South American Costumes

The court cards in this double-ended pack of 52 playing-cards produced by C. L. Wüst of Frankfurt am Main are figures of people of Brazil, Peru and Mexico, and on the aces are views of Rio de Janeiro, with titles in Portuguese. The four kings have borders decorated in the same style as the kings in the Hamburg deck made for Hanchen Rübcke (also by Wüst). The C.L.Wüst six-pointed star motif can be seen on the jack of clubs.

Above: uncut proof sheet with four aces and twelve court cards, the latter illustrating the costumes of South America. © The Trustees of the British Museum • Museum number 1896,0501.1193►

The Four Aces

The aces have different topographical or historical views in the vicinity of Rio de Janeiro at each end.  (click to flip the images).

Above: uncut sheet with four aces lacking suit-marks from a collection of engraved working proofs. © The Trustees of the British Museum • Museum number 1896,0501.1215►

References

British Museum: figures of people of Brazil, Peru and Mexico►

O’Donoghue, Freeman M: Catalogue of the collection of playing cards bequeathed by Lady Charlotte Schreiber, Trustees of the British Museum, London, 1901 (Sheets German 44 & German 222) [digital version here]

Thanks also to Paul Symons for additional research.