Schwarzer Peter Quartett

Published June 23, 2014 • Updated July 23, 2022

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

This “Schwarzer Peter Quartett” game was published by VEB Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik, designed by Werner Gieseke with cartoons by Wilhelm Busch, c.1960. Wilhelm Busch (1832-1908) was one of Germany's greatest humourous poets and a pioneer of the modern comic strip. The comic rhymes describe the antics and adventures of characters such as Max and Moritz who are seen in the first set stealing and roasting chickens. Further picture stories depict insubordinate behaviour, mockery of petty-bourgeoisie, children getting the better of adults and the antics of animals with human characteristics and impulses, often meeting with a grisly end. In all cases Busch's poetic verses and expressive cartoons guarantee their instant appeal.

The game can be played as a normal Quartet game (‘Happy Families’) or as ‘Schwarzer Peter’ (‘Old Maid’) by adding the extra card (shown left) to the pack.

Above: “Schwarzer Peter Quartett” game published by VEB Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik.

A higher resolution image of the cards can be downloaded here.

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By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

United Kingdom • Member since January 30, 2009

Rex's main interest was in card games, because, he said, they were cheap and easy to get hold of in his early days of collecting. He is well known for his extensive knowledge of Pepys games and his book is on the bookshelves of many. His other interest was non-standard playing cards. He also had collections of sheet music, music CDs, models of London buses, London Transport timetables and maps and other objects that intrigued him.

Rex had a chequered career at school. He was expelled twice, on one occasion for smoking! Despite this he trained as a radio engineer and worked for the BBC in the World Service. Later he moved into sales and worked for a firm that made all kinds of packaging, a job he enjoyed until his retirement. He became an expert on boxes and would always investigate those that held his cards. He could always recognize a box made for Pepys, which were the same as those of Alf Cooke’s Universal Playing Card Company, who printed the card games. This interest changed into an ability to make and mend boxes, which he did with great dexterity. He loved this kind of handicraft work.

His dexterity of hand and eye soon led to his making card games of his own design. He spent hours and hours carefully cutting them out and colouring them by hand.