International Playing Cards
De la Rue: “International Playing Cards”
For the marriage of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Alexandra of Russia on 23 January 1874.
Designed by Reuben Townroe (1835‑1911), who also designed the ornamented terra cotta work on the exterior of the Royal Albert Hall in London, the court cards have fine attention to detail and are portrayed as follows:
| Aces | Kings | Queens | Jacks | |
| Spades | The President of USA | Crown Prince of Russia | Empress of Austria | Gendarme |
| Hearts | Our Queen | King of the Belgians | The Princess of Wales | Scotland Piper |
| Clubs | German Emperor | King of Italy | Princess of Germany | Switzerland Guide |
| Diamonds | Emperor of Russia | The Prince of Wales | The Queen of Greece | Spain Matador |
The backs show the Royal Arms of England, with those of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha on a shield of pretence. Below is the double-headed eagle of Prussia, with George and Dragon on a shield of pretence. The whole is surrounded with an ornamental design composed of oak leaves, acorns, thistles, shamrocks and roses.
Above: “International Playing Cards” for the marriage of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Alexandra of Russia on 23 January 1874, printed by De la Rue & Co., London. The court cards are double-ended with no indices, the Aces are single-ended with small corner suit symbols. From the collection of Barney Townshend.
REFERENCES
EPCS Newsletter October 2000 p76. Reprinted from an article in The Times of Thursday 3rd December 1874.