - We ship world wide at no extra cost – You only pay the one price.
  • Creator:
    Karl Alexander Gerich (1956 - 2016, English)
  • Creation Year:
    1989
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 9.45 in (24 cm)Width: 12.6 in (32 cm)Depth: 0.04 in (1 mm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Meinisberg, CH
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: KG_1_101stDibs: LU1668210815672
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  • Merry Andrew No. 30, 1989 by Karl Gerich of Bath - Two Playing Card Print Sheets
    Located in Meinisberg, CH
    Karl Alexander Gerich (English, 23.4.1956 - 4.1.2016) Merry Andrew, No. 30, 1989 - Etching - Sheet ca. 39 x 26.2 cm - Plate mark ca. 23.7 x 33 cm Tw...
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  • Mayday No. 28, 1989, by Karl Gerich of Bath - Playing Card Proof Print
    Located in Meinisberg, CH
    Karl Alexander Gerich (English, 23.4.1956 - 4.1.2016) Mayday No. 28, 1989 - Etching - Sheet ca. 37.5 x 26.1 cm - Plate ca. 32.6 x 23.5 cm You ask why this pack is called Mayday ? Well, the pack was finished on the 1st of May, 1989 – The day Steven Denis won the World Snooker Championship. Karl was a passionate snooker fan and this is how he marked the victory of his hero, who he also made the joker of this pack. The proof sheet printed in blue depicts all the court cards, title card, joker & that extra SD joker and the box in which the pack would live. Sheet is in good condition and suitable to be framed. Karl was a brilliant playing card maker and certainly one of the most genius artist-craftsmen I had the pleasure to learn about his work and know. He could do it all: Come up with the tale, weave meaning(s) into it, fill it with spirited characters of his liking, draw it, etch it, print it, colour it and handcraft the inks, paper and card into wondersome packs of playing cards, each of them living in their own, most exquisitely crafted boxes. Every pack a magical marvel, filled with the spirit of this genius card maker … All this he did using his Adana printing press, very simple hand tools and great skill. When Karl closed down his studio in St.Peter’s Terrace in Bath, England and moved to Poplar Close, he sold off work for which he felt he no longer wanted to be the custodian. So a number of prints reached the market then. Printed sheets by Karl Gerich...
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  • Gerich No. 7, 1984, by Karl Gerich of Bath - Playing Card Print Sheet
    Located in Meinisberg, CH
    Karl Alexander Gerich (English, 23.4.1956 - 4.1.2016) Gerich No. 7, 1984 - Etching - Sheet 47.2 x 21.6 cm - Plate 39.5 x 14.6 cm Finished, uncolored print likely to be a spare sheet (over production), which were never used. Note Karl’s humor: Queen of hearts is carrying a shopping bag, reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher, who Karl admired (NOT). The jack of hearts is holding a Rubik cube, the jack of clubs is holding a can of lager and a glue sniffing bag and the jack of diamonds is playing an electric guitar. Except for creases in the margins, the sheet is in good condition and suitable to be framed. Karl was a brilliant playing card maker and certainly one of the most genius artist-craftsmen I had the pleasure to learn about his work and know. He could do it all: Come up with the tale, weave meaning(s) into it, fill it with spirited characters of his liking, draw it, etch it, print it, colour it and handcraft the inks, paper and card into wondersome packs of playing cards, each of them living in their own, most exquisitely crafted boxes. Every pack a magical marvel, filled with the spirit of this genius card maker … All this he did using his Adana printing press, very simple hand tools and great skill. When Karl closed down his studio in St.Peter’s Terrace in Bath, England and moved to Poplar Close, he sold off work for which he felt he no longer wanted to be the custodian. So a number of prints reached the market then. Printed sheets by Karl Gerich...
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  • Views of Bath No. 33, 1990, by Karl Gerich of Bath - Playing Card Proof Print
    Located in Meinisberg, CH
    Views of Bath No. 33, 1990 - Etching - Sheet ca. 39.5 x 26.2 cm - Plate ca. 32.7 x 23.7 cm Produced in 1990. It seems there are two versions of this pack. This proof sheet depitcts...
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  • Deutsche Karten No. 9, 1982/90 by Karl Gerich of Bath - Playing Card Print Sheet
    Located in Meinisberg, CH
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  • Beautiful Bath, No. 23, 1996 by Karl Gerich of Bath - Playing Card Print Sheet
    Located in Meinisberg, CH
    Karl Alexander Gerich (English, 23.4.1956 - 4.1.2016) Beautiful Bath, No. 23, 1996 - Etching - Sheet 42 x 30 cm - Plate 30.1 x 19.9 cm This pack is said to be Karl’s declaration of love to his chosen home city of Bath. Each card narrates a part of Bath’s rich history. The court cards depict portraits of personalities – real and legendary – who shaped the city of Bath as it is today. Finished, uncolored print likely to be a spare sheet (over production), which were never used. Depicted are the court cards of diamonds and clubs and of Karl himself, playing his Italian mandolin. Sheets is in good condition and suitable to be framed. Karl was a brilliant playing card maker and certainly one of the most genius artist-craftsmen I had the pleasure to learn about his work and know. He could do it all: Come up with the tale, weave meaning(s) into it, fill it with spirited characters of his liking, draw it, etch it, print it, colour it and handcraft the inks, paper and card into wondersome packs of playing cards, each of them living in their own, most exquisitely crafted boxes. Every pack a magical marvel, filled with the spirit of this genius card maker … All this he did using his Adana printing press, very simple hand tools and great skill. When Karl closed down his studio in St.Peter’s Terrace in Bath, England and moved to Poplar Close, he sold off work for which he felt he no longer wanted to be the custodian. So a number of prints reached the market then. Printed sheets by Karl Gerich...
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