German-Suited Playing Cards: A Photographic Archive

A Gallery of Regional Patterns with Historical and Modern Decks

GERMAN-SUITED PLAYING CARDS
The system is built on a hunting theme. Suits are hearts, bells, leaves, and acorns. Court cards are King and two Knaves, distinguished — even by name — according to position of suit symbols on card: "Ober" if at top, "Unter" if at bottom. Deuce ('2') always replaces ace, although name of the latter is often used. Full-length decks still exist, but many regional patterns have switched to double-headed cards. Most common decks consist of 32 [D789XUOK] or 36 [D6789XUOK] cards (larger packs are not standard in this system), but other compositions are also widespread. On numeral cards (where the 10s are usually marked with an 'X'), those featuring full-length designs are richly decorated with various scenes, while the double-headed versions display suit symbols on both halves.
D=Deuce | X=10 | U=Under | O=Ober | K=King
NUREMBERG PATTERN
INFOBOXFormerly also described as Ansbach pattern. Ended ∼1955.
wide size Nuremberg-style playing cards, wide single-headed Nuremberg-style playing cards double-headed Nuremberg-style playing cards, double-headed
13
SAXON PATTERN
INFOBOXA large and complex family, with many variations. Single or double-ended (refer to images).
old (or Altenburg) style Old-style (or Altenburg) Saxon playing cards new style (with bear) New-style (with bear) Saxon playing cards early double-headed New-style Saxon playing cards, early double-headed new Altenburg style New Altenburg-style Saxon playing cards new style (with lion) New-style (with lion) Saxon playing cards Chemnitz style Chemnitz-style Saxon playing cards Leipzig style Leipzig-style Saxon playing cards
37
HANNOVER PATTERN
INFOBOXFormerly also known as «Kavalierskarten» pattern. Ended ∼1920.
single-headed only Hannover-style playing cards
2
BAVARIAN PATTERN
INFOBOXMember of the Bavarian super-family, with piper and drummer. Two main styles and several variants. Includes a facsimile of the Bavarian Soldiers pattern.
Munich style: single-headed Munich-style Bavarian playing cards, full-length figures Munich style: double-headed Munich-style Bavarian playing cards Stralsund style: single-headed Stralsund-style Bavarian playing cards, full-length figures Stralsund style: double-headed Stralsund-style Bavarian playing cards
37
SALZBURG PATTERN
INFOBOXVariant of the Bavarian pattern.
single-headed only Salzburg-style playing cards
8
FRANCONIAN PATTERN
INFOBOXMember of the Bavarian super-family.
Nuremberg type: single-headed only Franconian-style (Nuremberg Eagle) playing cards, full-lenght figures Würzburg type: single-headed Franconian-style (Würzburg Eagle) playing cards, full-lenght figures Würzburg type: double-headed Franconian-style playing cards
16
REGENSBURG PATTERN
INFOBOXMember of the Bavarian super-family. Modern version, with leaves typical of Augsburg. Ended ∼1875.
single-headed only, modernized Regensburg-style playing cards, modernized
1
PRAGUE PATTERN
INFOBOXMember of the Bavarian super-family.
single-headed Prague-style playing cards double-headed (Brandl type) Prague-style playing cards, double-headed
8+1
PRUSSIAN PATTERN
INFOBOXFormerly, in DDR/GDR times, also known as Halle pattern. In Polish Silesia, double-headed only.
single-headed Prussian-style playing cards, full-lenght figures double-headed Prussian-style playing cards Silesian-Polish pattern Silesian-Polish-style playing cards
33
SWABIAN PATTERN
INFOBOXFormerly also known as Darmstadt pattern. Despite being divided into three styles, the Stralsund one is, in fact, a different pattern. Ended ∼1930.
Ulm style: single-headed Ulm-style Swabian playing cards, full-length figures Ulm style: double-headed Ulm-style Swabian playing cards Darmstadt style: single-headed Darmstadt-style Swabian playing cards, full-length figures Darmstadt style: double-headed Darmstadt-style Swabian playing cards Stralsund style: double-headed only Stralsund-style Swabian playing cards
12+1
WURTTEMBERG PATTERN
INFOBOXDevised by Wüst, combining figures from his other decks. The only German pattern with Obers on horseback.
double-headed only Württemberg-style playing cards
18
«TELL» PATTERN
INFOBOXThe Swiss hero for the last Hungarian pattern (not used in Switzerland). Also described as «Schweizer-Deutsche» and "Four Seasons" pattern. Type 1 (ended before 1880) is also included as a facsimile. Double-headed only.
Type 2 'Tell' playing cards, type 2 Type 3 'Tell' playing cards, type 3 Type 4 'Tell' playing cards, type 4
23+2
LEMBERG PATTERN
INFOBOXAlso known as «Mohren-Deutsche». Ended ∼1970.
single-headed only Lemberg-style playing cards
17
NEW ALTENBURG PATTERN
INFOBOXAlso known as DDR pattern (DDR=GDR or East Germany). Introduced in 1966 to supersede the Saxon and Prussian patterns. Double-headed only.
German ranks New Altenburg-style (or DDR) playing cards French ranks New Altenburg-style (or DDR) playing cards, French ranks
11
WALLERSTEIN PATTERN
INFOBOXA minor Bavarian pattern. Ended ∼1910.
double-headed only Wallerstein-style playing cards
1
STRALSUND PATTERN
INFOBOXEnded ∼1880.
single-headed only Stralsund-style playing cards
1
LINZ PATTERN
INFOBOXAlso known as «Raddreher» ("Wheel Turner") pattern. Ended ∼1885.
single-headed only Linz-style playing cards
1
STYRIAN PATTERN
INFOBOXMore accurately, Styria-Graz pattern. Ended ∼1890.
single-headed only Styrian-style playing cards
1
LUDITZ/EGER PATTERN
INFOBOXLuditz and Eger (Zlutice and Cheb in Czech), two towns in the Sudeten region of Bohemia. Ended ∼1912.
single-headed only Luditz-style playing cards
2
OEDENBURG PATTERN
INFOBOXOedenburg, or Sopron (in Hungarian), a town on the border of the two states. Ended ∼1890.
single-headed only Oedenburg-style playing cards
1
BOHEMIAN DOUBLE-HEADED PATTERNS
INFOBOXAlthough divided into types, they form two distinct patterns: the first retains all essential Bavarian elements, while the other diverges sharply. Grouped here to illustrate their shared stylistic lineage. Ended ∼1940.
Type I Bohemian-style playing cards, double-headed (type I) Type II Bohemian-style playing cards, double-headed (type II)
2+1
TYROL PATTERN
INFOBOXMember of the Bavarian super-family. Single-headed only. Ended ∼1910.
Older type Older Tyrol-style playing cards Later type Later Tyrol-style playing cards
1+2
All other decks (by country):
AUSTRIA sample: «Andreas Hofer» Austrian playing cards, German suits, 'Andreas Hofer'
5
BOHEMIA-MORAVIA
INFOBOXThe area of today's Czech Republic.
sample Bohemian (Czech) playing cards, German suits
7
CROATIA preview Croatian playing cards, German suits
1
GERMANY sample: «Welt Spielkarte» German playing cards, German suits, 'Welt Spielkarte'
10
gallery: East Germany (DDR) East German playing cards, German suits
9
gallery: reproductions German playing cards, German suits, 'Welt Spielkarte'
13
HUNGARY sample Hungarian playing cards, German suits
3
RUSSIA preview Russian playing cards, German suits
1
SLOVAKIA preview Slovak playing cards, German suits
1
Home Fre Ger Swi Spa Ita Mix

