The World of Playing Cards Logo
Published April 07, 2004 Updated December 09, 2022

German playing cards

Card-playing rapidly became popular in medieval Bavaria and German printers were quick to supply the goods.

Germany Add to Collection

Above: Stuttgart luxury cards, c.1430

Above: Master of The Playing Cards

Hofamterspiel c.1460

Above: Hofamterspiel c.1460

South German Engraver, c.1495

Above: South German Engraver, c.1495

Above: Hans Beham, c.1523

Above: Peter Flötner, c.1545

Above: Johann M. Backofen, c.1800

Above: Joseph Losch, c.1800

Above: Bergmannskarte, c.1816

Above: Schiller Deck, c.1818

Above: Anti-Napoleon Deck

Above: Verkehrte Welt Tarock, c.1850

Above: Wilhelm Busch (1832-1908)

Above: Princely Hunting pack, c.1445

Thomas Murner, 1507

Above: Thomas Murner, 1507

Above: Jost Ammon, 1588

C.L. Wüst (1811-1927)

Above: C.L. Wüst (1811-1927)

Bernhard Dondorf (1833-1933)

Above: B. Dondorf (1833-1933)

Above: Victory deck by Friedrich Gotthelf Baumgärtner, Leipzig, 1815

Above: Fortune Telling Deck by Industrie Comptoir, Leipzig c.1818

Above: Narren-Karte by Christian Heinrich Reuter, Nürnberg, c.1860

Above: Johann Jegel's Historical Deck, c.1850

Above: T. O. Weigel, 1885

Above: “Graf Zeppelin Round the World Flight”, 1930

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. learn more →

archaic German cards by Heinrich Hauk, dated 1585

Above: archaic German cards by Heinrich Hauk, dated 1585. The suit symbols are: acorns, bells, birds and flowers. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University: GER sheet 249

Suits were divided into two colors, green and red. The pips of one green suit were acorns, and of the other, leaves. The red suits were, and still are, hearts of the conventional shape and hawk bells. Germans have varied their pips perhaps more than any other people.

Bohemian playing cards of the German type manufactured by Georg Kapfler and dated 1611

Above: archaic German-suited playing cards manufactured by Georg Kapfler, dated 1611.

Probably spreading northwards across the Alps, card playing reached Basle in 1377. In the same year the Dominican monk Johannes von Rheinfelden from Basle wrote an allegory on the pack of cards. Cards are mentioned in the archives of Nuremberg between the years 1380 and 1384. From 1392 there are many references to playing cards in the guild books and registers of German towns. The names of both card-makers and card-painters are recorded, many of whom were women. To begin with most cards were made in the south in cities such as Augsburg, Munich, Nuremberg and Ulm. During the second half of the fifteenth century a succession of masterly German engravers practised their art and engraved playing cards reached a zenith. Many of these packs have survived as precious objets d'art - see more →. During the sixteenth century wood-block playing cards evolved so that miniature burlesque scenes decorated the lower half of each card.

Master PW Circular Playing Cards, c.1500
Engraved Playing Cards, Germany, 1617
Geistliche Karten, Augsburg, 1718

Playing cards in Germany first appeared with several different archaic suit systems involving a variety of everyday objects including flowers, animals, hunting equipment or coats of arms. Gradually standardisation occurred and today the German national suit marks are: Hearts (Herzen), Bells (Schellen), Leaves (Laub) and Acorns (Eicheln). In a true German pack a second Knave is substituted for the Queen, the two Knaves being called Obermann and Untermann (abbreviated into Ober and Unter), and the 2 (Daus) takes the place of the Ace.

