Swiss playing cards by Iehan Hemau

This pack is from the Bibliothèque nationale de France collection. The inscription Faictes à Espinal par Jehan Hemau can be read from several cards. As Épinal is actually in Lorraine, France, these cards were presumably made for the Swiss market. The castle motif on the four of hawkbells also appears on the wrapper

Switzerland developed its unique suit symbols of acorns, hawkbells, roses and shields, rooted in medieval alpine symbolism, by the early 16th century if not earlier. The court cards are all male. The structure of the deck is also distinctive in that there is no Ace; numerals run from 2 (deuce), 3 through 9, with the 10 represented by a banner card and a Roman 'X' to indicate its rank, an under-knave, over-knave and king, usually seated. The banner itself resembles a heraldic or military standard and has become an enduring feature in Swiss packs. It was also known in some early German packs.*

Above: Swiss-suited playing cards by Iehan Hemau, Espinal, c.1630. 48 cards printed from woodblocks and hand-coloured using stencils. The banner 10 of shields has the initials N.G which may be the wood-cutter. Source Bibliothèque nationale de France

Notes & References

* Banner 10s were also found in some early German packs, see: Early German playing cards • • • the Painted Stuttgart cards, c.1430 • • • Peter Flötner, c.1545►

The Latin-suited pack by the South German Engraver, c.1496, has aces and banner 10s.

Bibliothèque nationale de France: Jeu de cartes à enseignes suisses►