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Playing cards have been with us since the 14th century, when they first entered popular culture. Over the centuries packs of cards, in all shapes and sizes, have been used for games, gambling, education, conjuring, advertising, fortune telling, political messages or the portrayal of national or ethnic identity. All over the world, whatever language is spoken, their significance is universal. Their popularity is also due to the imaginative artwork and graphic design which is sometimes overlooked, and the “then & now” of how things have changed.

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VEB Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik

21 Articles

Card games produced in Germany by Oppenheimer und Sulzbacher.

Read more about Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik

Oppenheimer und Sulzbacher

Card games produced in Germany by Oppenheimer und Sulzbacher.

Oppenheimer und Sulzbacher

Andere Zeiten - Andere Kleider

‘History of fashion’ cultural quartet game designed by Erika Werner-Nestler, 1954.

Andere Zeiten - Andere Kleider

Geschichte des Buchgewerbes

Geschichte des Buchgewerbes illustrated by Ludwig Winkler, published by Verlag für Lehrmittel Pößneck.

Geschichte des Buchgewerbes

Geschichte des Motorrades

History of Motorcycles quartet published by Verlag für Lehrmittel Pößneck, 1989.

Geschichte des Motorrades

Musikinstrumente

Musikinstrumente quartet game published by Verlag für Lehrmittel, Pössneck, 1984.

Musikinstrumente

Wie Wird das Wetter

Wie Wird das Wetter, a Black Peter game about the weather created by Gunter Eckhardt, published by Rudolf Forkel,1952.

Wie Wird das Wetter

Capilettor

Capilettor cartoon playing cards published by VASS, Leinfelden, 1978.

Capilettor

Historische Verkehrswege

“Historische Verkehrswege” quartet game published by Verlag für Lehrmittel Pössneck, 1988.

Historische Verkehrswege

Salon-Karte No.66

Salon-Karte No.66 designed by Walter Krauss, c.1970

Salon-Karte No.66

Olympia Sport Quartett

Olympia Sport Quartett designed by Siegfried Riediger, 1953.

Olympia Sport Quartett

Intecta Interior Design

Intecta playing cards designed by Paul Reissmüller, 1982.

Intecta Interior Design

Hannelore Heise: “Essay” & “Gracia”

Two charming designs by Hannelore Heise from Germany.

Hannelore Heise: “Essay” & “Gracia”

Berliner Originale

“Berliner Originale” designed by Manfred Bofinger, 1986.

Berliner Originale

DSA Textil Berlin

Special deck for Erste Deutsche Sack-Centrale / DSA Textil Berlin manufactured by VEB Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik, c.1970.

DSA Textil Berlin

Oppenheimer und Sulzbacher

Card games produced in Germany by Oppenheimer und Sulzbacher.

Oppenheimer und Sulzbacher

Porträt

“Porträt” designed by Walter Krauss, 1968

Porträt

Deutsche Reichsbahn

Deutsche Reichsbahn (German Railways) deck designed by Peter Becker, 1989

Deutsche Reichsbahn

Folklore

“Folklore” by Altenburger Spielkarten Fabrik, c.1982

Folklore

Wilhelm Busch (1832-1908)

Wilhelm Busch was a German caricaturist and humourist who lived from 1832-1908. There are many card games made in Germany using his characters.

Wilhelm Busch (1832-1908)

Schwarzer Peter Quartett

“Schwarzer Peter Quartett” game published by VEB Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik with cartoons by Wilhelm Busch.

Schwarzer Peter Quartett

German Saxon Pattern

The German Saxon Pattern or “Schwerdter Karte”.

German Saxon Pattern

Baronesse Whist No.160

After the Second World War, the deck continued to be produced ​​both by the VEB Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik as “Rokoko” and by ASS-Spielkartenfabrik, Leinfelden-Echterdingen as “Baronesse”.

Baronesse Whist No.160