“Jass” game is Switzerland’s number one national pastime. There are several variations of it and each type is quiet popular in this country. If you are one of the gamers who enjoy “Jass” you should turn your attention to the new stamp issue by Swiss Post. These special stamps are the first stamp-related project by the designer from Baar who is an expert in Jass game. He redesigned the old-fashioned Jass cards in both French and German-speaking Switzerland to create this issue.
The special stamps depict the different playing cards used in various regions. The types of Jass are just as diverse. The most popular form of Jass, the classic variety, is the «Schieber», the supreme discipline is the «Differenzler». Whereas the luck of the cards plays a major role in the former, skill and experience are in demand for the latter. Not only in politics is there a linguistic and cultural divide, but also when playing Jass. The game is played with «French» cards (hearts, spades, diamonds, clubs) to the west of the Brünig-NapfReuss line, as well as in the cantons of Ticino and the Grisons, and with «German» cards (Schellen, Schilten, Rosen, Eicheln – bells, shields, roses, acorns) to the east of that.
