ermany
Throughout their long history the quantity and quality of German cards has been outstanding. Card-playing caught on rapidly in medieval Bavaria and German printers were quick to respond to the demand with a prodigious range of output which now can be regarded as an early example of popular art. German packs were produced with a variety of suit symbols and great freedom of design. more →
To begin with most cards were made in the south in cities such as Augsburg, Munich, Nuremberg and Ulm. It was not until the late 17th century that packs with French suits were made and during the eighteenth century German card-makers excelled with their imaginative and artistic approach to card design. The existence of several German states and their varying fortunes is reflected in the different patterns still used in these areas today. But just as these states have become engulfed in the whole, so the cards are doing the same thing and regional differences are disappearing. German-suited cards are now in the minority, and if standard English cards are not used, then the Berliner or North German pattern is the most prevalent.
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To see an excellent selection of German playing cards, see the website of Peter Endebrock. |
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