Cartes Comiques, 1870-1888
“Cartes Comiques”, published by B. Dondorf, printed by chromolithography, c.1870-1888.
B. Dondorf (1833-1933), Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Cartes Comiques is an early deck published by B. Dondorf, adorned with burlesque caricatures by an unidentified artist on all 52 cards. The Four Aces and Court cards each show full-length figures printed by chromolithography in six colours, along with the standard French suit symbols. There are no indices except on the Aces and numeral cards. The numeral cards 2 to 10 are illustrated in two tones with the suit symbols superimposed in black or red.
Above: the Four Aces and 12 Court cards from “Cartes Comiques”, published by B. Dondorf, 52 cards (no Joker), printed by chromolithography, square corners, 65mm x 94mm, c.1870-1888. The maker's name appears on the Jack of Clubs as "B. Dondorf, Frankfort a/M" and the cardboard case has the inscription "Cartes Comiques, Tarotè Rouge et Noir. Entières No. 361". Images courtesy Barney Townshend.
Above: the numeral cards from “Cartes Comiques”, published by B. Dondorf, 52 cards (no Joker), printed by chromolithography, square corners, 65mm x 94mm, c.1870-1888. The reverse shows Cinderella and the Prince in a casement window, their faces forming a Heart and Diamond, with Club and Spade in vignettes below. Images courtesy Barney Townshend.
Right: detail from the Ace of Hearts showing the tax stamps →
See also: Dondorf Homepage • Dondorf Spanish Pack • Four Continents, c.1870 • Four Continents Patience • Club Karte • Tarot Microscopique, c.1870 • Gaigel-Karten • Whist No.80 • Whist No.151 / Portuguese German-style deck • Whist No.192 / Shakespeare-Spielkarte • Lenormand Cards • Poker No.140 • Neue Klubkarte No.422 • Kinder-Karte • Deutsches Luxusbild No.417 • Promotion deck for Saks & Company, New York, c.1930 • Superfine Playing Cards No.1101 • Dondorf patience book
By Barney Townshend
United Kingdom • Member since October 06, 2015 • Contact
Retired Airline Pilot, interested in: Transformation Playing Cards, Karl Gerich and Elaine Lewis. Secretary of the EPCS. Treasurer of the IPCS.
Related Articles
Englische Karten nr.190
Dondorf Nr.190“Englische Karten”, 1867-1895.
Empire No.170
The Queens, who wear short sleeved dresses with bonnets adorned with chin straps and roses, hold a r...
Birma Karte or Englische Karten
Based upon older ‘standard’ patterns, the Kings and Queens are three-quarter length figures whilst t...
Medicaer Spielkarte No.272
The deck has Italian indices (A, R, D, F) and was probably produced for the Italian market. The four...
Hauptstadte Spiel
Each Ace shows views of two European capital cities.
Luxus Club Karte No.184
Another of Dondorf's masterpieces of chromolithography, the detailed artwork on these cards has mult...
Whist No.178 ‘Stuart Zeit’
Although not historically accurate this example is subtitled “Stuart period”, with rich costumes cre...
Rokoko-Bild No.158
This pattern was published between 1889-1933, at first with no Joker, which was added in 1906 along ...
Einköpfige Deutsche Spielkarte No.303
Dondorf's ‘Einköpfige Deutsche Spielkarte No.303’ (‘Single-ended German Playing Cards’) were produce...
Mittelalter No.150
These designs imitating late medieval costumes were published by B. Dondorf in Germany in various ed...
B. Dondorf GmbH: Neue Klubkarte No.422
The designs are a meld between the standard international pattern and German-style French-suited car...
Deutsches Luxusbild
The court cards in this well designed double-ended pack are realistically dressed in 16th century co...
Gaigel-Karten
The Valets in this deck appear in costumes of the Biedermeier period, portraying sentimental and pio...
Club Karte
There have been many variations in the design of “Club Karte” including the introduction of borders,...
Saks-Werbespiel
Promotional playing cards printed by Dondorf for Saks & Company, New York, late 1920s.
Vier-Erdteile c.1870
Dondorf's Luxus-Spielkarte “Vier-Erdteile” (“Four Continents”) was first published in c.1870 and has...
Dondorf Tarot Court Cards
Dondorf Tarot Court Cards.
Dondorf Tarot Aces
The four suits are associated with four countries: Clubs = Germany, Diamonds = UK, Spades = Russia a...
Tarot Microscopique
French-suited tarot cards made by B. Dondorf, c.1870.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
