Borna Skat

Published February 02, 2024 Updated February 02, 2024

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

1990 Germany Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik Andreas Wachter Souvenir Skat

Borna is situated 30 km southeast of Leipzig and 17 km north of Altenburg. Open-cast mining of brown coal used to shape the surrounding landscape, although efforts have been made to revegetate the landscape in recent years. Mines, mining equipment and miners’ uniforms are evident throughout this German-suited pack, together with prominent buildings and …….. onions! Yes, Borna is famous for the cultivation of onions and even had a special onion train. The manufacturer’s logo appears on the 8 of Bells. The double-ended back design features the town hall in the centre. The pack was issued in an edition of 3,600 packs.

Publicity pack for the Saxon town of Borna, with designs by Andreas Wachter, printed by Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik, Altenburg, DDR, 1990 Publicity pack for the Saxon town of Borna, with designs by Andreas Wachter, printed by Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik, Altenburg, DDR, 1990 Publicity pack for the Saxon town of Borna, with designs by Andreas Wachter, printed by Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik, Altenburg, DDR, 1990 Publicity pack for the Saxon town of Borna, with designs by Andreas Wachter, printed by Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik, Altenburg, DDR, 1990 Publicity pack for the Saxon town of Borna, with designs by Andreas Wachter, printed by Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik, Altenburg, DDR, 1990

Above: publicity pack for the Saxon town of Borna, with designs by Andreas Wachter, printed by Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik, Altenburg, DDR, 1990. 32 cards + 1 blank card in clear plastic box. Size: 57.5 x 87.5 mm. The double-ended back design features the town hall in the centre. The manufacturer’s logo appears on the 8 of Bells.

This was one of the last packs produced by Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik before German reunification. See a comic picture/postcard of the Borna onion train here

More about the history of the onion in Borna

avatar
600 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

1949 Briefmarken-Quartett

Briefmarken-Quartett

Quartet game featuring postage stamps from the Zones of Occupation in post-WWII Germany.

2000 Sannois dans les étoiles

Sannois dans les étoiles

Celebrities and buildings associated with Sannois, a commune in the suburbs of Paris.

1975 Visite Mexico

Visite Mexico

Promoting Mexican tourism with 54 different photographs in full colour.

1986 IG Chemie Papier Keramik

IG Chemie Papier Keramik

Promotional pack designed by Karl-Heinz Schroers for a German trade union with comical bears on the ...

2025 Baraja de Juan Martín Zamorano

Baraja de Juan Martín Zamorano

Deck inspired by El Pendón de los Zamorano, a military pennant dating from 1501, published by Priego...

1919 Animal Skat, Česká Grafická Unie

Animal Skat, Česká Grafická Unie

A non-standard deck from Czechoslovakia.

1987 Engel-Tarot

Engel-Tarot

Set of major arcana designed by Alois Hanslian depicting angels throughout.

1544 Virgil Solis

Virgil Solis

Remarkable pack of 52 animal-suited playing-cards designed and etched by Virgil Solis.

1990 The Glasgow Pack

The Glasgow Pack

Issued to celebrate Glasgow’s reign as European City of Culture in 1990, with city views and works o...

1979 Baraja Turística del País Vasco

Baraja Turística del País Vasco

Basque poker deck of 55 cards published by Fournier with scenic views of the Basque Country.

1983 Politiker-Skat by Bubec

Politiker-Skat by Bubec

Caricatures of world leaders, including many German politicians, by the artist Bubec.

1983 Le Poker Politique

Le Poker Politique

French politicians and various world leaders caricatured by the German artist Bubec.

2024 English Heritage

English Heritage

52 different colour photos of historic sites managed by English Heritage.

2006 Covered bridges playing cards

Covered bridges playing cards

Historical covered bridges with photography by Bill Miller, 2006.

Hispania Romana

Hispania Romana

Educational card game depicting the Roman period in Spanish history.

1996 Unimog UX 100

Unimog UX 100

Cartoons promoting the Unimog UX 100, a small truck produced by Mercedes-Benz.