Dondorf Tarot Court Cards 1 • 2 • 3
B. Dondorf (1833-1933), Frankfurt am Main.
The four suits are associated with four countries: Clubs = Germany, Diamonds = UK, Spades = Russia and Hearts = France. Whilst the four pictorial Aces show nationally symbolic buildings from each country, the court cards depict eminent persons. See also: The Trumps • The Four Aces.
Above: sixteen court cards from Dondorf's Tarot Microscopique, chromolithography, c.1926. Images courtesy Barney Townshend. See also: The Trumps • The Four Aces.
By Barney Townshend
Member since October 06, 2015
View ArticlesRetired Airline Pilot, interested in: Transformation Playing Cards, Karl Gerich and Elaine Lewis. Secretary of the EPCS. Treasurer of the IPCS.
Recommended
71: Woodblock and stencil: the hearts
A presentation of the main characteristics of the wood-block courts of the heart suit.
68: Playing cards in glass
My wife and I have recently commissioned a unique pair of stained glass windows for our home.
63: The descendants of the French regional patterns: 1
A great many regional patterns were exported from France and subsequently copied elsewhere. Some of them became local standards in their own right.
62: French regional patterns: the queens and jacks
Continuing our look at the figures from the regional patterns of France.
Modern English Court
Modern English court style by Games & Print Services Limited, c.1997.
Nine Lives Playing Cards
Nine Lives Playing Cards designed by Annette Abolins, 2016
51: Some modern variation
A brief survey of some of the current variation in the standard English pattern.
49: De La Rue in detail
A detailed presentation of the variants of De La Rue's standard cards.
Sands & McDougall Court Cards
Sands & McDougall Court Cards
33: Functional Changes to Playing Cards
The emphasis throughout my collecting has been on the design of the courts cards, and it should be pointed out that there have been some functional changes to cards, which have affected the traditional designs, especially in the 19th century.
Rowley & Co - “Monarchs of Europe”
In around 1775 Rowley & Co attempted to reform the traditional court cards to portraits of the kings and queens of England, France, Spain and Russia.
Hycrest Modern Royalty
Published by the Hycrest Playing Card Co., New York, c.1931. The large suit symbol behind each figure enhances the visual impact of the deck, as does the splendid back design & Joker.
Carnival Playing Cards, 1925
The Carnival Playing Card deck designed by Harry D. Wallace (1892-1977) and first published in 1925.
20: English Card-Makers 1761-1905
An initial survey of 19th century playing-card production. More detailed information appears on other pages.
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 and Hearts = France.
Dondorf Tarot
Dondorf's “Microscopique Tarock“ was first published in c.1870. The scenes portrayed at each end of the trump cards are marvels of miniature graphic artwork and printing.
6: Some Non-Standard Cards
I only collect the English standard, but I thought it would be a good idea to add some different types of card from time to time.
Tarot Microscopique
French-suited tarot cards made by B. Dondorf, c.1870.
Traditional English Court
Games & Print Services Ltd traditional English courts.
History of Court Cards
The court cards in English packs of playing cards derive from models produced by Pierre Marechal in Rouen around 1565. A pack of such cards is preserved in the museum at Rouen.
Pippoglyph
Pippoglyph Playing Cards by Ben Crenshaw © 2004