Hunt, 1790-1801
Packs manufactured by Hunt, c.1800.
Joseph Hunt (1790-1801) was the first in a succession of manufacturers which culminated with Bancks Brothers (1849-1889). Gibson & Hunt operated briefly (1801-1803) and were followed successively by Hunt & Son (1804-1821), Hunt & Sons (1821-1840), Hunt, Hall, Bancks & Sons (1841), A & R.O. Bancks (1841-1865) and finally Bancks Brothers (1849-1889). Hunt's earliest cards (below, top two rows) are of the old archaic style, similar to those of Blanchard and Gibson. His later cards are more simplified and stylised, and it appears that woodblock cutters produced blocks for more than one manufacturer in a similar style. Next page: Hunt & Sons►
Above: playing cards by Hunt, c.1790. The Jacks have plants growing on the ground beneath their feet, and the King of Hearts is holding an axe behind his head, rather than a sword as in later examples. The soiling on the cards shows where the players' thumbs have been holding the cards.
Above: Interesting pack supposedly manufactured by Hunt, c.1800, but probably a Belgian fake. A previous owner has hand-written some notes on the back of a card. The court cards are all slightly smaller than the numeral cards, leading the previous owner to believe that this was a cheating deck, or possibly a conjurer's deck. [Images courtesy Juan José Ruiz]
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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Jerry Azara
09 June 2022, 18:08i have a full deck of 1830 hunt @sons poker deck ace stamped duty one shelling how do i find value of deck
Simon Wintle
09 June 2022, 18:24Dear Jerry, this is a difficult question to answer without actually handling the deck, but please see our article on this subject.
https://www.wopc.co.uk/blogs/ken-lodge/playing-cards-rarity-value-sellers