Folklore
“Folklore” by Altenburger Spielkarten Fabrik, c.1982
“Folklore” by Altenburger Spielkarten Fabrik, c.1982
This attractive “Folklore” deck was designed by Eva & Gottfried Bormann and manufactured by VEB Altenburger Spielkarten Fabrik (‘Cœur’), first published in 1968, this edition c.1982. After German reunification in 1991, the Altenburger Spielkarten Fabrik was privatized and then sold to F.X. Schmid. In 2002 Carta Mundi acquired the Altenburg playing card factory.
Above: “Folklore” deck designed by Eva & Gottfried Bormann manufactured by Altenburger Spielkarten Fabrik (Germany) first published in 1968. The ‘Cœur’ logo can be seen on the 10 of clubs. Images courtesy Matt Probert.
By Matt Probert
Member since March 02, 2012
I have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.
Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.
Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.
I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.
Related Articles
Modern Swiss-German Pattern (carta.media)
Modernizing tradition: balancing clarity and continuity in regional card design.
Tactics Design
Late modernist Japanese playing cards designed by Masayoshi Nakajo for Tactics Design.
Danao Tiāngōng Puke
Children’s playing cards based on the 1961 Chinese animated feature film 大闹天宫 (Havoc in Heaven).
The Decadent Deck
Studies in the eroticism of the female body by Inge Clayton.
Historic Shakespeare
“Historic Shakespeare” playing cards featuring Shakespearean characters by Chas Goodall & Son.
CARD-AB Miltenberg
Illustrations by Rita Stern depicting notable landmarks and scenes from the town of Miltenberg in Ge...
Sunday Night / Nichiyoubi no Yoru
An irreverent, avant-garde deck unofficially titled "Nichiyoubi no Yoru" (Sunday Night), designed by...
New Altenburg Skat cards – German DDR Pattern
Authentic Altenburger Skat cards with German suits (Acorns, Hearts, Leaves, Bells).
Emilio Tadini playing cards
Beautiful dreamlike playing card designs by Emilio Tadini.
German Travel Cards
A travel-themed educational deck helping American tourists visiting Germany.
Zürcher Festspiel 1903
Swiss-suited pack designed by Robert Hardmeyer featuring figures from art and politics.
Briefmarken-Quartett
Quartet game featuring postage stamps from the Zones of Occupation in post-WWII Germany.
Never Mind the Belote
Limited edition Belote pack with designs by a collective of 24 street artists.
Playing card designs by Franz Exler
Reconstruction of playing cards from the original 1903 designs.
MITSCHKAtzen
Clever cat designs by the Austrian artist and illustrator Willi Mitschka.
22 Pittori in 22 Arcani
Collaborative Tarot with contributions from 22 different Italian artists including Menegazzi and Tav...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days