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.

playing cards by I. Schenck, Nuremberg, XIXth century

Above: playing cards manufactured by I. Schenck, Nuremberg, XIXth century  more

Stuttgart PackPrincely Hunting PackMaster of the Playing CardsHofämterspielHans Beham, 1523Heinrich Hauk, 1595I.M.F. Engraved Cards, 1617Thomas MurnerPeter FlötnerEarly German Engraved CardsThe South German EngraverBook of TradesMaster PW Circular Cards, c.1500Geistliche Karten, Augsburg, 1718Johann Jobst ForsterOld Bavarian patternJoseph Losch, c.1800Joh. Matheus Backofen, c.1800‘Prague’ or ‘Bohemian’ patternSaxon pattern‘Victory Deck’, c.1815Anti-Napoleon Deck, c.1815Bergmannskarte, c.1816Cartomancy Deck, c.1818C. A. Müller “Antike Götter”, c.1830C.L. WüstSchiller Deck, C.L. Wüst, c.1830Wüst Swiss Album PatienceC.L. Wüst: Brazil Scenic AcesBourgeois TarotMlle Lenormand Cartomancy CardsNorth German patternVerkehrte Welt Tarock, c.1850Johann Jegel's Historical Deck, c.1850Bavarian Military CardsBavarian patternT.O.Weigel: Luxus Skatkarten, c.1860Narren-Karte by C. H. Reuter, c.1860Neue Deutsche Spielkarte, c.1883Deutsches Schützenfest 1884Liebig Beef Extract, 1891Prussian PatternB. DONDORF (1833-1933)F. A. LATTMANNWilhelm Busch Comic Card GamesOtto Tragy Jugendstil SpielkartenBadische SpielkartenfabrikWalter ScharffSinalco advertisingBambi playing cardsSchmid Argentina S.A.Pajarito SkatVeltins SkatFussball SkatSchwäbisch Hall, c.1975Financial TimesBosco playing cards made for Perú> • Birkel Schwarzer Peter Circus gameKlipp Klapp Karten, 2004British Channel Island Ferries


Thanks to Klaus-Jürgen Schultz (https://spielkarten-sammlung.de) and Barney Townshend for contributing many packs from their collections to this site. If you would like to contribute some antique or interesting items please use the Feedback & Enquiries form in the footer below.

avatar
1,433 Articles

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.


Related Articles

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.

1993 Hansaplast<sup>®</sup>

Hansaplast®

Advertising pack for Hansaplast, with comic courts sporting sticking plasters.

1978 Wedding of Krechinsky • Свадьба Кречинского

Wedding of Krechinsky • Свадьба Кречинского

A pack of cards depicting characters from the famous play "The Wedding of Krechinsky" by Sukhovo-Kob...

2004 Freimaurer Spielkarten / Masonic playing cards

Freimaurer Spielkarten / Masonic playing cards

Masonic playing cards created by Ivan Wojnikow, 2004.

1989 Orientierungslauf Skat

Orientierungslauf Skat

Humorous designs by Helmut Härtelt on the subject of orienteering.

1990 Borna Skat

Borna Skat

Publicity pack for the Saxon town of Borna, with designs by Andreas Wachter.

1987 Postgeschichte

Postgeschichte

A celebration of different postal systems in Germany from 1630 to 1850, with designs by Volker Hartm...

1870 Kings and Queens of Brazil & Portugal

Kings and Queens of Brazil & Portugal

Historical playing cards by C. L. Wüst depicting monarchs of Brazil and Portugal.

1825 Mythological tarot by Michael Schatzberger

Mythological tarot by Michael Schatzberger

Mythological tarot by Michael Schatzberger, Passau, Bavaria, early 19th century.

1819 Ansbach pattern by Emil Doll

Ansbach pattern by Emil Doll

Later Ansbach or Nürnberg pattern by Emil Doll, Neustadt.

1825 Cartomancy deck by Johann Ernst Backofen

Cartomancy deck by Johann Ernst Backofen

German-suited Cartomancy deck published by Johann Ernst Backofen, Nürnberg.

1739 Trappola pack by Joseph Fetscher

Trappola pack by Joseph Fetscher

Trappola pack published by Joseph Fetscher, Graz, 1739.

1820 Animal Tarot by Joseph Fetscher

Animal Tarot by Joseph Fetscher

French-suited Natural History Tarot deck by Joseph Fetscher, Munich, c.1820.

1820 Heathen Wars

Heathen Wars

German-suited ‘Heathen War’ playing cards published by Joseph Fetscher, Munich, c.1820.

Mythological and Allegorical tarot

Mythological and Allegorical tarot

Mythological and Allegorical tarot produced by Peter Paul Fetscher junior, Munich.

