Illustrated piquet cards

German suited piquet cards by Andreas Benedict Göbl, Munich, single-ended, engraved with hand-coloured illustrations. Court cards show oriental characters all wearing thin moustaches. The lower and upper knaves hold their suit signs low or high, respectively, with seated, bald-headed ‘kings’ - no crowns - distinguished with two suit symbols. The number cards are decorated with humorous vignettes depicting musicians and other scenes. The maker’s cartouche can be seen on the eight of bells which reads “Andreas Benedict Göbl kartnfabricant in München”. The nine of bells has a lion supporting the arms of Bavaria.

Above: Andreas Benedict Göbl, Munich, piquet pack of 32 illustrated playing-cards, late 18th century. Hand-coloured etching, backs printed with a pattern blue stars. © The Trustees of the British Museum • Museum number 1896,0501.267►