German-Suited Playing Cards: A Photographic Archive
A Gallery of Regional Patterns with Historical and Modern Decks
A Visual Archive of Standard Patterns
GERMAN-SUITED PLAYING CARDS
LAST UPGRADE: 15.08.2026
Selected deck:
INV 2736 | A double-headed Nuremberg-style pack made by Frommann & Morian
Main conventional patterns
single-headed
double-headed
pattern name
Nuremberg pattern[ENDS ∼1955]
Formerly also described as Ansbach pattern.
Nuremberg pattern [13]
Formerly also described as Ansbach pattern.
Nuremberg pattern [13]
| Wide size | |
| Narrow size | |
Saxon patterns
A large and complex family, with many variations.
Saxon patterns [37]
The lovers
A large and complex family, with many variations.
Saxon patterns [37]
| Old (or Altenburg) style | |
| New style [with bear] | Early double-headed |
| New Altenburg style | |
| New style [with lion] | Chemnitz style |
| Leipzig style |
The lovers
Bavarian pattern
Member of the Bavarian super-family, with piper and drummer.
Two main styles and several variants.
Bavarian pattern [37]
Member of the Bavarian super-family, with piper and drummer.
Two main styles and several variants.
Bavarian pattern [37]
| Munich style |
| Stralsund style |
Franconian pattern
Member of the Bavarian super-family.
Franconian pattern [16]
Member of the Bavarian super-family.
Franconian pattern [16]
| Nuremberg Eagle patt. | |
| Würzburg Eagle pattern | Franconian pattern |
Regensburg pattern[ENDS ∼1875]
Member of the Bavarian super-family.
Modern version, with leaves typical of Augsburg.
Regensburg pattern [1]
Member of the Bavarian super-family.
Modern version, with leaves typical of Augsburg.
Regensburg pattern [1]
Prussian patterns
Formerly, in DDR/GDR times, also known as Halle pattern.
Prussian patterns [33]
Formerly, in DDR/GDR times, also known as Halle pattern.
Prussian patterns [33]
| Prussian pattern | |
| Silesian-Polish pattern | |
Swabian patterns[ENDS ∼1930]
Formerly also known as Darmstadt pattern.
Three main declinations.
Swabian patterns [12+1]
Formerly also known as Darmstadt pattern.
Three main declinations.
Swabian patterns [12+1]
| Ulm style | |
| Darmstadt style | |
| Stralsund style | |
«Tell» patterns
The Swiss hero for the last Hungarian pattern.
Also described as «Four Seasons» & Schweizer-Deutsche pattern.
"Tell" patterns [23+2]
Type 1 (ended before 1880) is also included as reproduction.
The Swiss hero for the last Hungarian pattern.
Also described as «Four Seasons» & Schweizer-Deutsche pattern.
"Tell" patterns [23+2]
| Type 2 | |
| Type 3 | |
| Type 4 |
Type 1 (ended before 1880) is also included as reproduction.
New Altenburg pattern[SINCE 1966]
Also known as DDR pattern (DDR=GDR or "East Germany").
New Altenburg pattern [11]
Also known as DDR pattern (DDR=GDR or "East Germany").
New Altenburg pattern [11]
| German ranks | |
| French ranks |
Other conventional patterns
single-headed
double-headed
pattern name
Luditz/Eger pattern[ENDS ∼1912]
Luditz and Eger (Zlutice and Cheb in czech), two towns in the Sudeten region of Bohemia.
Luditz/Eger pattern [2]
Luditz and Eger (Zlutice and Cheb in czech), two towns in the Sudeten region of Bohemia.
Luditz/Eger pattern [2]
Oedenburg pattern[ENDS ∼1890]
Oedenburg, or Sopron (in hungarian), a town on the border of the two states.
Oedenburg/Sopron pattern [1]
Oedenburg, or Sopron (in hungarian), a town on the border of the two states.
Oedenburg/Sopron pattern [1]
Tyrol pattern[ENDS ∼1910]
Member of the Bavarian super-family.
Here (currently) only a variant of the older type.
Tyrol pattern [1+2]
Member of the Bavarian super-family.
Here (currently) only a variant of the older type.
Tyrol pattern [1+2]
| Older type | |
| Later type |
Bohemian double-headed patterns[ENDS ∼1940]
Lacking in the collection.
Two other double-headed versions built on the Prague pattern.
Bohemian "double-tailed lion" patterns [+2]
Lacking in the collection.
Two other double-headed versions built on the Prague pattern.
Bohemian "double-tailed lion" patterns [+2]
| Type I | |
| Type II |
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