Crimean War Deck
1854 saw the declaration of the Crimean War and this deck was published by Wüst around, or shortly after, 1856.
Commemorative deck published by Conrad Ludwig Wüst in which the 4 aces have views of battles in the Crimea . The court cards are portraits of royal personages and generals associated with the war. The colouring and design of some of the court cards are different at each end. There are two unidentified stamps on the ace of clubs, and one on the 7 of clubs
Above: Crimean War Deck published by Conrad Ludwig Wüst c.1856. 52 double-ended cards, hand-coloured etching, square corners, no indices, backs printed in red with a small pattern. © The Trustees of the British Museum
The Crimean War was fought from October 1853 to February 1856 between the Russian Empire and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and Sardinia-Piedmont • Wikipedia►
The more recent annexation of Crimea (2014) also highlights Crimea’s strategic significance for dominance in the Black Sea area and Russia’s desires for expansion and control. Both conflicts were influenced by competing nationalist narratives.
References
British Museum: number 1896,0501.670►
O’Donoghue, Freeman M: Catalogue of the collection of playing cards bequeathed by Lady Charlotte Schreiber (German 228), Trustees of the British Museum, London, 1901 [digital version here]
By Simon Wintle
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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