Hunter’s Bridge

Published October 04, 2016 Updated August 02, 2022

“Hunter’s Bridge” playing cards by ASS depicting animals and associated symbols of hunting, c.1976.

1976 Germany A.S.S. Hunting Nature & Environment Sports Bridge

“Hunter’s Bridge” playing cards by Altenburg-Stralsunder depicting animals and associated symbols of hunting, c.1976.

“Hunter’s Bridge” playing cards by ASS depicting animals and associated symbols of hunting, c.1976 “Hunter’s Bridge” playing cards by ASS depicting animals and associated symbols of hunting, c.1976

Above: “Hunter’s Bridge” playing cards by Altenburg-Stralsunder, Leinfelden, c.1976, depicting game animals and associated hunting motifs. 52 cards + 3 jokers in box. Images courtesy Rex Pitts.

avatar
775 Articles

By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

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.

Related Articles

1970 ViVa Bourg

ViVa Bourg

A distinctive deck of cards for a specific promotion.

1970 Sumo Wrestling

Sumo Wrestling

Traditional Japanese Sumo Wrestling playing cards with photograph of different wrestler on each card...

1970 Dancing

Dancing

“Dancing” playing cards manufactured by Nintendo for Torii Dance School, Osaka.

2021 Nimbus playing cards

Nimbus playing cards

Mike Steer’s weather-themed pack with suits in four colours and backs for cardistry.

2025 Agatha Christie and Playing Cards revisited

Agatha Christie and Playing Cards revisited

Agatha Christie uses card-play as a primary focus of a story, and as a way of creating plots and mot...

2019 CARD-AB Miltenberg

CARD-AB Miltenberg

Illustrations by Rita Stern depicting notable landmarks and scenes from the town of Miltenberg in Ge...

1964 New Altenburg Skat cards – German DDR Pattern

New Altenburg Skat cards – German DDR Pattern

Authentic Altenburger Skat cards with German suits (Acorns, Hearts, Leaves, Bells).

1971 German Travel Cards

German Travel Cards

A travel-themed educational deck helping American tourists visiting Germany.

1949 Briefmarken-Quartett

Briefmarken-Quartett

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

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 ...

2024 La Réussite (Sébastien Féraut)

La Réussite (Sébastien Féraut)

Sébastien Féraut’s designs inspired by the animal kingdom for a set promoting patience games.

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.

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.

1978 Modern Jass (Fredy Sigg)

Modern Jass (Fredy Sigg)

Caricatural updating of traditional Swiss Jass cards by the artist Fredy Sigg.