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 UPDATED: 19 SEP 2026

Selected deck:
A double-headed Nuremberg-style pack made by Frommann & Morian
INV 2736 | A double-headed Nuremberg-style pack made by Frommann & Morian

Main conventional patterns
single-headed
double-headed
pattern name
Nuremberg-style playing cards, wideNuremberg-style playing cards
Nuremberg-style playing cards, double-headed
Nuremberg pattern[ENDS ∼1955]

Formerly also described as Ansbach pattern.
Nuremberg pattern [13]

Wide size  
Narrow size
Old-style (or Altenburg) Saxon playing cardsNew-style (with bear) Saxon playing cardsNew-style (with lion) Saxon playing cards
New-style Saxon playing cards, early double-headedNew Altenburg-style Saxon playing cardsChemnitz-style Saxon playing cardsLeipzig-style Saxon playing cards
Saxon pattern

A large and complex family, with many variations.
Saxon pattern [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 
Hannover-style playing cards
Hannover pattern[ENDS ∼1920]

Formerly also known as «Kavalierskarten» pattern.
Hannover pattern [2]
Munich-style Bavarian playing cards, full-length figuresStralsund-style Bavarian playing cards, full-length figures
Munich-style Bavarian playing cardsStralsund-style Bavarian playing cards
Bavarian pattern

Member of the Bavarian super-family, with piper and drummer. Two main styles and several variants.
Bavarian pattern [37]

Munich style
Stralsund style

Includes a facsimile of the Bavarian Soldiers pattern.
Salzburg-style playing cards
Salzburg pattern

Variant of the Bavarian pattern.
Salzburg pattern [8]
Franconian-style (Nuremberg Eagle) playing cards, full-lenght figuresFranconian-style (Würzburg Eagle) playing cards, full-lenght figures
Franconian-style playing cards
Franconian pattern

Member of the Bavarian super-family.
Franconian pattern [16]

Nuremberg type  
Würzburg type
Regensburg-style playing cards, modernized
Regensburg pattern[ENDS ∼1875]

Member of the Bavarian super-family.
Modern version, with leaves typical of Augsburg.
Regensburg pattern [1]
Prague-style playing cards
Prague-style playing cards, double-headed
Prague pattern

Prague pattern [8+1]   A Bavarian member.

