9-11-89 passé
Caricatures of East German politicians following the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Such a pack as this would have been unthinkable prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 (9-11-89). Just a few months after that historic event this pack was issued, featuring black and white caricatures by Rainer Schwalme of prominent East German politicians from the old regime, notably Erich Honecker on the King of Clubs (and on the title card), Egon Krenz on the Jack of Clubs, and Günter Schabowski (party leader in East Berlin) on the Jack of Diamonds. The manufacturer’s logo appears on the 8 of Hearts. The first edition ran to 8,000 packs; a second edition followed later in a slightly different size.
Above: “9-11-89 passé” playing cards made by Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik, Altenburg, Germany, 1990. 32 cards + title card in clear plastic box. Size: 60 x 91 mm (1st edition); 59 x 92 mm (2nd edition).
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
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