Merz Pharma Skat
Comic designs promoting Merz Pharma, a German drug company.
Merz Pharma is a family-owned German drug company specialising in the fields of aesthetic medicine, therapeutic medicine, and wellness and beauty products. One particular product, Memantine®, is advertised on the backs of these cards. Memantine is a medication used to slow the progression of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease. Akatinol is one of the brand names under which it is marketed. The relationship with the double-ended comic designs on the faces of these cards is unclear, except that most of the characters seem to be enjoying life – perhaps as a result of taking their medication?
Above: Merz Pharma Skat deck made by Berliner Spielkarten GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany, 1989. 32 cards + 1 extra card in clear plastic box. Size: 59 x 90 mm. The artist is uncredited.
Reference
Petri, Dr. Thomas. Braun Band 13: Die Berliner Spielkarten GmbH; 2002. p.68, BS 1989/6.
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.
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