Wiener Pattern – Nuremberg Version

This 24-card deck by Nürnberger Spielkarten Verlag (NSV) is identical or nearly identical to a version published by Berliner Spielkarten (BS) in 1998, which itself was a modernized reissue of BS’s Wiener Bild I from 1983. The striking similarity strongly suggests that NSV reused or reprinted the BS design after BS ceased operations in 2000. While the design remained the same, the card size differs: BS’s updated format measured 65 × 100 mm, whereas the NSV edition is slightly narrower.

The deck follows the Austrian large-crown Wiener pattern, beginning at the 9s. The Jack of Clubs in this edition includes NSV’s logo, full company name, and article number, clearly identifying it as an NSV production.

The election-themed packaging confirms a production date of 2014. By this time, NSV was already transitioning away from traditional playing card production in favor of modern tabletop game development, making such traditional issues increasingly rare and poorly documented.

Above: Wiener Pattern manufactured by Nürnberger Spielkarten Verlag, 2014. 24 cards.

Note from Roddy Somerville

Berliner Spielkarten (BS) issued an almost identical pack in 1998 (only two years before they ceased production) which was an updated version of their Wiener Bild I dating from 1983.¹

To me the most striking differences between old and new are on the Jack of Spades (in the new version he sports a moustache) and on the Queen of Diamonds (whose garment has a completely new pattern). In fact, when one looks closely at the new BS version, only three of the cards have been 'modernised' or made to look more youthful: the King of Spades, the Jack of Spades and the Queen of Diamonds. The same is true of the NSV version.

Above: Berliner Spielkarten Wiener Bild I dating from 1983.

Above: Berliner Spielkarten Wiener new version dating from 1998.

From the look of the NSV version, the cards are narrower than the BS ones which measure 65 x 98 mm (old) or 65 x 100 mm (new).

Did NSV adopt the BS designs when Berliner ceased production or were they simply copying each other? Without knowing the exact date of the Nuremberg version, it is difficult to say whether the BS or the NSV version came first.

References

1. Petri, Dr. Thomas. Braun Band 13: Die Berliner Spielkarten GmbH; 2002. pp48-49, BS 1983/4.

• Nürnberger-Spielkarten-Verlag►