Altenburg Playing Cards – Skat 100 Kristall – First Edition by Walter Krauß – Produced for Only Approx. 1.5 Years – from 1964 – One of a Kind

With the New Altenburg Playing Card I, Walter Krauß created one of the most unusual German playing-card designs of the GDR era in 1964. The highly exaggerated court cards are particularly striking: Kings, Obers and Unters appear colourful, distinctive and at times almost grotesquely caricatured.

What makes this first edition especially interesting is its very short production period. Introduced in 1964, the design was not permanently accepted by Skat players and remained in production for only around one and a half years before it was revised. This short run makes the first Krauß version considerably rarer today than the later Altenburg variants.

The pattern was created as part of a politically encouraged modernisation of the traditional German playing card. Among collectors, there is also a long-standing account that the caricature-like depiction of social “authority figures” may have caused political reservations. However, no definitive historical evidence for this interpretation is currently known.

Its short production period, unmistakable visual language and clear distinction from the much more common later versions make this deck a particularly interesting piece of Altenburg playing-card history.

Manufacturer: VEB Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik, Skatstadt Altenburg, GDR

Brand: COEUR

Title: Skat 100 “Kristall”

Pattern: New Altenburg Playing Card I

Design: Walter Krauß

Date: 1964

First edition

Produced for only approx. 1.5 years

32 cards, complete Skat deck

German double-ended pattern

Suits: Acorns, Leaves, Hearts and Bells

Card size: approx. 57.5 × 87.5 mm

Green and white symmetrical ornamental back design

Original “Skat 100 Kristall” tuck box

Cards in very good age-appropriate condition

Original box in good age-appropriate condition; the closing flap at the opening is no longer present

A rare collector’s item with an exceptionally short production history and distinctive GDR design – far less common than the later Altenburg editions.

The deck has been checked by me, stored carefully and is in the condition described.
Shipping is carried out carefully packed via DHL with tracking.
If you have any questions or would like additional detailed photos, I will be happy to help. This is an original one-of-a-kind item.