Illustrated Playing Cards, c.1740

Published November 30, 2017 Updated May 03, 2022

Illustrated playing cards featuring comical engravings and rhymes about saints, c.1740.

1740 United Kingdom Engraved History Humour
Miniature court cards from illustrated playing cards, c.1740

Illustrated playing cards featuring comical engravings and rhymes about saints, unknown publisher. The hand stamp on the ace of spades would date the cards between 1715/18 and 1745. The cards are engraved and the style is a two/three line description at the top which describes the picture on the card and a four line description at the bottom which gives more details about the saint and is more comic than respectful.

“St Denis carries his Head in his Hands & gives it to a poor Woman”. “St Denis Martyr’d and when dead, In his own hand did bring his head And on a Woman it bestow’d a Fat Calves head had done more good”.

The engraving on the cards is very detailed and interesting. The courts in the left hand corners are British standard full-length figures of the period (shown enlarged at top).

Illustrated Playing Cards, c.1740
Illustrated Playing Cards, c.1740 Illustrated Playing Cards, c.1740 Illustrated Playing Cards, c.1740

Above: Illustrated playing cards, c.1740

REFERENCES and CREDITS

Images and notes kindly contributed by John Sings - www.gamesetal.net

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By Ann and John Sings

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