Illustrated piquet cards

Published December 10, 2023 • Updated December 17, 2023

Bavarian piquet cards with oriental illustrations produced by Andreas Benedict Göbl, Munich, late 18th c.

German suited piquet cards by Andreas Benedict Göbl, Munich, single-ended, engraved with hand-coloured illustrations. Court cards show oriental characters all wearing thin moustaches. The lower and upper knaves hold their suit signs low or high, respectively, with seated, bald-headed ‘kings’ - no crowns - distinguished with two suit symbols. The number cards are decorated with humorous vignettes depicting musicians and other scenes. The maker’s cartouche can be seen on the eight of bells which reads “Andreas Benedict Göbl kartnfabricant in München”. The nine of bells has a lion supporting the arms of Bavaria.

Andreas Benedict Göbl, Munich, piquet pack of 32 illustrated playing-cards, late 18th century © The Trustees of the British Museum

Above: Andreas Benedict Göbl, Munich, piquet pack of 32 illustrated playing-cards, late 18th century. Hand-coloured etching, backs printed with a pattern blue stars. © The Trustees of the British Museum • Museum number 1896,0501.267►

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By Simon Wintle

Spain • Member since February 01, 1996 • Contact

I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.

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Illustrated piquet cards

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