German Card from Homann Factory
Card dated 1932: "Beethoven and Haydn - 1792" from the series "1000 years of German history".

Real size of the card: 11 cm x 7 cm.

This card is taken from a pack of 52 playing cards with the theme of composers.
Probably produced in the 1990's in the USA by the Thurston Moore Country, Ltd. Montrose, Colorado...

Actual size of card : 5.8 x 9 cm.

Here is a beautiful composers card game, with 52 cards of classical and romantic composers. In English, produced by U.S. Games Systems in 1990.
Each card represents a composer and his works. The "5's" represent Beethoven. There are, of course, four Beethoven cards.

Thanks to Will...

Card from a deck realized for the new century...

Actual size of card : 5.5 x 8.6 cm.

Set of 4 'Beethoven' cards from the game 'Play the Composers.'
The object is to collect complete sets of four cards concerning a composer.
The four cards about Beethoven are: Eroica Symphony, Moonlight Sonata, Overture to Egmont and the Emperor Conerto.
Made by Hansen House in 1976

Size: 9 cm x 5.7 cm

Seventeen composers are in this game published by Theodore Presser in 1910.
The four cards about Beethoven are: Egmont, Choral (9th) Symphony, Mass in D and Fidelio.

Size: 9,8 cm x 6,5 cm

On the left, the card game 'Court of Music' was issued by Theodore Presser probably around the beginning of the 20th century..

On the right, a modern card game published by Ivory Tower in 1994.

This Reward Card has been published by Theodore Presser Co, Philadelphia.
It is about the same size as a postcard. Beethoven can be seen in a medallion near the place where he was born in Bonn.

On the other side, there are a text about Beethoven's life, a sketch of a sonata and his signature (the image on the left is only part of the reverse side of the card)...

On the other side, there are a text about Beethoven's life, a sketch of a sonata and his signature (the image no the left is only part of the reverse side of the card)...

Real size: 14 cm x 9 cm.

Card number 530 from Trivial Pursuit 'A History of Music' - 1985.
One side shows a portrait of Beethoven and the other side asks six questions about the composer (and includes the answers). Trivial Pursuit is a popular game from the 90's with questions that range from how to hook lures for catfish to biographical questions about great composers like Beethoven. It is a challenging game that remains popular today.

Size: 8,8 cm x 6 cm

This card was sold in bookshops. The collection includes many composers and famous men.
The reverse tells of the life and works of Beethoven (pass the mouse over the picture to see the reverse)...
This card was also issued in France by Arlatte & Cie (American Coffee) around the 1900's, as an unnumbered card from a series of cards depicting 'Celebrities and Famous people'...

Actual size of card 6.7 x 9.9 cm.

I don't have any information on this card.
There is nothing on the reverse side...

Actual size of card: 6.7 cm x 9.9 cm.

These two cards were issued by an unknown company as 'Educational' cards in the United Kingdom circa 1970. They come from a large series of educational cards. The fronts of these cards carry artist drawn pictures of scenes from the life of Beethoven. The reverse side of these cards form an interesting biography (see below).

Actual size of cards:4.35 inches by 2.9 inches

BIOGRAPHY BEETHOVEN 1 -Ludwig van Beethoven was born in 1770 at Bonn. Very early on, his father, a tenor singer at the court of the archbishop-elector, realised his son's talent and decided to exploit it.
 As a result, he forced music upon the boy, making him practice endlessly on the violin from the age of five and having him taught the clavier (an old-fashioned type of piano) at the age of nine.
Beethoven does not seem to have suffered from this treatment, and in 1783 his first composition was published.

In 1787, Beethoven visited Vienna. There he met Mozart and apparently managed to afford a few lessons from him.
   It was some years later, in 1792,that he was first noticed by Haydn. Unfortunately, Haydn found Beethoven disappointing.
Meanwhile, Beethoven settled in Vienna, where he composed a number of pieces: His reputation spread and his work became almost popular - although, on occasions, it was much criticised. In 1814, his seventh symphony was performed and he seemed to be on the crest of a wave.
But tragedy had already struck. For years he had realised that he was losing his hearing, although only his close associates realised his disability. By 1824, he was almost completely deaf.

BIOGRAPHY BEETHOVEN 2 - For many years before 1824, Beethoven was becoming increasingly bad-tempered. This is not surprising when it is realised what agony he must have been suffering. Music was his life and he could no longer hear it.

But he was a loving man. In 1815, his brother Kaspar Karl died, leaving a widow and a nine-year-old son. Beethoven devoted much time and money on the boy's upbringing. It has been said that he did not justify his uncle's devotion and this may be true. But, eventually, his behaviour seems to have improved and he married and lived quite respectably.

