Mediaeval Playing Cards
Finely executed late 19th century pack from the USA featuring courts in medieval costume.
This supremely beautiful pack is arguably the finest produced by an American company in the 19th century. Six colours were used for the faces and five plus gold for the backs. The colours and the overall artwork are indeed pleasing to the eye, with much fine detail. The Ace of Spades is decorated, with the name of the manufacturer included. The courts are dressed in medieval costume, with differences at each end. They are named KING, QUEEN and KNAVE. The Joker is a three-quarter length jester. The double-ended backs feature a man holding a hand of cards, on a gold ground. The cards were printed in colour lithography and have gilt edges. This fine pack did not find favour when it was issued; only a few examples are known to have survived. See the box►
Above: Mediaeval Playing Cards made by the New York Consolidated Card Company, New York, USA, 1897. 52 cards + 1 Joker + 1 blank card in telescopic box. Size: 63 x 88 mm. Photos courtesy of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards.
See the packing slip►
References
Berry, John. Playing-Cards of the World. Bromley, UK: John Berry; 1995. Cat. no. 511.
Dawson, Tom and Judy. The Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards. Stamford, CT, USA: U.S. Games Systems, Inc.; 2000. p.60, NY55.
By Roddy Somerville
Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
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