DDR Skat Playing Cards by Altenburger in a Burgundy Leather Case, French-Suited Deck – from 1987 – One-of-a-Kind

Original DDR Skat set from 1987: This distinctive set combines a Skat deck produced by the VEB Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik with a high-quality burgundy card case made from genuine pigskin leather.

The compact Skat case was manufactured by VEB Schreibgeräte, Kleinlederwaren division, in Waltershausen, East Germany. Its finely grained burgundy leather surface, gold-coloured metal zipper and subtly embossed “Skat” lettering give the case a classic and refined appearance. The light brown zipper fabric provides an attractive contrast to the dark red leather.

Inside, the playing cards are securely held in place by a matching burgundy retaining strap. The original manufacturer’s label is also still preserved inside the case.

The Skat deck features a colourful French-suited double-ended pattern with the traditional suits of Clubs, Spades, Hearts and Diamonds. The detailed court cards have German letter indices. The cards are unused and remain in their original transparent packaging. Their backs feature a restrained, finely lined check pattern in brown and black.

A particularly valuable feature is the original label preserved inside the case. It identifies the manufacturer, states that the case is made from genuine pigskin leather and records the production date as “12/87”, together with the original retail price of 9.45 East German marks. The leather case can therefore be precisely dated to December 1987.

Features:

Case manufacturer: VEB Schreibgeräte, Kleinlederwaren division, Waltershausen, East Germany

Card manufacturer: VEB Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik, Altenburg, East Germany

Date of the case: December 1987

Case material: Genuine burgundy pigskin leather with a finely grained surface

Closure: Gold-coloured metal zipper with light brown fabric

Interior: Reddish-brown lining with a burgundy retaining strap

Deck: French-suited double-ended pattern with Clubs, Spades, Hearts and Diamonds

Card backs: Finely lined check pattern in brown and black

Card size: Approx. 87 × 57 mm

Case size: Approx. 10.5 × 8 × 2 cm

Original label: Preserved, with details of the manufacturer, material, price and production date

Original retail price: 9.45 East German marks

Condition: The playing cards are unused and in their original packaging; the leather case is in very well-preserved condition with age-appropriate signs of storage

An authentic piece of East German history for collectors of vintage playing cards, Skat enthusiasts and anyone interested in traditional DDR leather craftsmanship.

The playing cards have been carefully inspected and stored by me and are in the condition described.
The item will be securely packaged and shipped with DHL tracking.
If you have any questions or would like additional detailed photographs, I will be happy to help. This is an original one-of-a-kind item.