"Standard" type "Brandl" type
Prussian-style playing cards, full-lenght figures
Prussian-style playing cardsSilesian-Polish-style playing cards
Prussian pattern

Formerly, in DDR/GDR times, also known as Halle pattern.
Prussian pattern [33]

Prussian pattern
  Silesian-Polish pattern
Ulm-style Swabian playing cards, full-length figures
Darmstadt-style Swabian playing cards, full-length figures
Ulm-style Swabian playing cardsDarmstadt-style Swabian playing cardsStralsund-style Swabian playing cards
Swabian pattern[ENDS ∼1930]

Formerly also known as Darmstadt pattern.
Despite being divided into three styles, the Stralsund one is, in fact, a different pattern.
Swabian pattern [12+1]

Ulm style
Darmstadt style
  Stralsund style
Württemberg-style playing cards
Wurttemberg pattern

Devised by Wüst, combining figures from his other decks.
Württemberg pattern [18]
'Tell' playing cards, type 2
'Tell' playing cards, type 3'Tell' playing cards, type 4
«Tell» pattern

The Swiss hero for the last Hungarian pattern (not used in Switzerland). Also described as «Schweizer-Deutsche» and "Four Seasons" pattern.
"Tell" pattern [23+2]

  Type 2
  Type 3
  Type 4

Type 1 (ended before 1880) is also included as a facsimile.
Lemberg-style playing cards
Lemberg pattern[ENDS ∼1970]

Also known as «Mohren-Deutsche».
Lemberg pattern [3]
New Altenburg-style (or DDR) playing cardsNew Altenburg-style (or DDR) playing cards, French ranks
New Altenburg pattern[SINCE 1966]

Also known as DDR pattern (DDR=GDR or East Germany). Introduced to supersede the Saxon and Prussian patterns.
New Altenburg pattern [11]

  German ranks
  French ranks

Other conventional patterns
single-headed
double-headed
pattern name
Wallerstein-style playing cards
Wallerstein pattern[ENDS ∼1910]

A minor Bavarian pattern.
Wallerstein pattern [1]
Stralsund-style playing cards
Stralsund pattern[ENDS ∼1880]

Stralsund pattern [1]
Linz-style playing cards
Linz pattern[ENDS ∼1885]

Also known as «Raddreher» ("Wheel Turner") pattern.
Linz pattern [1]
Styrian-style playing cards
Styrian pattern[ENDS ∼1890]

More accurately, Styria-Graz pattern.
Styrian pattern [1]
Luditz-style playing cards
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]
Oedenburg-style playing cards
Oedenburg pattern[ENDS ∼1890]

Oedenburg, or Sopron (in Hungarian), a town on the border of the two states.
Oedenburg/Sopron pattern [1]
Bohemian-style playing cards, double-headed (type I)
Bohemian-style playing cards, double-headed (type II)
Bohemian double-headed patterns[ENDS ∼1940]

Although divided into types, they form two distinct patterns.
Bohemian double-headed patterns [2+1]

  Type I
  Type II
Older Tyrol-style playing cardsLater Tyrol-style playing cards
Tyrol pattern[ENDS ∼1910]

Member of the Bavarian super-family.
Here, currently, only a variant of the older type.
Tyrol pattern [1+2]

Older type  
Later type  

All other decks (by country)
sample
sample
country (A-Z)
Austrian playing cards, German suits (1)
Austrian playing cards, German suits (2)
AUSTRIA

Austria [5]
Bohemian (Czech) playing cards, German suits
BOHEMIA-MORAVIA

The area of today's Czech Republic.
Bohemia-Moravia [7]
Croatian playing cards, German suits
CROATIA

Croatia [1]
German playing cards, German suits (1)
German playing cards, German suits (2)
GERMANY

Germany [10] | DDR/GDR [9] | Reproductions [13]
Hungarian playing cards, German suits
HUNGARY

Hungary [3]
russian playing cards, German suits
RUSSIA

Russia [1]
Slovak playing cards, German suits
SLOVAKIA

Slovakia [1]