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Miniature playing cards by Joseph Fetscher

Published December 26, 2023 Updated December 28, 2023

Uncut sheet of miniature Bavarian playing cards by Joseph Fetscher.

1810 Germany Fetscher Miniature Patience Bavarian Pattern

A 36-card miniature set of playing cards on an uncut sheet by Joseph Fetscher, Munich, early 19th century. Four German suits of 9 cards: (deuce, king, over-knave, under-knave, 6-10). Beneath the suit symbols on pip cards little vignettes illustrate simple ornamental scenes. The maker’s name can be found on the six of hearts. The four kings’ shields are not clearly visible. Cards measure 14 x 17 mm.

36-card miniature playing cards by Joseph Fetscher, Munich, 19th century. © The Trustees of the British Museum

Above: uncoloured, uncut sheet of 36-card miniature playing cards by Joseph Fetscher, etching, Munich, 19th century. Backs marbled in green, red and yellow. © The Trustees of the British Museum • Museum number 1896,0129.1.61

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By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.

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