Swiss playing cards by Iehan Hemau
17th century Swiss-suited playing cards by Iehan Hemau of Épinal.
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►
By Simon Wintle
Spain • Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
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