Russian Circus deck

Published November 18, 2024 • Updated November 18, 2024

The Russian Circus deck published by the Imperial Playing Card Factory, St Petersburg.

The Russian Circus deck, with German suit symbols, was published in 1898 by the Imperial Playing Card Factory in St. Petersburg. The vignettes on the 20 numeral cards depict various lively and entertaining circus performers, such as acrobats, animals, clowns, burlesque and oriental figures. The 12 court cards show four enthroned kings, with obers and unters (suit symbol up or down) wearing amusing or historical costumes. The two of bells has the tax stamp showing a pelican nurturing her young, the logo of the St Petersburg foundling hospital.

Russian Circus deck published in 1898 by the Imperial Playing Card Factory. Source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF

Above: the Russian Circus deck published in 1898 by the Imperial Playing Card Factory in St. Petersburg. 36 cards, square corners, no indices, German suit symbols. Source: Bibliothèque nationale de France

References

Bibliothèque nationale de France: Jeu de cartes à enseignes allemandes de fantaisie édité pour la Russie►

Burnett, Peter: the Russian Playing Card Monopoly►

Dominic Winter Auctioneers: on their website they indicate that many of the scenes were taken from an 1843 Industrie und Gluck tarot by Carl Holdhaus • Lot 329, 11th Oct, 2023►

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