The World of Playing Cards Logo
Published August 28, 2022 Updated August 28, 2022

Gorleben soll leben!

Skat deck produced by opponents of atomic energy and the dumping of radioactive waste.

1979 Germany A.S.S. Arno Waldschmidt Nature & Environment Skat Add to Collection

The small town of Gorleben in Lower Saxony became synonymous with the anti-nuclear movement in the 1970s because of plans to build a national deep geological repository for radioactive waste there, along with interim storage units. This pack formed part of the campaign to stop these projects. The Berliner pattern courts (and the Aces) carry slogans rejecting nuclear power and stating that “Gorleben should live!” Shades of grey and pale red are the only colours used to make the message more effective. The face of the Jack of Clubs is scarily skeletal. This is a skat pack with indices in German. Designer: Arno Waldschmidt. See the box

“Gorleben soll leben!” skat deck printed by A.S.S. for Merlin Verlag, Hamburg, Germany, 1979 “Gorleben soll leben!” skat deck printed by A.S.S. for Merlin Verlag, Hamburg, Germany, 1979

Above: “Gorleben soll leben!” (Gorleben shall live!) skat deck printed by A.S.S., Leinfelden, for Merlin Verlag, Hamburg, Germany, 1979. 32 cards + 1 extra card in tuck box. Size: 59 x 91 mm.

avatar
395 Articles

By Roddy Somerville

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.


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 Queen of Clubs

Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs

A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 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.

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.

2020 3-D Dino Cards

3-D Dino Cards

Lenticular images of different, unnamed dinosaurs on all-plastic cards.

2002 The Famous Dinosaurs Playing Cards

The Famous Dinosaurs Playing Cards

54 different dinosaurs, both large and small, illustrated by Cecilia Fitzsimons.

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.

2003 A Gardener’s Labyrinth

A Gardener’s Labyrinth

Photographs of flowers, herbs and vegetables by leading photographer Tessa Traeger.

1981 Burgdorf Abschreckhärtetechnik

Burgdorf Abschreckhärtetechnik

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

Kushimoto Marine Park

Kushimoto Marine Park

Kushimoto Marine Park souvenir playing cards published by Nintendo, Japan.

1450 Early German playing cards

Early German playing cards

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

1991 Handmade Ganjifa Birds Playing Cards

Handmade Ganjifa Birds Playing Cards

This set of Ganjifa cards is a beautiful example of traditional cards from India.

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...

New Environment deck

New Environment deck

New environment deck / Nouveau jeu de cartes sur l’environnement, Canada.

La Baie James

La Baie James

Playing cards documenting the James Bay hydro-electricity project on the La Grande River in north-we...

1942 WW2 German Propaganda Playing Cards

WW2 German Propaganda Playing Cards

showing satirical portraits of Allied leaders and politicians

1985 Wolfgang Dorn Werbe

Wolfgang Dorn Werbe

Designs by Jürgen Pankarz for the 20th anniversary of the Wolfgang Dorn advertising agency, Cologne....

1984 Bilder zum Tarot

Bilder zum Tarot

Detailed pen and ink drawings of the major arcana by the German artist Helmut Wonschick.

2006 Eisbergfreistadt Panoramische Spielkarte 1923

Eisbergfreistadt Panoramische Spielkarte 1923

‘Iceberg Free State 1923’ fantasy playing cards with a cautionary moral lesson, Germany, 2006.

1987 Das Tübinger Skatspiel

Das Tübinger Skatspiel

Pack devised by Volker Scheub depicting characters associated with the city of Tübingen.

2004 Unique Australian Animals

Unique Australian Animals

‘Unique Australian Animals’ educational playing cards designed by Lawton Ho, Australia, 2004.

2003 Greenpeace anti-nuclear playing cards

Greenpeace anti-nuclear playing cards

Greenpeace anti-nuclear pack with facts and figures, United Kingdom, 2003.

2007 Crop Circles collectable playing cards

Crop Circles collectable playing cards

Crop Circles collectable playing cards with photography by Lucy Pringle, United Kingdom, 2007.

2019 Birds playing cards

Birds playing cards

Birds playing cards illustrated by Ryuto Miyake, 2019.

1998 Axminster 100 playing cards

Axminster 100 playing cards

Special non-standard pack produced for Axminster Carpets Ltd.

1997 Margaret Parrott playing cards

Margaret Parrott playing cards

Margaret Parrott playing cards decorated with whimsical parrots, USA, c. 1997.

1982 Dallas playing cards

Dallas playing cards

Seven of the top stars from the famous TV series Dallas.

1990 Nokia II

Nokia II

Advertising pack for the Finnish firm Nokia showing different mobile phones.

1989 Nordbräu Ingolstadt

Nordbräu Ingolstadt

Publicity pack for the German brewery Nordbräu with Bavarian pattern courts (adapted).

1969 Wicküler Skat

Wicküler Skat

Publicity pack for the German brewery Wicküler with courts merrily drinking beer.

1994 Deutsche Dampflokomotiven

Deutsche Dampflokomotiven

German steam locomotives from the period 1892 to 1950.

1988 Mercedes-Benz Skat

Mercedes-Benz Skat

Classy-looking designs by Monika Dostler for a manufacturer of posh cars.

1995 Bahlsen Skat

Bahlsen Skat

Publicity pack for a German food company, featuring some of their products.

Calliope: a Renaissance band

Calliope: a Renaissance band

Facsimile of cards attributed to Hans Schäufelein (c. 1480-1540) produced by ‘Calliope’, a New York ...