Miniature Theatre playing cards

Published June 07, 2022 Updated June 13, 2022

Miniature playing cards, possibly for children, with a romantic theatrical theme. C.L. Wüst c.1890.

1890 GermanyMiniatureTheatreWüst

This wonderful miniature pack of cards, size 35 x 24 mm, was produced by C.L.Wüst of Frankfurt, Germany in about 1890. The aces seem to have a theatrical theme although it is not known if there is a connection to any particular theatrical production. The courts depict figures in historical costumes in a historic setting. The cards are finely printed in colour lithography on quite thin card. The 52 cards have a plain light blue back and came housed in a beautifully constructed straw work box in the form of a miniature book. The pack was possibly made for children or for use in a doll’s house. The maker’s name is clearly printed on the 4 of spades.

A somewhat similar miniature pack of cards of lesser quality, possibly German, is also known and can been seen on another page

Below: the straw work box which came with cards.

References : Playing Cards from the factory of C.L.Wüst, Symons/Shaw 2005. Set 37
C.L.Wüst, K.J.Schultz (private printing) 2021. Nr.42

All cards shown are from the collection of Paul Symons ©


avatar
71 Articles

By Paul Symons

Netherlands • Member since February 01, 2016 • Contact

I'm British but I have now lived in the Netherlands for more than 50 years and am still enjoying every minute of it. I started collecting playing cards in the early 1980’s after speaking with my neighbour who was at that time a croupier in a casino. I started with just collecting jokers, but that soon led me to complete packs of cards and eventually to specialising in old and antique playing cards, particularly those of C.L. Wüst of Frankfurt, Germany. I am presently the Dutch representative of the I.P.C.S. and the auctioneer at the IPCS conventions.

Related Articles

1890 Belgian Souvenir playing cards

Belgian Souvenir playing cards

made in Germany by C.L. Wüst

1920 Grimaud copy of Wüst playing cards

Grimaud copy of Wüst playing cards

A copy of Wüst house pattern 3

1890 Copies of Wüst House pattern playing cards

Copies of Wüst House pattern playing cards

both by Christian Heinrich Reuter of Nuremberg, Germany

1915 Goodall’s modernised Wüst House pattern playing cards

Goodall’s modernised Wüst House pattern playing cards

A remodelled version of the first Wüst house pattern.

1890 Goodall’s Wüst house pattern playing cards

Goodall’s Wüst house pattern playing cards

Goodall’s Wüst house pattern playing cards with scenic aces of Brazil.

1900 Wüst Costumes Suisses No.93

Wüst Costumes Suisses No.93

Two version of a Swiss souvenir pack by C.L.Wúst

1880 Renaissance Playing cards made by C.L.Wüst

Renaissance Playing cards made by C.L.Wüst

Rococo style playing cards from Frankfurt.

1915 Unnamed Scenic aces of Rio de Janeiro

Unnamed Scenic aces of Rio de Janeiro

Cards made by C.L.Wüst of Germany for Brazil

1900 Adolph Wulff  Kort No.70

Adolph Wulff Kort No.70

Playing cards for Denmark made by C.L. Wüst

1900 Decorated pip cards from C.L.Wüst

Decorated pip cards from C.L.Wüst

Several Wüst patience packs with special pip cards

1900 C.L. Wüst English pattern comparison

C.L. Wüst English pattern comparison

A review of the Ace of spades, court card, backs and joker of English pattern playing cards by Wüst ...

1967 My Fair Lady

My Fair Lady

Theatre programme in the form of a pack of cards. East Germany, c.1967.

1910 C.L.Wüst Poster Stamps

C.L.Wüst Poster Stamps

A set of advertising poster stamps for C.L.Wüst playing cards.

1900 A miniature theatrical pack of playing cards, Germany? c.1900

A miniature theatrical pack of playing cards, Germany? c.1900

This miniature pack is very similar to one made by C.L.Wúst in c.1890.

1860 Wüst Lenormand deck, c.1860

Wüst Lenormand deck, c.1860

Wüst Lenormand deck, c.1860

1811 C.L. Wüst, 1811 - 1927

C.L. Wüst, 1811 - 1927

SPIELKARTENFABRIEK VON C.L. WÜST, 1811 - 1927. A short history of the Wüst factory by Martin Shaw & ...

1875 Swiss Costumes

Swiss Costumes

Wüst's Swiss Cantons souvenir deck was published in Frankfurt in c.1875 for the emerging tourist mar...

1910 Wüst Oval Patience

Wüst Oval Patience

C. L. Wüst Oval Patience Karten No. 240, beautifully printed by chromolithography, c.1910.

1834 Schiller deck

Schiller deck

Schiller deck made by Conrad Ludwig Wüst, Frankfurt/Main, ca. 1834.

1900 Swiss Album patience

Swiss Album patience

Swiss Album patience cards by C. L. Wüst (Frankfurt), c.1900, with a different landscape on the reve...