To the period of his life when Beethoven was deaf belong some of his finest works. This may seem strange, but it is not really so. Beethoven's mind was so finely attuned to music that he could 'hear' his compositions without using his ears. The music existed completely in his head.
His one opera, 'Fidelio', originally published as 'Leonora', belongs partly to the latter years of his life. It was first performed in 1805. Later, it was revised, and its first performance in its present form was given in Vienna in 1814.

In 1827, Beethoven fell ill and he was not to recover. On March 26th, 1827, he died, reputedly during a thunderstorm. He was 56.
His last words, again reputedly, were, 'I shall hear in heaven.'

This card is part of the game "Photo Trivia - Potpourri Game", and has number 75. This game is produced by Hoyle Products, 1984.
The reverse side has 6 questions like: This man composed 4, 6, 9 or 15 symphonies? The player has to give the right answer, or he would better search the answer in this website...
Actual size of card: 5,5 cm x 9 cm.
 

This card was published by Panini in 1973. This series of 200 cards is entitled 'Ok VIP'.
This card has the number 4...

Actual size of card: 2 in x 2,75 in.

This educational card is one from a series about composers.
The front side shows a portrait of Beethoven in a medallion and a scene from Fidelio.
The reverse side give a summary of the life a Beethoven and the a presentation of Fidelio.

German card probably dated 1928. Manufacturer unknown.
The front of the card shows a beautiful illustrated black and white drawing by Karl Bauer, and a famous quotation of the composer, written in German (from a letter dated September 17,1824).
The back of the card is blank.
There are other cards of this series with composers: J. S. Bach, R. Wagner...

Real size: 7 cm x 11  cm.

German card with a facial value of 2 Krönen. German text on the reverse.

Real size: 6.5 cm x 11  cm.

This original trade card was issued in Germany by Palmin-Werke in 1930. It is card number 4 from Series Number 103 which is entitled "Wien."
The front of the card shows a beautifully illustrated color picture entitled Ludwig van Beethoven - Franz Schubert.
The back of the card ( can be seen by passing the mouse over the card on the right ) has the title, series title, card number, trade text and a description of the card front, all written in gothic German.

Real size: 2.75 in x 3.5 in.

1- German card.
Size: 7 cm x 10,5 cm

2- French card

3- ?

5- Card number 25 edited by Stamina Clothes. On the reverse side: "composer and musical genius, one of the greatest musicians of all time."
Size: 5 cm x 8 cm

6 - Card from the Great Composers card game, dated 1910 and realized by Theodore Presser Company.
Size: 9,8 cm x 6,5 cm

7 - Card from Cuba, by Henry Clay and Bock, probably around 1920. Number 7 of the series 'Celebridades' .

8 - German card from a series called 'Immortal Composers.'

9 - Card from Holland edited by Kroon. It is number 14 of the series "Famous European."
Size: 5 cm x 3,5 cm

10 - Card edited by Panini from the series "Uomini Illustri". Its number is 173.
Size: 5,5 cm x 7,5 cm

11 - Card from the game "Marathon".
Size: 6 cm x 8 cm

12 - This German card is number 98 of the series "German History".
Size: 8,3 cm x 7 cm

13 - Card from the 'I.Q. Games'. It represents Beethoven and the score of 'Für Elise'. The reverse side has 5 questions about the composer.
Size: 13,2 cm x 8,2 cm

14 - Ludwig van Beethoven's card, from a game 'Sounds of Music'. In the same 'family': Mick Jagger, Santana, Puff Daddy and Ella Fitzgerald.
Size: 8,9 cm x 5,7 cm

15 - Card from a game with the object to collect complete sets of four cards concerning a composer: Fidelio, 9th symphony, Missa Solemnis and this card: The Creatures of Prometheus.
Size: 11 cm x 6.8 cm

16 - Card from a series "Great Composers" published by Pomegranate Publications, USA.

17 - French card: "The Gods of Harmony"

18 - Card from China (postcard size).

19 - Card from the game Hoopla by Cranium - 1998.

20 - Card by Cooper Tea, from a series "Mysteries and Wonders of the World"; card number 38 about Beethoven.

2 21 - Card from the French festival 'Folle Journée de Nantes 2005' about "Beethoven and his friends."

22 - Beethoven's edited by Elmwood & Warwick Collars.

23 - Puzzlers card, edited by Baffles.
The picture allows to find Ludwig van Beethoven's name,
on the right.

24 - German card dated 1928 from a Komponisten set.
Actual size:
7.5 cm x 11.5 cm