The court cards and Aces each feature four portraits of famous theatre stars from the 1890s inside round frames, against a background pattern based on traditional court cards.
The theme of steamboats navigating up and down the Mississippi also extended to the cotton plantations alongside the river and to African American people employed therein who were sometimes depicted on the special Joker card.
‘Trans-Siberian Express’ playing cards designed by Veronika Nicolaeva, Az-Art Publishing House, St. Petersburg, Russia, 2015
Hand-drawn transformation cards, c.1880
Hand-drawing ‘Transformation’ playing cards was a popular pastime 200 years ago
Translucent Playing Cards made by an unknown maker, c.1850
“Under the Sea” transformation playing cards, published in 2005 to raise money for the Marine Stewardship Council, an environmental charity which promotes sustainable fishing practices
Early German deck by unknown maker, c.1825
Until the 19th century playing cards were imported into Uruguay from Spain.
One of a series of sumptuous Venice Simplon-Orient-Express playing cards produced by B.P. Grimaud for the VSOE gift collection. The 3/4 length court cards depict people in Oriental costumes.
Stefano Vergnano’s Tarot and playing card factory holds a special place in the history of the Tarot.
Playing cards commemorating Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, manufactured by Chas Goodall & Son, 1897
‘Vienna pattern’ derived from archaic Lyon pattern by Ferd Piatnik & Söhne A.G., c.1926-1934
Transformation cards designed and engraved by Vincenz Raimund Grüner, Vienna, 1809
Virginie Houdet “Cartes à Jouer” limited edition, 2017.
John Waddington Limited was a leading producer of playing cards and card games in the UK during the period 1922-1995. The company had been founded in the nineteenth century by Mr John Waddington and Wilson Barratt as Waddingtons Ltd.
Stylistically, the deck fits easily into the Dondorf “luxury card” group. The deck was produced for the Danish firm Adolph Wulff of Copenhagen in c.1928-35.
Wüst Spanish pattern c.1910 advertising Cuban ‘Tropical’ beer.
Cards from a pack of an early form of north Italian playing cards, with the swords back-to-back and curved outwards. Believed to be Venetian, dated 1462.
French suited German engraved cards c1610 to 1650
Zodiac Bridge was designed by René Marcel Rivière and printed by AGM Müller in c.1975. A different sign of the zodiac appears on the clothing of each court card figure.
