Rare promotional German skat deck, customised for the 2008 Thüringen Women's Tour. The game was produced in Altenburg by ASS. To put things in context, the Thuringen Women's Tour ace was held (under different names) from 1986 (back then Thuringia was in West Germany) almost uninterruptedly until 2024. However, the 2025 edition was cancelled after funding from the state government was withdrawn. At the moment of writing, the future of the race is not clear. On the other hand, Altenburg, in Turingia, is sometimes referred to as "playing card town". The Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik (playing card factory) was founded in 1831. ASS (which stands for "Altenburger und Stralsunder Spielkartenfabrik") is self-described as "the oldest known company in the field of playing card development and production in Europe".

 

In case you do not know, skat is the most popular card game in Germany and other Central European countries. It is played with a 32-card deck, which can be either of the French (international) type (with clubs, spades, hearts, and diamonds) or with traditional German cards (whose suits are acorns, leaves, hearts, and bells). Furthermore, many regions have their own pattern (Bild) which features their own unique artwork or number of cards.

 

In this case the cards are of the Altenburger pattern, often refered to simply as "German pattern" (Deutsches Bild). Face cards are unmodified (and beautiful!)

However, number cards are specially customised for this deck.

You may want to check the spielkarten.de website mentioned on the back of the cards.

Thanks Daniela & Thomas for this deck!

Description written in June 2025.

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