Aesop’s Fables
Aesop’s Fables playing cards by I. Kirk, c.1759.
Aesop was the most famous fable-teller of ancient Greece, over 2,500 years ago. He told fables on all matters where a moral could be added. Over the centuries these fables have been translated, re-told and presented in many different formats, registers and regional styles.
Above: the Boar and Ass illustration from a woodcut series of Aesop, Genoa, 1557.
Featured on this page are cards from the 1759 edition of Aesop's Fables playing cards by I. Kirk (St Paul’s Churchyard, London) based on drawings by Francis Barlow (c.1626–1704) and also from a facsimile edition of Aesop's Fable Cards published by Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (USA).
Above: Ace of Spades from the 1759 edition by I. Kirk (London) with the red tax stamp and ‘GR’ cypher. Image courtesy WCMPC►
Above: two cards from uncoloured facsimile edition of I.Kirk’s Aesop’s Fables playing cards published by Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (USA). See the Wrapper►
More Original Cards
An advertisement in the Public Advertiser for December 17, 1759 reads “Æsop's Fables exactly copied after Barlow, with fables and morals in verse, to be had of the proprietor, I. Kirk at the Grotto Toy Shop in St Paul’s Churchyard.”
Above: etching by James Kirk after Francis Barlow, c.1760. 15.9 x 17.2 cm. Courtesy The Elisha Whittelsey Collection.
Above: The Wolf & Lamb woodcut illustration and text from “Aesop, Vita et Fabulae”, Naples, 1485.
REFERENCES
Hargrave, Catherine Perry: A History of Playing Cards and a Bibliography of Cards and Gaming, Dover Publications, New York, 1966
Mann, Sylvia: All Cards on the Table, Jonas Verlag/Deutsches Spielkarten-Museum, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, 1990
Christie’s, Illuminated Manuscripts & Valuable Printed Books auction catalogue, June 1991.
Sotheby’s, Valuable Printed Books and Manuscripts auction catalogue, September 1988.
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds
A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.
From Empire to Commonwealth
Flags, locations and admission dates of 52 Commonwealth countries.
Æsop’s Fables tarot
French-suited Æsop’s fables tarot produced by Leipzig Industrie Comptoir, c.1800-1825.
House of Tudor
Randy Butterfield's House of Tudor playing cards feature detailed art in a high-quality collectible ...
Jane Austen playing cards
Jane Austen playing cards published by Prospero Art, USA, 2013.
75: Early American cards
An overview of some of the early cards made in the United States.
The Pack of Positivity
Katie Abey’s rainbow-coloured designs using crazy animals to convey motivating phrases.
On-line offsite data backup
On-line offsite data backup publicity playing cards produced by The Bunker, United Kingdom, c. 2004....
The Famous Dinosaurs Playing Cards
54 different dinosaurs, both large and small, illustrated by Cecilia Fitzsimons.
Commemorative Olympic Playing Cards
Commemorative Olympic Playing Cards produced by Waddingtons exclusively for Stanley Gibbons Antiquar...
Dorset Dialect Trails
‘Dorset Dialect Trails’ playing cards, United Kingdom, 2015.
Old West Guns
Old West Guns playing cards containing information about firearms from the Old West, USA.
Clamcleats playing cards
Clamcleats playing cards for sailors designed by Celia Allison, New Zealand, 1986.
Around the world in 54 cards
“Around the world in 54 cards” hand-coloured transformation pack produced by Peter Wood, United King...
The Journey
‘The Journey’ limited edition playing cards produced by Peter Wood, UK, 2008.
Pretty Frills
‘Pretty Frills’ playing cards promoting curtain and blind accessories.
The Origin of Patience Games in English
Jessel’s Bibliography of works in English on Playing Cards and Gaming describes “The first book on P...
The Broons and Oor Wullie playing cards
Characters from The Broons and Oor Wullie comic strips on their 75th anniversary.
History of London illustrated playing cards
A catalogue in 54 cards of some of the treasures held within the Museum of London collections.
Ladbroke Sporting Casino
Ladbroke Sporting Casino caricature cartoon playing cards, U.K, c.2006.
The Evolution of Bezique boxed sets, 1869 to 1990
The first company to register Bezique materials with Stationers’ Hall was Josh Reynolds & Son in Sep...
Gibert Jeune
Publicity pack for Gibert Jeune, the famous Parisian bookshop, with designs by James Hodges.
Goodall 1915-1916 Sample Book
Complete contents of a sample book by Goodall & Sons
Goodall 1916 Rockleigh Sample Book
Complete contents of a sample book by Goodall
Goodall 1879-1880 Sample Book
Complete contents of a sample book by Goodall & Sons
De La Rue 1932-1933 Sample Book of Advertising cards
Complete contents of a sample book of advertising cards by De La Rue
A Gardener’s Labyrinth
Photographs of flowers, herbs and vegetables by leading photographer Tessa Traeger.
Jonathan Hocus Pocus
Two sets of conjuring cards published by G. Martin, 6 Great St Thomas Apostle, London, early 19th ce...
Henley-on-Thames playing cards
Calendar events and visitor attractions to be found in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
De La Rue Pocket Guides
The 19th Century saw the production, by all of the major companies, of pocket guides or “mini-books”...
National Railway Museum
National Railway Museum with drawings by Stuart Black, United Kingdom, 1993.
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...
The Club Series by G. Bell & Sons
George Bell & Sons produced ‘The Club Series’ of books each specialising in one or more of the popul...
Hoyle v Foster: whose name should we remember?
Hoyle’s name is associated with the rules by which many games are played, particularly card games B...
UMass Amherst Libraries
UMass Amherst Libraries playing cards, USA, 2016
Cribbage Patience or Cribbage Squares
Cribbage Patience or Cribbage Squares, produced by Messrs Edward Mortimer, Halifax and London.
Hoyle and his Legacy
Edmond Hoyle (1672-1769) was an English writer who made his name by writing on whist and a selection...
Glorious Scotland
54 photographic views of Scotland by Duncan I. McEwan.
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 writers and pseudonyms
Why did so many early writers about whist and other card games feel the need to write under a pseudo...
Whist marker boxes
The Camden Whist marker was being advertised by Goodall and son in 1872 as a new product.