Blanchard, c.1770

Cards by Blanchard, c.1770

The style of these cards is descended from the earlier seventeenth century cards of makers such as Hewson. In 1769 Charles Gibson took over Blanchard and was later joined by John Gisborne in c.1780. Charles Gibson's son Matthew joined the firm in 1798 and then linked up with Joseph Hunt in 1801 so that a continuous succession of firms comprising Gibson & Gisborne, Hunt, Hall and Bancks Brothers endured until c.1886. During this period the standard English pattern, as shown here, evolved into the modernised and double-ended version which prevailed by the end of the Victorian era.

Above: cards supposedly manufactured by Blanchard, c.1770, but with a forged Ace of Spades to avoid paying the duty. The King of hearts is wielding a battle axe, rather than a sword as in later examples. See also: Fake Blanchard duty Ace of Spades→

Queen of Clubs: “Black Bess”. This is a common nick-name, though it is difficult to pin-point the reason for it, the claim that Queen Elizabeth was swarthy of complexion being untrue. However, in Lincolnshire, the card is sometimes referred to as “Queen Bess”.

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

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Curator 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.