Beschreibung:

Playing cards. A deck of playing cards, London: Rowley & Co., between 1774 & 1776, a complete deck of 52 playing cards, comprising 4 suits of 13: pikeheads (black), shamrocks (green), heart on goblets (red), and faceted diamonds (orange), each with pip cards 1-10 and 3 copper-engraved half-length oval court cards, with portraits of the kings and queens of England (George III), France (Louis XVI), Spain (Carlos IV), and Prussia (William II), with their attendants as Knaves, aces with allegorical symbols denoting Nobles, Clergy, Citizens, and Peasantry, ace of spades without publisher's name or duty number, plain versos, slightly rounded corners, dusty, 92 x 62mm (3.5 x 2.5ins), together with a complete deck of standard playing cards by Goodall and Son, circa 1867-97, double-ended court cards, blue-patterned versos with trefoil design, rounded corners, soiled, 1 or 2 creases, ace and 7 of spades with a corner torn away, 92 x 65mm (3.5 x 2.5ins) (Qty: 2) See: Hoffmann 55b (illustrated); Mann, All Cards on the Table, p.134; Mann, Collecting Playing Cards, p.163; Tilley, p.129; V&A E.2910:38-1948. A scarce and unusual pack of playing cards with an innovative design. This attractive deck was an attempt by Rowley & Co. to introduce an alternative to the traditional suit signs and imagery, but it did not prove popular. It was apparently also produced in colours other than those here. It is most unusual for the ace of spades to be unnamed and with no duty number; it may therefore have been a proof printing, although other such sets are known.