English playing cards. International Playing Cards, Thomas De La Rue, 1874, the complete deck of letterpress playing cards (French suits) published to commemorate the marriage of Albert Ernest Albert, Duke of Edinburgh, to Princess Alexandra, Daughter of the Emperor Alexander II of Russia, designed by Reuben Townroe, double-ended courts depicting contemporary European royalty and characters, aces showing Queen Victoria (hearts), Wilhelm I (clubs), Alexander II (Russia) and General Grant (spades), a trifle dusty, some light finger-soiling and minor marks (mainly affecting pip cards), square corners, versos green with Arms of the bride and groom in gold, each card 93 x 64 mm, together with: Fourth Quality Royal Bezique set, De La Rue, circa 1870, 4 packs (2 complete with 32 cards, 2 packs with 31 of 32, each without ace of spades) of letterpress playing cards (French suits), double-ended De La Rue type D5 courts (used circa 1865-1875) printed in black & red, unusual 'Fourth Quality' ace of spades (present in two packs of 4), no indices, variable spotting, one pip card with edge stain, versos blue small repeating 3-pointed shapes (2 packs) or green diagonal basket weave (2 packs), square corners, each card 94 x 65 mm, plus: London and Paris deck, De La Rue, 1867, a complete deck of 52 letterpress playing cards (French suits), double-ended courts in historical costumes, no indices, ace of spades with 'London & Paris' and maker's name within decorative oval centrepiece, some minor marks or light finger-soiling, 5 of clubs with pale staining, square corners, versos blue, each card 88 x 56 mm, with 7 other De La Rue decks (not examined for condition): later London & Paris deck, 1880 (Plainbacks M112); standard type D4.1 with Old Frizzle ace and simple Owen Jones-style versos, circa 1855-1865; Japanese Lacquer deck, with original titled box, circa 1870 (51 of 52, without 2 of hearts); Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria deck, versos with Royal arms & symbols of the dominions, 1887; 20th Hussars deck, circa 1890; standard type D6.1 deck, versos yellow & red design; standard type D6.1 with larger indices, versos dark blue with ornate gold design, original box (defective), circa 1900, a quantity of cards from each deck mounted with photo corners onto 8 display boards, most encapsulated in clear plastic (none examined out of boards), the remainder in plastic bags, the boards 54.5 x 40 cm and similar (Quantity: 10) Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis. First item: Fournier, British 276. Second item: Berry [2001], p.31 & illustrated p.69; Article by RTEW?, in EPCS Newsletter (September 1984) p.2, "Extremely rare, the only quality to state so on AS". Third item: Plainbacks M113.
English playing cards. International Playing Cards, Thomas De La Rue, 1874, the complete deck of letterpress playing cards (French suits) published to commemorate the marriage of Albert Ernest Albert, Duke of Edinburgh, to Princess Alexandra, Daughter of the Emperor Alexander II of Russia, designed by Reuben Townroe, double-ended courts depicting contemporary European royalty and characters, aces showing Queen Victoria (hearts), Wilhelm I (clubs), Alexander II (Russia) and General Grant (spades), a trifle dusty, some light finger-soiling and minor marks (mainly affecting pip cards), square corners, versos green with Arms of the bride and groom in gold, each card 93 x 64 mm, together with: Fourth Quality Royal Bezique set, De La Rue, circa 1870, 4 packs (2 complete with 32 cards, 2 packs with 31 of 32, each without ace of spades) of letterpress playing cards (French suits), double-ended De La Rue type D5 courts (used circa 1865-1875) printed in black & red, unusual 'Fourth Quality' ace of spades (present in two packs of 4), no indices, variable spotting, one pip card with edge stain, versos blue small repeating 3-pointed shapes (2 packs) or green diagonal basket weave (2 packs), square corners, each card 94 x 65 mm, plus: London and Paris deck, De La Rue, 1867, a complete deck of 52 letterpress playing cards (French suits), double-ended courts in historical costumes, no indices, ace of spades with 'London & Paris' and maker's name within decorative oval centrepiece, some minor marks or light finger-soiling, 5 of clubs with pale staining, square corners, versos blue, each card 88 x 56 mm, with 7 other De La Rue decks (not examined for condition): later London & Paris deck, 1880 (Plainbacks M112); standard type D4.1 with Old Frizzle ace and simple Owen Jones-style versos, circa 1855-1865; Japanese Lacquer deck, with original titled box, circa 1870 (51 of 52, without 2 of hearts); Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria deck, versos with Royal arms & symbols of the dominions, 1887; 20th Hussars deck, circa 1890; standard type D6.1 deck, versos yellow & red design; standard type D6.1 with larger indices, versos dark blue with ornate gold design, original box (defective), circa 1900, a quantity of cards from each deck mounted with photo corners onto 8 display boards, most encapsulated in clear plastic (none examined out of boards), the remainder in plastic bags, the boards 54.5 x 40 cm and similar (Quantity: 10) Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis. First item: Fournier, British 276. Second item: Berry [2001], p.31 & illustrated p.69; Article by RTEW?, in EPCS Newsletter (September 1984) p.2, "Extremely rare, the only quality to state so on AS". Third item: Plainbacks M113.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
