Z cyklu: znani kolekcjonerzy krakowscy Rozmowa z Janem Buczkiem

Abstract

FROM THE SERIES: “OUTSTANDING COLLECTORS FROM CRACOW.” AN INTERVIEW WITH JAN BUCZEK

Jan Buczek was born in Cracow on 2nd January 1923. For many years he was employed in the Cracow Playing Cards Factory. In 195-1984 he managed the manufacturing process at the factory. In 1979 he was a founding member of the Cracow Collectors' Club. He collected playing cards and owned the largest collection of cards in Poland. He died in Cracow on 10th November 1998. Major part of Jan Buczek’s collection consisted of cards manufactured by the Cracow Playing Cards Factory. The most precious exhibits are ’’National Cards” with portraits of Polish rulers and heroes issued in 1936. Sets manufactured immediately after the end of WWII and in the years that followed are great rarities. These include such series as “Folk”, “Skat”, “Stained-glass”, “The Vienna Victory”, “The Jagiellonian”, as well as other series which were designed by outstanding Cracow artists, such as Janusz Benedyktowicz, Franciszek Bunsch, Jolanta Górska, Jan Szancenbach and Maria Orłowska-Gabryś. A special place in Jan Buczek’s collection was held by cards manufactured in two factories in Easter Borderland (Lvov and Grodno) before WWII, as well as some examples of cards from a factory in Grodno, no longer in existence. Jan Buczek also collected foreign cards. He had about 650 complete sets.
Just before his death Jan Buczek prepared an outline of the history of Cracow Playing Cards Factory, with examples of court-cards of all sets manufactured in 1926-1996.