Binokel/Gaigel ( Württemberg pattern)

"Binokel/Gaigel" (Württemberg pattern), Nürnberger spielkarten verlag- 48c. ( 2 x 24)

We again have another oddity. This edition of the Württemberg pattern by Nürnberger spielkarten differs substantially from other editions. For starters, the figures look very different from other editions, but on closer examination, this edition at least follows the spirit of the design.

 Note the following differences from the more standard pattern: ( see http://anthonylesq.blogspot.sg/2011/12/wurttemberg-pattern-ass-altenburg.html)

1- The obers do not have the word "ober" written out on them in full ( as per the standard pattern)
2- The ober of leaves does not wear a turban, or carry a whip [ but he and the others ride really cute horses :) ]
3- The central row of hearts in the tens are coloured yellow and green, like the " type S" barvarian pattern
4- A champange bottle with it's cork flying out of it's neck is depicted on the ace of acorns

Berlin pattern ( FX schmid)

Berlin pattern "Skat" ( FX schmid) , 32c.
The Berlin pattern, or north German pattern as it is more properly known, is one of the more widespread patterns in germany, its use not being confined to Berlin.  The confusion of the 2 names is beacuse the pattern was first printed by a company in Berlin, who printed its address on all of the court cards.
The pattern itself is a version of the Paris pattern, which you can see here:
http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/paris-pattern-grimaud.html

Württemberg pattern , ASS altenburg

Württemberg pattern , 48 cards ( 2 x 24) , ASS altenburg.

The Württemberg pattern is somewhat of a hodge-podge. The court cards probably evolved from the courts of a Tarock ( german version of tarot) deck , hence the mounted obers in the deck ( tarot/tarock decks, needless to say, have knights).
The deck comes in two forms, the first, and less common form, is a normal 32- card deck , for playing skat, schafkopf ( sheepshead),  &c. The second, and more common form, ( shown here) is comprised of two 24-card decks united together, with the following ranks in each suit
Ace, King, Ober, Under , 10, 7
The curious ranking is because this deck is used to play the game of "binokel", in which the 10 and 7 hold special powers. This game, which my American readers may know as "pinochle" used to be played with a pair of 32 card decks, till the players threw out the non-scoring ranks of eight and nine.
Note the following features:
1- The obers have their name written out in full on them
2-The under of bells carries a knapsack
3- The aces are decorated with pictures of food and drink.

"preference" ( vienna large crown pattern)

"preference"by ASS altenburger .32 c, no indexes

Preference is a the name of a game played in Austria & Russia. The cards that you see here are of the viennese large crown patern, a highly idosyncratic pattern of that country.
Interesting features to look out are the Jack of clubs, holding an impliment that  has been described as a "carpet beater" ,but I think is actually a sort of spear. Also note the king of spades, who bears the name of the company on a sash he is wearing.
the jack of hearts bears the company's address, "IN ALTENBERG" , split between the 2 flags he is holding. This pattern also comes in a 24- card form for playing schnapsen

miniature "tell pattern" piatnik

miniature "tell pattern", by piatnik. 32 cards.
a pleasing miniature of the "william tell"/ four seasons pattern.
these cards are harldly used in Germany at all, instead being used in central europe.
Note the pip cards. they have little scenes from the wtell legend, like the death of Tell's archenemy, gessleer, on the 7 of hearts.
for a Hungarian version of this pattern, see: http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/magyar-kartya.html

Salzburger bild "Einfachdutche"

Salzburg pattern/ "Einfachdutche" ( single german)
This deck is by ASS Altenburger
it is of 36 cards.
some features to note:
- the tens, as usual, have the large romn numeral "X" on them.
- the 6 of bells, with the additional acorn and heart suit marks, on which is written "WELLI"- this card is apparently used as a sort of top trump in local games.
- as with the saxon pattern, we have charming scenes at the bottom of the cards, but they are of a more pastorial nature than the whimsical ones on the saxon patten,
This deck is also made by some Italian makers ( despite that it has german suit symbols) and in decks of 40 cards ( german decks have at most 36 cards, as here)

see also: http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/saxony-pattern-cards-single-vs-double.html

Prussian pattern cards

These beautiful cards are, sadly, it appears, no longer printed.
from the tax stamp of the ace of hearts (1st picture, topmost row, 5th from left)  was used from 1920-1931*
tthe cards were printed in Altenburg, as you can see from the 7 of bells ( 1st pic, 2nd row, 1st card)
this deck is of 32 cards, printed by lithography
the seven of hearts ( 1st picture, topmost row, 1st from left) has a faint signature on it.
A curious feature of these cards is the fact that they have only been partially double faced.

A curious feature of these cards is the fact that they have only been partially double faced.
Aldough the court cards are properly double faced, the pip cards still have illustrations on their bottom half, but more of views of germany rather than amusing scenes.

saxony pattern cards, single vs double faced

The first deck shown is a traditional saxony patter, which is, in my opinion, the prettiest of the decks to come out of Germany.

the suit of bells (2nd picture) is particularly charming.
Note the Peeping Tom on the ace ( top row, 3rd card from left) 
on the 8 of bells ( 3rd pic, 2nd row, first card from the left), there is a depiction of chickens mating.
above them are strung some sausages. nice.....

sadly, this patern is almost extinct right now. if you buy a saxon pattern, today, you would end up with the "double faced "version...

when you compare the pictures, it is easy why this is called the double faced version.
aldough this version is admittedly easier to play with, it has lost some of the  detail, like the little pictures on the bottom of the cards, ( on the eight of bells, there are neither sausages nor trysting chickens) but still, some features remain (like the roman number X on tens, and the peeping tom on the ace of bells)