The World of Playing Cards Logo
Published March 24, 2023 Updated April 14, 2023

Possible early astrological playing cards

Two early woodcuts that I believe to be playing cards.

Astrology Ephemera Medieval Myths & Legends Add to Collection

I am Zachary Fisher, a collector of woodcuts.

As an Atolycus, I am a "snapper up of unconsidered [Ebay] trifles," so when these two small unidentified woodcuts, both 59 x 38 mm, came up for $50 as a pair and I couldn't pass them up. They've intrigued me ever since. One is almost certainly Mercury and the other is most likely Zeus, but beyond that, I'm at a loss.

The problem is that I've not gotten closer to identifying them in the two years since I've had them. My initial hunch was that they were fifteenth or sixteen century Italian cards, but that is based on little more than a gut feeling and some resemblances in style to the period. They have no watermarks or anything I can use to identify them.

I was wondering if anyone in the playing card community could get me closer to getting a rough idea of when and where they were made.

Two early woodcuts that I believe to be playing cards

Above: both cards measure 59 x 38 mm. No watermarks or anything else to help identify. Plain backs.

avatar
1 Articles

By Zachary Fisher

Member since March 23, 2023

I'm Zachary Fisher, a collector of woodcuts.


Related Articles

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.

The making of a Bridge or Bézique marker

The making of a Bridge or Bézique marker

This post-mortem was carried out on a Bezique marker which was already falling apart.

Card Game Items and contemporary advertisements

Card Game Items and contemporary advertisements

It is often difficult to identify the origin, manufacturer and date of a card game boxed set and oth...

1981 Burgdorf Abschreckhärtetechnik

Burgdorf Abschreckhärtetechnik

Promotional pack for a German steel hardening business, with designs by Costante Costantini.

2005 Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights (1001 Nights Tarot)

Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights (1001 Nights Tarot)

This tarot deck captures the idealised Eastern world's magic from the eighteenth and nineteenth cent...

1926 Will’s Cigarettes and Auction Bridge

Will’s Cigarettes and Auction Bridge

In 1926 Will’s issued a set of 25 cigarette cards on Auction Bridge, presenting a range of hands ill...

Psychology, Numerology and playing cards

Psychology, Numerology and playing cards

Numerology assigns significance to individual digits and their combinations, considering them as sym...

A New Look at the Evolution of Whist Markers and Gaming Counters

A New Look at the Evolution of Whist Markers and Gaming Counters

This article aims to illustrate the evolution of whist and gaming counters from the 18th century to ...

Whist marker boxes

Whist marker boxes

The Camden Whist marker was being advertised by Goodall and son in 1872 as a new product.

1900 Bridge Markers and bridge scoring methods

Bridge Markers and bridge scoring methods

Bridge Markers and bridge scoring methods 1900-1930

2000 Krónikás kártya

Krónikás kártya

A German-suited pack from Hungary in honour of the millennium.

Mystery Objects

Mystery Objects

I need help in identifying the purpose of this particular piece of card-playing kit.

1788 Jeu de Cartomancie pour l’amusement des Dames

Jeu de Cartomancie pour l’amusement des Dames

Early French Cartomancy deck "for the amusement of Ladies" but also referred to as "Jeu divinatoire ...

1644 Instructive and Educational Playing Cards

Instructive and Educational Playing Cards

Playing cards with an educational and instructive purpose first trended in mid-17th century France, ...

1988 Medieval Life playing cards

Medieval Life playing cards

‘Medium Aevum’ (Medieval Life) playing cards designed by Violeta Monreal, published by Heraclio Four...

2005 Easter Playing Cards

Easter Playing Cards

Egg-shaped cards with rabbit designs in soft, pastel colours for Easter.

Possible early astrological playing cards

Possible early astrological playing cards

Two early woodcuts that I believe to be playing cards.

2005 Sweetnotes playing cards

Sweetnotes playing cards

Heart-shaped cards with sweet notes on all the backs.

2022 Wine Labels

Wine Labels

‘Pinta en Copas’ playing card-themed wine labels sold at Día Supermarkets.

1968 A New Year’s Greeting

A New Year’s Greeting

in the form of playing cards

1971 Nintendo deck with Medieval theme

Nintendo deck with Medieval theme

Courts in medieval costume holding both French and Italian/Spanish suit-signs.

2020 Acelion Cyberpunk Playing Cards

Acelion Cyberpunk Playing Cards

This cyberpunk deck by Acelion combines magic and science fiction elements, inspired by Nordic mytho...

2017 Arthurian by Kings Wild Project

Arthurian by Kings Wild Project

Arthurian Playing Cards by Kings Wild Project, a luxury playing card deck designed by Jackson Robins...

1912 Kuhn Khan

Kuhn Khan

There is little information available about the early twentieth century card game Kuhn Kahn. It firs...

Poker Patience

Poker Patience

Poker Patience, according to an early 20th century author, was "introduced so recently as the autumn...

Piquet: the game and its artifacts

Piquet: the game and its artifacts

Piquet may be the oldest card game which is still played today with origins going back to early 16th...

Goodall & Son Patience Boxed Sets

Goodall & Son Patience Boxed Sets

Goodall & Son produced a huge variety of Patience Boxed Sets at different times and for different co...

The Evolution of Whist and Bridge Boxed Sets, 1870s – 1930s

The Evolution of Whist and Bridge Boxed Sets, 1870s – 1930s

Boxed sets of cards, markers, scorers and rule booklets have been around for many decades. Some of t...

Bezique Markers, 1860-1960

Bezique Markers, 1860-1960

Bezique is a two-player melding and trick-taking game. Dr. Pole introduced Bezique to England in 186...

2015 Nipponia Playing Cards

Nipponia Playing Cards

Nipponia Playing Cards are a Japanese-themed playing cards featuring samurai, kunoichi and oiran. De...

2005 Sea Myths Playing Cards

Sea Myths Playing Cards

Morskie mify (Sea myths) designed by Lev Liberman, Russia, 2005.

1990 Phone and smart cards

Phone and smart cards

Phonecards with playing card designs.

2019 Marie and Laurent’s Wedding

Marie and Laurent’s Wedding

Wedding invitation and thank you card in the form of playing cards. France, 2019.

1911 The Jovial Cards

The Jovial Cards

Publicity items for a group of entertainers, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK, 1911.

1930 Dondorf related ephemera

Dondorf related ephemera

A few items used for advertising or displaying Dondorf playing card products.

1910 C.L.Wüst Poster Stamps

C.L.Wüst Poster Stamps

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

2020 Sirocco Playing Cards

Sirocco Playing Cards

Sirocco, nautical themed playing cards by Riffle Shuffle Playing Card Co. and designed by Nathan Ose...

1500 Gambling and Vice in the Middle Ages

Gambling and Vice in the Middle Ages

Gambling and Vice in the Hours of Charles V: card-playing in the local tavern

Wrappers

Wrappers

Playing cards were traditionally sold inside paper wrappers, which were usually thrown away.

Jeu Mythologique

Jeu Mythologique

“Jeu Mythologique” facsimile 18th century pack by J M Simon, 1983.

1983 Jeu “Gerente”

Jeu “Gerente”

Jeu “Gerente” - published by Moncar in 1983 in the “Cartes de Fantasie” series.