1825 Fantasy deck by Joseph Fetscher

Fantasy deck by Joseph Fetscher

Fantasy French-suited pack produced by Joseph Fetscher, Munich, c.1825.

1810 Miniature playing cards by Joseph Fetscher

Miniature playing cards by Joseph Fetscher

Uncut sheet of miniature Bavarian playing cards by Joseph Fetscher.

1760 Vogelspiel

Vogelspiel

Vogelspiel, a German card game known as the “cuckoo game” also known as “Gnau”.

1830 Bavaria pattern

Bavaria pattern

Classic German-suited Bavarian pattern by Joseph Fetscher, Munich, early 19th century.

Animal Tarot by Andreas Benedict Göbl

Animal Tarot by Andreas Benedict Göbl

French-suited Animal Tarot deck produced by Andreas Benedict Göbl, Munich.

Standard French-suited Bavarian deck by Göbl

Standard French-suited Bavarian deck by Göbl

French-suited Bavarian deck by Andreas Benedict Göbl, late 18th c.

1820 Historical playing cards by Joseph Fetscher

Historical playing cards by Joseph Fetscher

Historical playing cards by Joseph Fetscher, Munich, c.1820.

Illustrated piquet cards

Illustrated piquet cards

Bavarian piquet cards with oriental illustrations produced by Andreas Benedict Göbl, Munich, late 18...

1800 Costumes of Turkey Tarot

Costumes of Turkey Tarot

‘National Costumes of Turkey’ tarot by Industrie Comptoir, Leipzig, c.1800-1825.

1810 Natural History Tarot

Natural History Tarot

Natural History Tarot published by G M, Germany, early 19th C.

1800 Æsop’s Fables tarot

Æsop’s Fables tarot

French-suited Æsop’s fables tarot produced by Leipzig Industrie Comptoir, c.1800-1825.

1985 Das Nassauische Kartenspiel

Das Nassauische Kartenspiel

Pack conceived by Berthold Conradi, commemorating the 700th anniversary of the granting of town righ...

1930 Jägerkarte Nr.465

Jägerkarte Nr.465

Dondorf Jägerkarte Nr. 465 playing cards dedicated to the theme of hunting, c.1930.

1867 Englische Karten nr.190

Englische Karten nr.190

Dondorf Nr.190“Englische Karten”, 1867-1895.

1852 Pomeranian Tarot

Pomeranian Tarot

A Pomeranian Tarot deck with etchings by Georg Pommer published by Conrad Jegel, 1852.

1968 Möbel-Spiel

Möbel-Spiel

Publicity pack for the East German furniture industry, with designs by Werner-Hans Schlegel.

1690 Hand-painted and Silk-inlaid playing cards

Hand-painted and Silk-inlaid playing cards

Complete pack of 36 hand-painted and silk-inlaid playing cards with French suits made in Germany.

1994 Postillion Schafkopf

Postillion Schafkopf

Postillion Schafkopf dedicated to the history of the German postal service.

2023 Moorish Deck

Moorish Deck

Review of “Trzes’ Moorish Deck” facsimile published by Ulrich Kaltenborn, Berlin, 2023.

1994 Schweden Spielkarten

Schweden Spielkarten

54 different souvenir views of famous people and places in Sweden.

1981 Burgdorf Abschreckhärtetechnik

Burgdorf Abschreckhärtetechnik

Promotional pack for a German steel hardening business, with designs by Costante Costantini.

1450 Early German playing cards

Early German playing cards

Some early examples of popular German playing cards from the XV and XVI centuries.

1860 South American Costumes

South American Costumes

Costumes of people of Brazil, Peru and Mexico, with views of Rio de Janeiro on the aces.

1870 Vues et Caractères Suisses No.228

Vues et Caractères Suisses No.228

A Swiss souvenir pack by Dondorf

1998 Spielkarten für Sammler

Spielkarten für Sammler

Cards on cards in celebration of playing-card collector Franz Braun’s 75th birthday.

1982 Cards on Cards (E.H. Locker)

Cards on Cards (E.H. Locker)

Artist Edward Locker’s view of London life in 1799, using every card in the pack as part of the pict...