Bavaria pattern

The Deuce of hearts features a blindfold cupid within an elaborate frame. The maker’s name appears on the 8 of hearts: “Joseph Fetsche b. Karten-Fabricant in Munchen” and the king of hearts supports a cartouche bearing the maker’s mark and initials. The king of bells supports a cartouche charged with the arms of Bavaria.

The deuce of bells shows a boarhound attacking a boar; the deuce of acorns shows a boy sitting on a barrel holding a tankard. The numeral cards show little vignettes depicting leisure pastimes. The designs are very old and several of the court cards resemble those from the Franconian pattern.

Above: Classic Bavaria pattern by Joseph Fetscher, 36 cards, hand-coloured woodcut, backs printed with a pattern of blue spots, early 19th century. The seven of hearts shows the tax stamp in use in Bayern from 1826 to c. 1837. © The Trustees of the British Museum • Museum number 1896,0501.261►

References

Endebrock, Peter: playing-card pages: Tax Stamps from German States►

Mann, Sylvia: Collecting Playing Cards, Arco Publications, 1966

Mann, Sylvia: All Cards on the Table, Jonas Verlag/Deutsches Spielkarten-Museum, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, 1990

O’Donoghue, Freeman M: Catalogue of the collection of playing cards bequeathed by Lady Charlotte Schreiber (German 24), Trustees of the British Museum, London, 1901 [digital version here]