The World of Playing Cards Logo

Possible early astrological playing cards

Published March 24, 2023 Updated April 14, 2023

Two early woodcuts that I believe to be playing cards.

Astrology Ephemera Medieval Myths & Legends

I am Zachary Fisher, a collector of woodcuts.

As an Atolycus, I am a "snapper up of unconsidered [Ebay] trifles," so when these two small unidentified woodcuts, both 59 x 38 mm, came up for $50 as a pair and I couldn't pass them up. They've intrigued me ever since. One is almost certainly Mercury and the other is most likely Zeus, but beyond that, I'm at a loss.

The problem is that I've not gotten closer to identifying them in the two years since I've had them. My initial hunch was that they were fifteenth or sixteen century Italian cards, but that is based on little more than a gut feeling and some resemblances in style to the period. They have no watermarks or anything I can use to identify them.

I was wondering if anyone in the playing card community could get me closer to getting a rough idea of when and where they were made.

Two early woodcuts that I believe to be playing cards

Above: both cards measure 59 x 38 mm. No watermarks or anything else to help identify. Plain backs.

avatar
1 Article

By Zachary Fisher

Member since March 23, 2023

I'm Zachary Fisher, a collector of woodcuts.


Leave a Reply

Default Avatar
Your Name
Just now

Create account to comment Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here.


Related Articles

1988 Il Tarocco Mitologico

Il Tarocco Mitologico

Fully pictorial Tarot designed by Amerigo Folchi with figures mainly from Greek mythology.

1972 Les Jeux de Pastor

Les Jeux de Pastor

Striking designs by Edouard Pastor focusing on the heads of figures from the medieval period.

1971 Le Jeu des Personnages de l’Antiquité et du Moyen-Age

Le Jeu des Personnages de l’Antiquité et du Moyen-Age

Edouard Pastor’s designs in black and gold inspired by Antiquity and the Middle Ages.

Heathen Divinities

Heathen Divinities

Handmade playing cards from the British Museum depicting classical Greek and Roman gods and goddesse...

2010 Grunwald 1410 – The Battle of Tannenberg

Grunwald 1410 – The Battle of Tannenberg

Details from the famous painting of the Battle of Grunwald (1410) by the Polish painter Jan Matejko....

1994 Medieval Heraldry

Medieval Heraldry

53 cards of original hand painted prints taken from medieval manuscripts.

1975 Hanuman and the Five Riders

Hanuman and the Five Riders

A selection cards showing characters from the 1975 Thai-Japanese film.

2018 Euskal Herriko Mitologia

Euskal Herriko Mitologia

Important figures from Basque mythology, named in four languages.

2002 Valhalla spillekort

Valhalla spillekort

Characters from the Valhalla comics, designed by Peter Madsen, as commemorated on a Danish stamp.

2019 Liber Ludorum

Liber Ludorum

Liber Ludorum playing cards created by Ian Cumpstey in the insular style, United Kingdom, 2019.

1980 Zodiaque

Zodiaque

“Les Signes du Zodiaque” playing cards designed by Youdi des Aubrys.

1987 Jeu Gothique

Jeu Gothique

‘Jeu Gothique’ illustrating the Gothic period in France, published by Editions Dusserre.

Calon Arang • Калон Аранг - Бали

Calon Arang • Калон Аранг - Бали

Calon Arang, a figure from 12th-century Javanese and Balinese folklore known as a witch skilled in b...

1987 Sylvanian Families mini playing cards

Sylvanian Families mini playing cards

Miniature cards in sheet form with Sylvanian Families characters on the courts and Jokers.

1825 Mythological tarot by Michael Schatzberger

Mythological tarot by Michael Schatzberger

Mythological tarot by Michael Schatzberger, Passau, Bavaria, early 19th century.

1985 Tavaglione playing cards

Tavaglione playing cards

Well-designed pack by Giorgio Tavaglione, with courts in medieval costume.