Playing Cards from Switzerland
Above: early 16th Century Swiss woodblock printed playing cards, cloured with stencils. The acorns seem to be growing on stems, unlike anything seen in nature, see more →
Although playing cards may have first appeared in Italy or Spain, they very soon arrived north of the Alps. Early literary evidence indicates that playing cards arrived in Switzerland sometime around 1376. In 1377 A friar from Basle by the name of John described a pack of cards [‘Ludus Cartarum’] in some detail during a sermon, and a great freedom was already apparent in the composition of the pack described by him. Brother John explained that cards were painted and played with in different manners. He also added that the new game was of advantage to noblemen and to others, especially if they practice it courteously and without money. We know from prohibitions that gambling caused concern to the authorities who sought to ban or regulate it because it attracted gamblers and cheats. Alongside the printing of textiles, the humble woodblock prints of saints and playing cards were forerunners in the art of printing which gave rise to an increase in gaming dens and card sharps.
Brother John went on to say that there are four kings depicted on four cards, and each one holds a certain sign in his hand and sits upon a royal throne, and under the king are two “marechali,” the first of whom holds the sign upright in his hand, and the other holds the sign downward in his hand.
The Swiss national suit system of shields, acorns, hawkbells and flowers emerged sometime during the fifteenth century from a multiplicity of suits which had evolved in the Upper Rhine region. A distinguishing feature is the 'banner 10' which was found in packs throughout the South of Germany and especially around the Alps in the 15th and 16th centuries. The banner 10 now only survives in Swiss playing cards and is more or less counted as an ace.
An edict from Lyons in 1583 caused many French playing card makers to emigrate to Switzerland because of excessive duty on playing cards. And as new cantons joined the ancient Swiss Confederation they brought with them the customs of other lands: Italian-suited tarot cards and French-suited cards in the Paris and Lyons styles…
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